Free pet adoptions begin Saturday in Riverside County

The annual Clear the Shelters campaign starts Saturday in Riverside County with free pet adoptions, the Department of Animal Services announced.

All adoptions are free on Clear the Shelters’ first day at county shelters in Jurupa Valley at 6851 Van Buren Blvd., San Jacinto at 581 S. Grand Ave. and Thousand Palms, 72-050 Pet Land Place.

The adoption-and-donation campaign, initiated by NBCLA and Telemundo, is in its 10th year. The TV stations promote pets that live in government shelters and nonprofit facilities in the region to help find them forever homes. Riverside County Animal Services has participated in the campaign since 2015.

A few years ago, NBC changed the campaign from a one-day event into a monthlong effort. This year the campaign concludes Sept. 10.

Animal Services advised residents to keep an eye out for posing on the agency’s social media platforms about upcoming adoption events during the campaign.

“We have great relationships with many media partners and a longstanding relationship with NBC and Telemundo,” Animal Services Director Erin Gettis said in a statement. “Certainly these outlets boost adoptions with the Clear the Shelters campaign.”

Gettis said partnerships with external organizations such as the media outlets are key to informing the public about the challenges facing local animal shelters.

“Media companies have long recognized that municipal and nonprofit shelters need all the help we can get when it comes to adoptions, education about pet overpopulation, microchipping and the importance of spaying and neutering,” Gettis said. “We thank NBC and Telemundo for this yearly collaboration.”