The Riverside County Department of Animal Services has embarked on an ambitious mission to save 5,000 cats this year, bringing in the heavy hitters of the cat world to kick things off. Just this past Monday, the shelter at 6581 Van Buren Blvd. played host to a trifecta of cat savants including "My Cat From Hell" star Jackson Galaxy, and top academic authorities Dr. Julie Levy and Dr. Kate Hurley, according to a recent announcement.
The expert panel convened in Jurupa Valley shone a light on the pressing issue of cat overpopulation, with Riverside shelters having witnessed a staggering intake — the nation's highest — of feline guests in the previous year, boasting a live release rate of just over half. In June of 2023, the local animal services started a pet support program to combat this trend, rescuing more than 4,000 animals since its inception, around sixty percent of those were cats, as per their records.
Supporters can chip into the community cat program, boosting adoption rates, volunteering as foster caregivers for kittens, and aiding trap neuter/spay release (TNR/SNR) efforts, all to drive up the live release figures. Dr. Hurley, drawing from the past achievements of the Million Cat Challenge which reportedly has saved a cool three million cats nationwide since 2014, assured the public that these practices could have a profound impact in Riverside County.
This three-day expert visit to Riverside aims to bolster both the shelter and community cat advocates' efforts to hit their 5,000 cat target for the year. Erin Gettis did not hide her gratitude towards the experts for their support in this lofty endeavor, stating "This opportunity stands to make a significant difference in the lives of cats in the community and entering the shelter system" and this comes on the heels of what has been so far seen as positive outcomes from similar initiatives.
Arrangements for the exclusive panel discussion were put together by Kristen Hassen of Outcomes for Pets Consulting, who has been collaborating with RCDAS for the better part of the last year, with more information to be found on the RCDAS website for those interested in jumping in to lend a hand in this community fundraising feline affair.
