All Department of Animal Services Fees Waived on Special Call-to-Action Day

Adoptions are free on Saturday, May 25, at all Riverside County Animal Services shelters on 10-10-10 day.

Riverside County’s three shelters in Jurupa Valley, San Jacinto and Thousand Palms will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. – an extra six hours for residents to come save a life.

“10-10-10 Day references our unique hours of operation this Saturday – and anyone who adopts will always be a 10 in our book,” Animal Services Director Erin Gettis said. “Be a 10 between 10 to 10.”

In addition to free adoptions, Gettis said all impound fees are waived to pet owners whose animals are in county shelters. They can redeem their dog or cat without any fees being charged, she said.

“We have hundreds of owned dogs sitting in our kennels waiting to be reunited with their families,” Gettis said. “If money has been a factor as to why the pet has not been claimed, now’s the time to come. We want pets to return to their rightful homes. This is our way of helping to make that happen.”

Gettis and her team members are hoping the public recognize the immediate need facing Animal Services and its four-legged residents.

“We have more than 1,000 dogs in our care right now,” Gettis said. “We are over capacity. We’re packed – and we need help. This is truly a call to action and that’s why we’re encouraging everyone to help us on 10-10-10 Day.”

In addition to the county’s three largest shelters, its Blythe shelter will also participate on 10-10-10 Day. The Blythe shelter is normally closed on Saturdays. This Saturday it will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Keeping with the 10-10-10 theme, there are 10 critical ways the public can help now: 1. Redeem your pet; 2. Foster; 3. Adopt; 4. Rescue; 5. Volunteer; 6. Be a Pet Support Angel; 7. Network shelter pets on social media; 8. Become a community ambassador (tasks include being a neighborhood microchip scanner of stray pets); 9. Donate; 10. Join the team! (Find jobs at https://rc-hr.com/)

“Even if people cannot adopt at this point, there are many ways to help us,” Gettis said. “Volunteer work is very rewarding. Becoming a Pet Support Angel, for example, can directly assist a pet owner in need.”