San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus

Good evening. This is (video link below) a short story about a cat that did not, apparently, want to get neutered. He bolted from our friends at Animal Samaritans. He showed up behind our Thousand Palms shelter and was living in a storm drain for almost two months. Today: a very happy reunion! (And some sliced turkey, Jojo’s special treat.)... More information is posted in the video link. The woman in the video is the owner Laodibet Chavarria, pronounced Loud-eee-BET CHAV-Ah-ree-Ah. She goes by Lala as a nickname. Thanks for watching. Here’s the link: https://youtu.be/XhU4S4vmTXE Riverside County Now

Who's participating? Start planning your outfits. And, photos please! (please send to [email protected]) https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-dress-up-your-pet/

From our friends Riverside County Now and Riverside University Health System - Public Health. Please watch and share. Stay safe everyone.

As 2020 comes to an end, we would like to take a moment to thank each of you for being responsible pet owners. Please keep your pets indoors tonight to keep them safe. Be mindful of those that are sensitive to the loud noises, such as fireworks. A reminder, of course, that fireworks are illegal in just about every city and all of unincorporated Riverside County. We would also like to ask that if you plan on making a year-end charitable donation, please consider donating to the Riverside County Department of Animal Services. Donations can be directed to care, disaster relief, animal health, or the healthy pet zone. For more information, or to make a donation, please click here: https://licensepet.com/wl3/don/rvsdwd/468

A special thank you from our Director, Julie Bank.

... that moment your mom asked you if you wanted to take a trip to the animal shelter to donate a doggy crate and your mom had something up her sleeve ... (enjoy the tears of joy): https://youtu.be/2ARZ8gHKkSI

We know this has been a brutal year for many. But over here in ShelterLand, when a former shelter pooch, once neglected and matted, becomes Chairdog of the Board, well, that makes us believe we can all get thru this. Hang in there, folks. Better days coming. @RivCoNow

Mutual aid in L.A. County...........

We did a fun promotion about the Census 2020 campaign using some of our four-legged friends. ENJOY! (And please fill out your Census questionnaire if you have not yet done so!) https://www.facebook.com/watch/

We did a short video speaking about preparing for emergencies (such as wildfires) and that preparedness should include your plans for pets, of course. You can skip all the speaking if you prefer to see a cute dog at the back end of the video clip. Thanks in advance for the interest! https://www.facebook.com/watch/

The woman who was hospitalized last month after a big rig crash was released from a Coachella Valley-based hospital last week. On Tuesday evening (Sept. 1), Mary Taylor was finally reunited with her pride and joy, Miss Kitty. The almost-4-year-old cat was inside the sleeper cab with Ms. Taylor when the Intestate 10 crash occurred. Ms. Taylor’s long-haul partner was behind the wheel during the wreck. The crash happened at about 3 a.m. on I-10. (Please note that an earlier ve...rsion of a news release indicated the crash happened at about 7:15 a.m. in Banning but that was a different accident, FYI.) For specific information about the crash, please contact the CHP. A photo of the crash is attached; it was provided by Ms. Taylor’s son, Josh Taylor. As some of you might recall, our team members at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus in Thousand Palms were caring for Miss Kitty while Ms. Taylor recovered in the hospital. Here’s a short video link (below) that features Ms. Taylor in the moments she reunited with her pet at our shelter on Tuesday evening (again, Sept. 1). Officer Cole Woods handled the video footage and was the staff member that assisted with the reunion, even though we were closed to the public. Officer Woods was working the standby shift last night. Soon after this reunion, Officer Woods raced off to handle a rattlesnake call, so it was a fun and frenzied evening for Officer Woods. Riverside County Now #petsforever #misskitty #animalshelter #shelterveterinarian #registeredveterinarytechnicians #shelterlove #sheltercare #RivcoCares #rivcocommunity https://youtu.be/62HOoReJwIw

Hello all. This news release was just sent out from our colleagues at the county's department of Public Health. Please also have your pets ready to go -- and their medications -- if you need to evacuate. Stay safe. Riverside County health officials urge residents to take precautions because of smoke, ash from fires Wildfires burning throughout California are generating smoke and ash that is impacting portions of western Riverside County, prompting health officials to urge re...sidents to take precautions with the unhealthy air quality levels. Residents in the San Gorgonio Pass and western Riverside County need to be aware of the risks of breathing unhealthy air and take steps to keep safe, said Dr. Cameron Kaiser, Riverside County public health officer. The smoke and ash advisory has been issued effective today (Sept. 8) until further notice. While fires are burning throughout California, the nearest blaze, The 10,500-plus-acre El Dorado fire, has directly impacted Riverside County, sending smoke and ash into the area and causing some evacuations near Cherry Valley after igniting in Yucaipa. Predictions of Santa Ana winds have fire officials concerned the fire could continue to grow. Kaiser recommends that those who live in areas impacted by smoke and ash should avoid strenuous activity, remain indoors with the air-conditioning on and windows and doors closed. Also, keep the indoor air fresh with a clean filtering system to prevent from bringing smoke inside. Wildfire smoke can cause a range of health issues, which include burning eyes, runny nose, shortness of breath, scratchy throat, headaches and chest pains. Smoke can also worsen chronic heart and lung disease. Officials also stress the importance of following evacuation instructions for the safety of all residents living in potential evacuation areas. Safety steps have been taken to protect residents and workers at all evacuation locations. We have taken a number of precautions to ensure everyone is safe while they are evacuated, said Bruce Barton, director of the County of Riverside Emergency Management Department. In addition to sheltering away from smoke, we implemented expanded precautions to ensure evacuated residents are protected from COVID-19 with screening, physical distancing, sanitation stations and a number of other safety measures. Residents can visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7148/ for the most current information on the El Dorado Fire, and sign up for emergency alerts at www.RivCoReady.org/AlertRivCo.

Does this dog look familiar? He came in today from the unincorporated Hemet area. He is about 2 years old, and he weighs 13 lbs. If you know who he belongs to, share this post with them. To redeem him, please visit www.rcdas.org to schedule an appointment to pick him up. His animal ID number is A1595300.

We LOVE this story so very much; we meant to post it last week, but could not find the KABC version. Here is KTLA's report about a VERY COOL dog, an awesome Good Samaritan and the sweet, human-pet bond that is everlasting: https://ktla.com//dog-calls-for-help-after-88-year-old-ow/

We know some of you are fans of ours, and we’re always pleased when we can pleae one of our fellow county colleagues. Teresa Summers, director of the county’s Purchasing and Fleet Services Department, praised officer Mary Salazar for her corralling skills last week when a stray dog was roaming a few blocks away from her department’s headquarters on Washington Street. After some maneuvering, Officer Salazar was able to lasso the dog and immediately contain and calm him dow...n, Summers said. She was awesome! Summers and her team were so moved by the dog’s sweet nature that they made a donation to the shelter on the dog’s behalf. Salazar said she was grateful to a Good Samaritan who assisted her during the wrangling moments. She said the unknown person used their vehicle to prevent the dog from running out onto busy Washington Street, near Bradley Street, where it would have likely been hit by a motorist. Once he knew we were there to rescue him, he calmed down and became super friendly, Salazar said. He’s a super sweet dog. The dog's owner, apparently, has not yet come to the shelter to redeem their pet; the dog's animal ID number is: A-1592971. Riverside County Now #GoodSamaritans #strayDOG #sweetDOG #shelterDOG #animalCONTROLofficer #dogRESCUE

Important information in light of some recent seismic activity in our area: Quake swarm is warning for residents and businesses to prepare This week’s earthquake swarm beneath the Salton Sea, at the southern end of the San Andreas Fault, is a stark reminder that Riverside County residents and businesses must prepare for earthquakes.... Earthquakes can happen at any time, said Bruce Barton, director of the Riverside County Emergency Management Department (EMD). It is important to remember that Southern California is earthquake country and Riverside County has active fault lines running through it. The time to prepare for earthquakes is now. The U.S. Geological Survey issued a public statement Aug. 10, noting that there is an 80 percent probability that earthquakes will continue over the next seven days and some may be moderate in size between magnitude 4.5 and 5.4. A moderate earthquake may cause localized damage. There is approximately a 19 percent chance that a larger earthquake between magnitude 5.5 6.9 could occur within seven days, which could cause damage around the Salton Sea, as well as aftershocks. There is a 1 percent probability that a much larger earthquake of magnitude 7 or higher can occur with seven days. It is critical for all Riverside County residents, business owners and visitors to plan for what to do before, during and after an earthquake, including: Now: Create an emergency kit with water, food and other essential items that will sustain your family for three to seven days. During: Drop, cover and hold on during the shaking. If driving, pull to the side of road and stop until shaking stops. Do not take cover under overpasses or bridges. After: Prepare for aftershocks. Do not handle or drive over downed power lines. If you smell gas, leave the area. This latest swarm of earthquakes reminds me of words from my former UC Riverside geography professor. He told us students, ‘This is earthquake country. It is only a matter of time for a major earthquake.’ We should always be prepared, said Board Chair V. Manuel Perez, Fourth District Supervisor. In the event of an earthquake, EMD will provide emergency information and instructions through the media, social media and phone notification systems. Visit www.RivCoReady.org, @RivCoReady on Twitter and Facebook for valuable information on how to prepare, including instructions on how to build an emergency kit. Community members are also urged to register cell phone numbers with the county’s mass notification system, called Alert RivCo.

News from one of our officers in Riverside ...