More Than 100 Pets Transported Out Of State As RCDAS Shelters Remain At Over 200% Capacity For Dogs

The Riverside County Department of Animal Services (RCDAS) this week announced that 48 dogs and 54 cats were recently transported out of state in an effort to provide additional opportunities for them to be adopted.

“I commend the shelter staff for their dedication to [Riverside County] pets, and I’m grateful for our strong relationships with lifesaving partners,” Supervisor Yxstian Gutierrez, who serves on the animal services ad hoc committee, said in the release announcing the transfer. “We need the community to join in our efforts of helping pets find homes by fostering or adopting an amazing animal who is looking for their new start.”

The animals were taken in by Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah, North Shore Animal League America in New York, the Humane Society of North Texas and Brandywine Valley SPCA in Pennsylvania at no cost to taxpayers.

“‎All transport flights this year have been funded by grants and donations at no cost to Riverside County Department of Animal Services,” Veronica Perez, RCDAS public information officer, said in an email to The Riverside Record. “These transports are a critical lifesaving component to address our current shelter overcrowding crisis because they create immediate space for the animals that continue to come through our doors.”

According to Perez, RCDAS is currently operating at more than 200% capacity for dogs and 90% for cats, a number that fluctuates daily and can be monitored on the department’s website.

“On average, a new animal enters our shelters every seven minutes,” she said. “Last year, RCDAS took in over 35,000 animals across four locations, making it one of the largest sheltering systems in the country.”

And while she said transports alone cannot address the overcrowding at the department’s shelters, she said it remains a vital component of decreasing the animal population and increasing adoptions. In an effort to reduce the population more quickly, the department has launched a new short-term foster program called Ticket to Ride for animals already slated for transport to another facility.

“The timeframe can be anywhere from two to four weeks and is subject to change based on various factors,” she said. “We provide available resources, and our foster team matches fosters with pets who fit their lifestyle.”

More information about the program, including how to apply, can be found here on the department’s website.

And while the department has implemented a number of strategies to address the overcrowding including expanding shelter hours and waiving all adoption and reclaim fees, Perez said there have been pets euthanized due to overcrowding.

“Euthanasia for space is a last-resort strategy and without immediate community support through adoptions, fostering, or reunification of lost pets, the department is sometimes forced to make heartbreaking euthanasia decisions solely due to lack of space and our inability to provide humane care,” she said. “While euthanasia for cats and dogs decreased from January-May 2025 compared to the same time last year, there have been instances where we have had to make tough euthanasia decisions that we would not have had to make if it were not for shelter overcrowding.”