Riverside County Animal Services Joins BISSELL Pet Foundation for Free Adoptions During ‘Empty the Shelters’ Event
RIVERSIDE —BISSELL Pet Foundation, a national animal welfare organization dedicated to ending pet homelessness, is bringing holiday hope to homeless pets across the country with its Empty the Shelters® – Holiday Hope reduced-fee adoption event, taking place now through December 15, 2025.
RCDAS is participating in the nationwide event to help deserving shelter pets find loving homes. During this time, BISSELL Pet Foundation sponsors reduced adoption fees to make adoption more affordable this holiday season.
With nearly 1,000 dogs across the shelter system, RCDAS is experiencing overcapacity with the number of dogs compared to kennel space.
“When you adopt a pet, you are also helping us make space in our kennels for the next animals that continue to come in and need our help because we always have to have space for them,” said Jaclyn Schart, RCDAS Deputy Director of Programs and Operations. “We want as many pets as possible to leave our shelters with a new family, and our staff looks forward to making these connections happen across our shelters.”
Fee-waived adoptions include vaccinations, microchips, an engraved I.D. tag and spay and neuter services for all RivCo adopted pets.
“This year has placed enormous pressure on shelters across the country, as more families face financial hardship and housing changes that force them to surrender beloved pets,” said Cathy Bissell, Founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation. “If you’re considering adding a pet to your family, adoption has so many benefits. Shelters have desirable pets of every size and age—many who have lived in homes, are house-trained, already spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and ready to become part of your family—all for a fraction of the cost of buying from a breeder or pet store. Our Empty the Shelters Holiday Hope event is a chance for all of us to end the year by giving shelter pets what they deserve most—a loving home.”
Empty the Shelters is the nation’s largest funded adoption event and has helped more than 374,000 pets find homes across the U.S. and Canada since its inception in 2016. Sponsored by BISSELL Pet Foundation, the program works with hundreds of animal welfare organizations to reduce adoption fees and make pet adoption accessible to more families.
“In this season we are hoping to give RivCo pets the gift of a new home and a loving family,” said Fifth District Supervisor Yxstian Gutierrez. “A new best friend is truly a gift like no other.”
To view adoptable pets, visit http://www.rcdas.org/adoptable-pets.
About Riverside County Department of Animal Services:
The Riverside County Department of Animal Services shelters more than 35,000 animals annually across four locations, making it one of the largest sheltering systems in the country. RCDAS provides adoption, lost pet reunification, pet support services, and public safety programs, all aimed at keeping pets with families and increasing animal lifesaving.
About BISSELL Foundation:
BISSELL Pet Foundation is a charitable 501©(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to help reduce the number of animals in shelters through pet adoption, spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchipping and emergency support. Founded in 2011 by Cathy Bissell, BPF is an extension of her long-standing love for animals and commitment to their welfare. BPF has since partnered with more than 6,025 shelters and rescues across the U.S. and Canada to help pets find loving homes. The foundation is supported by generous donors and BISSELL Inc. where every purchase saves pets. To learn more, visit www.bissellpetfoundation.org
