Jurupa Valley, CA – Riverside County Animal Services’ three largest shelters are offering a special adoption fee on Saturday as part of the national campaign called Clear the Shelters.

Clear the Shelters is sponsored by NBC and Telemundo and other corporations. The annual event intends to raise awareness about pet overpopulation – and promotes adopting animals.

Riverside County’s three participating shelters (located in Jurupa Valley, San Jacinto and Thousand Palms) are offering pets for just $4.52, a tradition started to honor Los Angeles’ affiliates for NBC (Channel 4) and Telemundo (Channel 52).

Of course, adopters can “spay it forward,” if desired, and round the adoption fee up to $5, or even more. Rounding-up donations will go toward the county’s continuing low-cost and grant-funded spay and neuter programs.

“We have just recovered from two significant emergency events, the Cranston Fire and the Holy Fire, and now we’re looking forward to something that brings smiles to us all,” Deputy Director Frank Corvino said. “We spent long hours during those wildfires responding to properties with pets, caring for evacuees’ pets, and reuniting four-legged friends with their owners. On Saturday, we’re hopeful we’ll see hundreds of our pets adopted and given a second chance.”

The addresses and the Clear the Shelters hours of operation for each shelter are:

The Coachella Valley Animal Campus is located at 72-050 Pet Land Place, Thousand Palms, 92276: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus is located at 581 S. Grand Ave., San Jacinto, 92582: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Western Riverside County/City Animal Shelter is located at 6851 Van Buren Blvd., Jurupa Valley, 92509: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

One additional note: Arriving early to adopt a specific dog does not equate to adoption of that pet. If two people are interested in the same pet at approximately the same time, and both qualify as adopters, a special drawing will be held. This will give both would-be adopters the same chance to adopt that pet.
“In short, we would like adopters to know that lining up for hours prior to the shelter opening is not necessary,”

Corvino said. “High temperatures are forecast throughout the Inland Empire for Saturday and we want to make sure our visitors do not suffer too much exposure. It’s a great event, but we want our patrons to be safe.”