The San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus in Riverside County, California, resumed operations after a shutdown in 2020 caused by fiscal problems associated with COVID-19. Attended by county supervisors, executives, and the Department of Animal Services, the reopening brings the campus back as a functioning animal shelter, aiming to mitigate overcrowding and offer essential services. The campus now offers licensing, sheltering, fostering, and adoption services for mid-county residents, as reported by The County of Riverside.
With only two animal shelters remaining in county when the San Jacinto campus closed, residents expressed concern. Fifth District Supervisor Yxstian Gutierrez, relayed a narrative about a lost child's puppy which couldn't be retrieved due to the distance from San Jacinto to the Coachella shelter, to highlight the importance of the reopening. The restoration of the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus illustrates a commitment to avoid such distressing scenarios and to properly resource Riverside County.
Riverside County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $3.4 million budget in June 2023 to facilitate the San Jacinto shelter's reopening. Now fully staffed, the shelter has more than 20 new employees, including animal control officers, adoption counselors, and support technicians. The shelter is also exploring, according to this report, potential veterinary care options depending on accessible and available resources.
Free pet adoptions were held at the reopening event and families brought towels, blankets, and newspapers for the animals. Excitement surrounding the reopening was palpable, a deed accomplished through the funding from the Riverside County Board of Supervisors. This action represented the commitment of local government officials, like Third District Supervisor Chuck Washington and Fifth District Supervisor Gutierrez, who understood the importance of animal care services for Riverside County residents.
Overcrowding in animal shelters is a nationwide issue, having the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus reopened provides relief for Riverside County. Director Erin Gettis of the Riverside County Department of Animal Services affirms that the campus will play a critical role in managing the overcrowding problem.
