DONATIONS:

We appreciate the support of this petition but PLEASE DO NOT DONATE ON CHANGE.ORG.  Money just goes directly to Change.org, not the shelter, dogs, or any rescue groups.

Instead, please DONATE to any of the LOCAL RESCUE GROUPS (5013c Non-profit orgs) that actively rescue from Riverside Shelters (listed below).

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**UPDATED 4.25.22**

Please JOIN the RALLY for Riverside Animal Shelter:

     Saturday, April 29th, 2023 @ 12:00PM

     RIVERSIDE COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER

     6851 VAN BUREN BLVD JURUPA VALLEY, CA 92509

LINK TO SIGN UP FOR RALLY

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UPDATE 11.22.2023

Once again, Riverside County Animal Shelter is euthanizing (murdering) innocent dogs for no reason. They are purely killing for space and giving zero warning or notice to rescuers to help save them.

URGENT CHANGE REQUESTED:

1. Riverside County Animal Shelters need to provide PUBLIC access with list of specific dogs that are planned to be euthanized with ATLEAST 72 HOURS NOTICE to allow time to find Rescue. 

Currently the Shelter does not give ANY NOTICE of which dogs will be killed.

2. Shelter to increase Public OPEN HOURS  Also Shelter to be open on SUNDAY.   

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(PART 1) STOP the DAILY euthanizing of young, healthy, and adoptable animals at Riverside County Animal Shelters [Western Riverside, San Jacinto (currently closed since COVID-19), Coachella Valley & Blythe].

Many of the dogs (and cats!) at Riverside shelters are not given a fair chance to be seen before being euthanized. Dogs under 3 years of age with zero medical issues are being killed consistently at the shelter.  Animals with medical issues and/or seniors have an even slimmer chance of making it out of this shelter alive. 

***UPDATE JULY 10TH: Riverside shelter is NO LONGER PROVIDING dates or times of at risk of euth dogs. They are also no longer using the RED list. 

All yellow or green listed dogs can be euthanized w/o additional notice. 

THIS IS A HUGE SET BACK FROM PREVIOUS PROGRESS AND IMPROVEMENTS MADE WITH THE SHELTER.***

EUTHANASIA LIST AT WESTERN RIVERSIDE

EUTHANASIA LIST AT COACHELLA SHELTER

These dogs can be killed at anytime at the shelter's discretion.

Red listed dogs are primarily shared and networked through local unpaid volunteers and rescue groups. Other accounts that network the Riverside Shelter dogs (not affiliated with the shelter!):

PLEASE follow and support these accounts! If you live in the area you can save a dog’s life by fostering or adopting.  

If you live out of state you can still pledge / donate money to a reputable rescue and share posts with rescue groups & your community.  Sharing is FREE.

@iloverescue ***Civilian sharing videos of shelter dogs in her free time - does not work for the shelter.

@savingriversideshelterdogs

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Riverside Shelter has recently started sharing more animals on it's social media platforms ***However they do actively delete any negative or constructive comments from posts! 

@rivcorescuepets_riverside

@rivcorescuepets_coachella

@riversidecountyanimalservices

Riverside County Animal Shelter hours are 10AM-4PM MON - SAT. Monday - Saturday (closed Sundays). Since increasing their public hours - NO online or phone adoptions are allowed.

Riverside Animal Shelter staff received training last year (2021) that has not been used or enforced.  Dogs still do not have any kennel notes or Play groups at the shelter. https://dogsplayingforlife.com

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Riverside Animal shelter is overcrowded but there are always alternatives to euthanasia!

PROPOSED SOLUTIONS:

1.  Change these Shelters to be NO KILL.
2. Provide PUBLIC access with list of specific dogs that are planned to be euthanized with ATLEAST 72 HOURS NOTICE to allow time to find Rescue.  Currently the Shelter does not give ANY NOTICE of which dogs will be killed.
3.  Shelter to increase Public OPEN HOURS (NO APPOINTMENTS REQUIRED).  Also Shelter to be open on SUNDAY.   ***SUCCESSFULLY CHANGED NOV 1ST 2021! PUBLIC HOURS ARE NOW 10AM-4PM MON - SAT. But we still want more open hours and Sundays!
4. Shelter to actively PROMOTE and give visibility to ALL animals on social media platforms.  And to PARTNER and COOPERATE with local rescue groups to ensure animals are fostered / adopted.  Funding added to budget to aid with networking.
5. SPAY/NEUTER all healthy animals at the Shelter.  This will increase their chances of being fostered / adopted.
6. Provide proper TRAINING of Shelter staff with structured follow up and check ins.  https://dogsplayingforlife.com
7. When shelter becomes over-crowded, budget should include funding for transport costs to RE-LOCATE animals to less crowded no-kill shelters within the US and Canada.  Work with START Animal Rescue or similar organizations to transport dogs!
8. County of Riverside to PROVIDE FULL BUDGET TRANSPARENCY and detailed breakdown on how funding is being used currently and future fiscal years. 

RIVERSIDE COUNTY OUTCOME STATS (2021 Year to date): 2021 OUTCOME STATS

RIVERSIDE COUNTY OUTCOME STATS (2022): 2022 OUTCOME STATS

All stats can be found on Riverside County Animal Shelter website: https://rcdas.org/index.php/about-us/statistics

RIVERSIDE COUNTY BUDGET: (pgs 247 - 253 Animal Services is under "Public Safety")

FY 2020 - 2021

Animals Services accounts for 1.5% of the Public Safety Budget: $23,423,264

67% of budget is for Employee Salaries + Benefits: $15,764,047 

which is with a 24% Staff Reduction (223 to 170) from previous FY 2019/20

budget for Services and Supplies: $9,164,267

All Riverside County budget info:

https://rivco.org/about-county/budget-and-financial-information

Riverside County Animal Services Audit Report 2021

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(PART 2)  RE-OPEN the San Jacinto Shelter!  And HIRE more EMPLOYEES

The main Riverside Shelter (Western Riverside) is consistently overloaded with animals. Typically, their main reason for red listing and euthanizing dogs at the shelter is for space.  Due to lack of space, many kennels also have 2-3 dogs in each! Resulting in more stress on the dogs and the staff to monitor.

Riverside County should HIRE MORE EMPLOYEES and RE-OPEN the SAN JACINTO SHELTER that is currently sitting empty with space for more animals.

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CONTACTS!  Please reach out to help push for change:

REQUEST TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

Riverside County Meeting Calendar

US REP CA-41: Ken Calvert 951-277-0042 / 202-225-1986 (DC office)

IG: @repkencalvert

Twitter: KenCalvert

CA Governor:  Gavin Newsom (916) 445-2841

IG: @gavinnewsom

Twitter: GavinNewsom

County Executive Officer at County of Riverside: Jeff Van Wagenen JVanWagenen@rivco.org

IG: @rivcojvw

Twitter: RivCoJVW

Director of Animal Services: Erin Gettis (951) 955-4310 egettis@rivco.org

Clerk of the Board of Supervisors: (951) 955-1069 cob@rivco.org

Riverside County IG: @rivconow

Twitter: RivCoNow

Riverside County HR: @rivcohr

Media Contact: Brooke Federico (951) 743-0075 bcfederico@rivco.org

Riverside County Shelter: shelterinfo@rivco.org 

Mayor of Riverside: Patricia Locke Dawson (951)826-5551 2mayor@riversideca.gov

@mayorlockdawson

***Mayor and City of Riverside Council stating they have no accountability and this is a COUNTY, not a City issue***

Riverside County First District Board member: Kevin Jeffries district1@rivco.org

Riverside County Second District Board member: Karen Spiegel district2@rivco.org

Riverside County Third District Board member: Chuck Washington d3email@rivco.org

Communications Director to Chuck Washington: Sarah Rodriguez SArrodr@rivco.org

Riverside County Fourth District Board member: V. Manuel Perez district4@rivco.org

Riverside County Fifth District Board member: Jeff Hewitt district5@rivco.org

CITY OF RIVERSIDE COUNCIL:

Ward 1 on Riverside City Council: Erin Edwards EEdwards@riversideca.gov

Ward 2 on Riverside City Council: Clarissa Cervantes ClCervantes@riversideca.gov

Ward 3 on Riverside City Council: Ronaldo Fierro RFierro@riversideca.gov

Ward 4 on Riverside City Council: Chuck Condor cconder@riversideca.gov

Ward 5 on Riverside City Council: Gaby Plascencia GPlascencia@riversideca.gov

Ward 6 on Riverside City Council: Jim Perry jperry@riversideca.gov

Ward 7 on Riverside City Council: Steve Hemenway SHemenway@riversideca.gov

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DONATIONS:

We appreciate the support of this petition but instead of donating to promote the cause on change.org, please DONATE to any of the LOCAL RESCUE GROUPS (5013c Non-profit orgs) that actively rescue from Riverside Shelters:

@underdogheroes_

@ruffhousedogs

@philozoiaanimalrescue

@pacificpupsrescue

@awishforanimalsorg

@repuplicrescue

@loveleorescue

@realgoodrescue

@labellefoundation

@hollywoodhuskies

@labsandfriends

@poso_dog_rescue

@theanimalpad

@woofyacres

@apollosarc

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SUCCESSFUL CHANGES since petition started SEPT 27th:

1. Wednesday, OCTOBER 20th: JULIE BANK terminated as Director of Animal Services.

News article available here:  https://www.pe.com/2021/10/22/animal-services-director-in-riverside-county-departs/

2.  Monday, NOVEMBER 1st: SHELTER PUBLIC HOURS increased 10AM-4PM MON - SAT.  Shelter is still closed on Sundays, but this is a big improvement to their previous hours of 1:00-3:30!

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