Riverside Animal Services Joins BISSELL Pet Foundation to Celebrate 10 Years of Empty the Shelters with Reduced Adoption Fees Nationwide

RIVERSIDE — BISSELL Pet Foundation, a national animal welfare organization dedicated to ending pet homelessness, is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its signature Empty the Shelters® event with a nationwide reduced-fee adoption effort from May 1–17.

Riverside County Department of Animal Services is proud to participate in this nationwide event, joining more than 335 shelters across 39 states to help pets find loving homes. During the event, BISSELL Pet Foundation will sponsor fee-waived adoptions at all RCDAS shelters for cats and dogs, making it more affordable to welcome a new pet into the family. All pets are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped.

“We saw progress last year with more adoptions, and we want that trend to continue,” said RCDAS Deputy Director of Programs and Operations Jaclyn Schart. “We are entering the busy summer season critically overcapacity for dogs, and we need action from the community to make space in kennels particularly with large, adult dogs who often wait for months to exit the shelter.”

Fee-waived adoptions available from May 1-17 at the following times and RivCo Animal Services locations:

  • Saturday – Sunday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Tuesday – Friday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Coachella Valley Animal Campus: 72-050 Pet Land Place Thousand Palms, CA 92276
  • San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus: 581 S. Grand Ave. San Jacinto, CA 92582
  • Western Riverside County/City Animal Shelter: 6851 Van Buren Blvd Jurupa Valley, CA 92509

“Ten years ago, Empty the Shelters® began with a simple goal—to bring awareness to the incredible cats and dogs in shelters,” said Cathy Bissell, Founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation. “Today, it has grown into a national effort that has helped nearly 400,000 pets find families. Those adoptions have opened space for other pets to enter shelters, provided relief for shelter teams, and created the heartwarming joy that only adoption can bring. This impact has all been possible thanks to the commitment of shelters, adopters, donors and supporters across the country. As we celebrate 10 years, we encourage everyone to consider adoption and help more pets find the homes they deserve. It’s never too late to make a difference.”

With over 1,000 pets available for adoption across the shelter system, there are many breeds, ages and sizes to choose from.

“We made a commitment to help more pets find homes, and our partnership with the BISSELL Pet Foundation is a great way for the community to benefit while helping our cause,” said Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. “RivCo shelters are full of amazing dogs and cats ready to go home with you today.”

“I encourage the community to take advantage of fee-waived adoptions and give a RivCo pet a chance,” said Fifth District Supervisor Dr. Yxstian Gutierrez. “There are so many happy tails and smiling faces waiting to meet you today.”

To view adoptable pets, visit www.rcdas.org/adoptable-pets. RCDAS also offers short-term foster opportunities for anyone who would like to help give a pet a break from staying in the shelter while they wait to find a permanent home. For those who would like to help but cannot adopt a pet-full-time, they can sign up to foster at www.rcdas.org.