Riverside County Animal Shelters offer free adoptions on ‘Black Saturday’

All pet adoptions are free on Saturday, November 30th, as Riverside County Animal Services celebrates its annual Black Saturday holiday special.

County shelters in Jurupa Valley, San Jacinto and Thousand Palms will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for Black Saturday. The free adoptions still include the usual package for adopters: a microchip and vaccinations and the pet’s spay or neuter surgery.

The annual traditional started back in 2012 as a way to raise awareness of homeless pets during the holiday season. It was also started to encourage adoptions at a time when people are looking for great deals, such as new big-screen TVs.

Youngberg said the shelters are especially full, something shelters across the country are experiencing.

“This year we are truly facing an overpopulation problem inside our shelters,” said Animal Services Interim Director Kim Youngberg. “We really could use the help with a Black Friday-like rush of adopters.”

“We’re all for finding great bargains on Black Friday, so we’re keeping that theme flowing all the way through Saturday,” said, Youngberg. “Free pet adoptions is our way to make the process more enticing. And what better way to enjoy watching your programs on your new TV than having a fuzzy friend next to you on the couch keeping you company?”

Although pets can be adopted for free, would-be adopters should be mindful that a dog license must be purchased if the adopter lives within the county’s jurisdictional areas. Dog license information/prices: https://rcdas.org/dog-licensing

Adopters are required to show an ID.

The shelter addresses can be found with the following links:

https://rcdas.org/western-riverside-countycity-animal-shelter

https://rcdas.org/coachella-valley-animal-campus