Riverside County Department of Animal Services is teaming up with BISSELL Pet Foundation for the 'Empty the Shelters: Holiday Hope' event, an effort to combat animal overcrowding in shelters across the nation by offering free pet adoptions on Saturday, December 16.
According to the department's director, Erin Gettis, “Every day is a great day to adopt a shelter pet, and families will especially enjoy the fun and festive atmosphere of the free pet adoptions at our annual Home for the Holidays event.” The event includes activities at various locations such as the Coachella Valley Animal Campus, the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus, and the Western Riverside County Shelter.
Visitors to the Jurupa Valley location can expect holiday-themed entertainment, including face painting, balloon art, photos with Santa, and complimentary crafts for kids.
Joining the festivities is Petco Love Lost, a non-profit dedicated to reconnecting lost pets with their owners. They will be registering pets' photos in case they go missing, an added precaution to ensure newly adopted pets remain with their holiday adopters. Moreover, Cathy Bissell, founder of the BISSELL Pet Foundation, highlighted the urgent need for these community-focused adoption events. "Our nation's animal shelters need your help as they face an overcrowding crisis unlike anything we have experienced in more than a decade. The devastating increase in owner surrenders and stray intakes has left tens of thousands of deserving pets desperate to find a home," Bissell explained.
For those interested in adoption information or wanting a sneak peek at potential new family members, the RCDAS website at www.rcdas.org provides photos and details about the animals up for adoption. The department can be contacted for further inquiries at [email protected].
