Riverside County Pays to Increase Dog Adoptions

Riverside County's Department of Animal Services launched Project Get Out on May 18, a pilot program that will pay rescue groups $500 for each dog they transfer out of county shelters after the animal has spent more than 21 days in care. The county said the program is being run with the Jason Heigl Foundation and Two Pups Wellness Fund. Officials described it as a way to move long-stay dogs more quickly and relieve crowding across the county's four shelters. The first dog moved through the program was Buckaroo, a 1-year-old Doberman Pinscher that had spent 34 days at the Western Riverside Animal Shelter, according to the department. ### Which dogs qualify for the payment? The county said the payment applies to dogs that have been in Riverside County Department of Animal Services care for more than 21 days. Rescue partners that transfer one of those dogs receive $500 under the pilot, according to the department's May 18 announcement. Buckaroo's case shows how the program is meant to work. (rcdas.org) The department said the dog had been at the Western Riverside Animal Shelter for 34 days before being transferred, and the Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center is now helping place him in a home. ### Who is paying for it? The first phase is being funded through private support rather than a general county appropriation, according to the department. (rcdas.org) Riverside County said the Jason Heigl Foundation's support allowed the first iteration to launch, and that future rounds will require additional fundraising. Nancy Heigl of the Jason Heigl Foundation said the group wanted to support rescues taking dogs from shelters through the program. (rcdas.org) Two Pups Wellness Fund Executive Director Bip Haley said the nonprofit was bringing to Riverside County a model it had already used in Arizona. ### Why is Riverside County trying this now? Riverside County said its shelter system took in more than 29,000 dogs and cats last year, plus more than 5,000 small animals, livestock and wildlife. (rcdas.org) The department said all four shelter locations remain in critical overcrowding for dogs, with some kennels holding three to four large dogs together. Mary Martin, director of the Riverside County Department of Animal Services, said the idea grew out of conversations with La Quinta resident Meredith Bettencourt about new ways to save more animals. (rcdas.org) Martin said Bettencourt's outreach helped bring the Arizona-based Project Get Out concept to Riverside County. Bettencourt said she hoped community donations would help expand the effort. ### Who can participate at the start? The county said the first phase is limited to rescue groups that are invited to participate. Riverside County described the program as a pilot and said it would start with rescue partners rather than opening immediately to all organizations. The department said interested rescue organizations can email shelterinfo@rivco.org to learn more about the program. (rcdas.org) The county also directed the public to its adoption listings to view dogs available through the shelter system. ### How does this fit with Riverside County's other shelter efforts? Project Get Out is one of several programs Riverside County said it has added under its RivCo Rise commitment to improve live release rates for dogs and cats. (rcdas.org) The department did not put a public end date on the pilot in its announcement, but said continued fundraising will determine how long future phases can run. May 18 marked the formal launch of the first phase, and the next step is whether additional rescue groups join and whether donors provide money for later rounds. The county said rescues can seek details now through shelterinfo@rivco.org, while Buckaroo's placement is being handled by the Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center. (rcdas.org)