Needs Rescue Notification Process
Hello to all and thank you for wanting to assist us in our life-saving mission.
This new Needs Rescue process will help us perform our operations, while also providing rescue partner organizations the necessary information to know which dogs need the most help. All of this will be done in the spirit of transparency. This will be part of a 90-day pilot program and we are hoping it will be good for all parties involved.
Riverside County Animal Services’ rescue notification process has developed three categories. Dogs listed in the rescue categories may have special behavioral or medical needs requiring treatment. Dogs within “Needs Rescue” and “Red List” categories may be eligible for public adoption on a case-by-case basis. All adoptions must be done in person at our shelter campuses.
How to contact us (e-mails are preferred): [email protected]
- PLEASE: ALWAYS include the animal’s seven-digit ID number in the subject line
The following three categories have been established; followed by a brief explanation of each category.
RESCUE CATEGORIES:
- NEEDS RESCUE STATUS
- RESCUE ONLY STATUS: 48-hour RESCUE PLEA NOTICE
- RED STATUS: 72-hour PUBLIC PLEA NOTICE
NEEDS RESCUE STATUS (formerly green and yellow lists)
These are dogs that we cannot keep in the shelter given their current medical or behavior condition. Those marked needs rescue are dogs that have met their legally mandated retention period but have been deemed medically or behaviorally unadoptable.
These dogs need a rescue commitment immediately. Contact the rescue team during business hours to coordinate a pickup time.
These dogs may be available to public adopters on a case-by-case basis with a signed behavior/medical waiver. Shelters are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. No appointment is necessary.
Dogs in the needs rescue category may become red, rescue only or in extreme circumstances euthanized without notice based upon their ongoing condition and/or lack of shelter resources.
RESCUE ONLY STATUS: 48-hour RESCUE PLEA NOTICE
These dogs have been placed in a rescue-only category based on the severity of their medical or behavioral condition. These dogs are only available to our approved registered rescue partners.
If you are an approved registered rescue, contact the rescue team during business hours immediately to arrange a pickup if you are placing a commitment on a rescue-only animal.
Rescue only dogs are cleared for euthanasia after 48-hours if not transferred to partner rescue groups.
Dogs in the rescue only category may in extreme circumstances be euthanized without notice based upon their ongoing condition and/or lack of shelter resources.
RED STATUS: 72-hour PUBLIC PLEA NOTICE
These dogs have been placed in imminent need for or adoption by the public. This red status category is based on medical or behavioral conditions that are less severe than rescue only status.
If you are an approved registered rescue, contact the rescue team during business hours immediately to facilitate pickup if you are interested in a red status animal. These dogs may be available to public adopters on a case-by-case basis with a signed behavior/medical waiver. Shelters are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday. No appointment necessary. Come to the shelter to meet dogs in need.
Those dogs marked red status are cleared for euthanasia after 72-hours if not transferred to partner rescue groups or adopted by the public.
Dogs in the red status rescue category may become rescue only or in extreme circumstances be euthanized without notice based upon their ongoing condition and/or lack of shelter resources.