County animal shelters waive adoption fees all week
For today — which is National Dog Day — andcontinuing all week, the Riverside County Department of Animal Services iswaiving adoption fees for dogs and cats.
“All week long, pets will be adopted out at our special, `fee-waived’adoption, which will include everything with the pet — spay/neuter surgery,vaccinations and a microchip,” said animal services spokesman John Welsh.
He said the only cost applied for picking up a pet will be the state-mandated dog license fee of $16. There is no fee for a cat.
According to Welsh, the Department of Animal Services decided to finishout August with an aggressive effort to ensure the greatest number of dogs andcats are saved as part of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty toAnimals’ 2013 Rachael Ray Challenge.
The challenge began on June 1 and ends Saturday. The winner will receivea $100,000 grant from the ASPCA. Scoring is based on the highest number of“lives saved” at shelters this summer compared to last.
Fifty shelters throughout the country are taking part. According toWelsh, Riverside County is currently in the lead.
The county manages three facilities: the Blythe Animal Shelter at 245South Carlton Way, the Western Riverside County Animal Shelter at 6851 VanBuren Blvd. in Jurupa Valley and the Coachella Valley Animal Campus at 72-050Pet Land Place in Thousand Palms.
