RivCo Flys 52 Dogs To Maine To Find Forever Homes

RIVERSIDE, CA — Dozens of Riverside County shelter dogs are headed to new homes on the East Coast after a lifesaving transport effort this week, officials announced.

Partnering with Wings of Rescue, the Riverside County Department of Animal Services flew 52 dogs to Maine on Tuesday, in the hopes they will find forever homes.

The pups will be taken in by Miracle Lane Farm and Sanctuary and Give a Dog a Home Rescue, both in Maine, as well as SPCA Westchester in New York.

READ MORE: RivCo Animal Shelters To Adopt 'No-Kill' Policy

“These are 52 lives changed thanks to our amazing Wings of Rescue partners who continue to show up for RivCo pets looking for a second chance,” said RCDAS Manager Daylin Valencia. “I’m grateful to be part of a team that is committed to lifesaving, where we rally to get these pets ready for their flights whenever the opportunity presents itself.”

Local shelters remain critically overcrowded, with three to four dogs often sharing a kennel built for two. To ease the pressure, officials are waiving all adoption and reclaim fees throughout September. The “Fall In Love” promotion covers spay or neuter surgery, microchips, vaccinations, and engraved ID tags.

With more than 1,000 dogs in the system, there is no shortage of pets waiting for families. For those unable to adopt, officials encourage fostering, even for a short time. Programs such as Dog Day Out let residents take a dog on a field trip to the park, hiking trail, or even just around the neighborhood.

Animal Services says dogs who leave the shelter for a day are five times more likely to get adopted.

More information about adoptions and fostering opportunities is available here.

The county's four shelters hold more than 35,000 animals each year.