Foster a Pup During RCDAS’ Dog Day Out
RIVERSIDE (CNS) – A new fostering program to liberate impounded dogs from their cages and give them a chance to interact with residents in public for awhile was inaugurated Tuesday by the Riverside County Department of Animal Services.
The agency’s new “Dog Day Out” experience provides volunteers and visitors to the Western Riverside County Animal Shelter in Jurupa Valley and the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus an opportunity to take canines for short field trips in the hope of attracting potential adopters.
The program was inspired by the “FIDO” program at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus in Thousand Palms, according to officials.
“Our team is working hard to enhance our foster programs, and we are excited for the community to have more opportunities to take part in lifesaving,” Department of Animal Services Manager Candace Falkenstien said. “We have so many dogs who need time outside of their kennels, and with the public’s help, we can get more dogs into loving homes and save lives.”
Residents can sign up to participate in Dog Day Out here: https://rcdas.org/dog-day-out.
“It’s always nice to see how dogs open up when they’re in a different environment,” agency pet counselor Annie Caldon said. “Shelter dogs just need a chance to show off their personalities, and what we learn about them on these trips will help us match them with a great family.”
There are currently close to 1,200 pets impounded in the county’s four shelters — and the overwhelming majority of those are dogs.
“Shelters are operating in critical over-capacity with the number of dogs in kennels, many of them sharing a space with two, three, four or more kennel mates,” according to a county statement. “While staff and volunteers provide time for dogs outside of their kennels, there remains a need for dogs to take a break from the shelter to reduce stress.”
Last month, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution declaring the county’s goal of becoming a “no-kill” jurisdiction for pets, seeking to ensure that 90% of animals impounded at county-run facilities leave alive.
The measure, among other things, contains a pledge that the county will “work collaboratively with public and private partners, animal welfare organizations, veterinary professionals, contract cities and residents … to reduce euthanasia.”
The 90% no-kill goal entails greater emphasis on free or low-cost spay and neuter clinics, enhanced “return-to-owner” programs that unite lost pets with their loved ones, adoption campaigns, pet fostering programs that temporarily ease space constraints at shelters and expedited “trap-neuter- return-to-field” programs for “community cats.”
One nonprofit organization has alleged the county has the highest pet “kill rate” in the nation.
In September, the board hired Austin, Texas-based Outcomes for Pets LLC Principal Adviser Kristen Hassen to rectify problems within the agency.
In February, the supervisors approved the Executive Office’s selection of Mary Martin to head the department following a nationwide executive recruitment drive. She most recently served as assistant director for Dallas Animal Services of Texas.
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