What Riverside County Department of Animal Services does

Riverside County Department of Animal Services (RCDAS) is a county government department under the County of Riverside, California, that operates as the primary animal control and sheltering authority for unincorporated Riverside County and 15 contracted municipalities (including Riverside, Temecula-area cities, Coachella Valley cities, San Jacinto, Hemet, and Blythe). The department operates four physical shelter campuses — Western Riverside (Jurupa Valley, headquarters), San Jacinto Valley, Coachella Valley (Thousand Palms, co-operated with Animal Samaritans), and Blythe — and takes in 30,000–40,000 animals annually while maintaining more than 1,000 pets available for adoption at any given time. Service lines include animal control and field services, pet licensing (via DocuPet), spay/neuter and low-cost vaccination clinics (both fixed-site and mobile), foster and volunteer programs, a Trap-Neuter-Return community cat program, lost and found reunification (via Petco Love Lost), humane euthanasia, deceased animal disposal, citation processing, wildlife services, and disaster response through the R.E.A.R.S. volunteer academy (279 trained responders) and a prison-based foster partnership with Ironwood State Prison.

RCDAS runs on a hybrid technology stack combining Chameleon for shelter data management, 24PetConnect for public adoption listings across all four campuses, DocuPet for licensing, Petco Love Lost for reunification, Acuity for appointment scheduling, Volgistics for volunteer management, and 24PetWatch for microchipping. The department publishes daily Report Cards across all campuses under its RivCo Rise transparency initiative. Its business model blends tax-funded county general-fund appropriations and municipal service contracts with diversified fee-for-service revenue: tiered adoption fees ($25–$105 depending on animal type and age, with all fees waived after 48 hours and during overcapacity events), jurisdictional pet licensing fees ($8–$360), citation and dangerous-dog registration revenue, low-cost vaccine and microchip fees, $50 humane euthanasia fees, and $25–$55 deceased animal disposal fees, supplemented by grants (e.g., PetSmart Charities, BISSELL Pet Foundation) and charitable donations.

RCDAS's go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, leveraging four public shelter campuses, regional RivCo MVP Facebook groups, fee-waived adoption events (BISSELL Empty the Shelters, California Adopt-a-Pet Day, Riverside County Fair), mobile wellness clinics deployed across county districts, and a deep partner ecosystem (Best Friends Animal Society, Maddie's Fund, ASPCA, Wings of Rescue, Animal Samaritans, Ironwood State Prison). In 2025–2026 the department launched the RivCo Rise transformation, the Ironwood Dog Foster Program, Project Get Out, and the DIBS! pre-adoption process, alongside documented 230% shelter overcapacity that has driven aggressive adoption promotion, out-of-state transport partnerships, and emergency disaster-response activation during fire evacuations.

Name

Riverside County Department of Animal Services

Legal name

Riverside County Department of Animal Services

Website

https://rcdas.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Riverside County Department of Animal Services is a county government department operating four animal shelter campuses across Riverside County, California, providing sheltering, animal control, licensing, spay/neuter, field services, disaster response (R.E.A.R.S.), and adoption services to roughly 30,000–40,000 animals annually for county residents and 15 contracted cities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Animal Services

NAICS

Veterinary Services (54194), Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Rescue Operations (AFAEALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA), Low-Cost & Community Veterinary Clinics (HLAMAAAE), Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership) (BPAGAIAK)

Keywords

• Animal shelter services
• Animal control services
• Pet adoption services
• Municipal pet licensing
• Disaster animal rescue

Headquarters

HQ city

Jurupa Valley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Adoption Fees: Adoption fees are charged for animals adopted within the first 48 hours of availability. Cats: $65 (8 weeks–4 months), $45 (5 months–1 year), $25 (over 1 year). Dogs: $105. After 48 hours, adoptions are free. All adoptions include spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchip, and ID tag.
2. Municipal/County Government Funding: As a county government department, RCDAS is primarily funded through Riverside County general fund allocations, budget appropriations, and service contracts with municipalities for animal control and sheltering services.
3. Pet Licensing Fees: Revenue collected through pet licensing partnerships with DocuPet, administered per jurisdiction. Fees vary by city and pet status (altered/unaltered, senior discounts). Ranges from $8–$360 annually depending on jurisdiction and pet status.
4. Deceased Animal Disposal Fees: Fees for deceased owned pet disposal services. $55 for contract city areas with city pickup; $25 for unincorporated county residents who must drop off at shelter.
5. Citation and Fine Revenue: Revenue from animal control citations, dangerous dog registration fees ($250/year), late licensing fees, and replacement tag fees ($6).
6. Humane Euthanasia Fee: $50 fee charged for owner-requested humane euthanasia services and care of pet remains.
7. Vaccination and Microchip Services: Low-cost vaccination and microchip services. Dog vaccines: Rabies $10, DA2PP $18, Bordetella $18, Microchip $21. Cat vaccines: FVRCP $18, FELV $18.
8. Donations and Grants: RCDAS receives grant funding (e.g., $25,000 PetSmart Charities grant) and charitable donations via direct contributions, Amazon wish list donations for specific programs, and disaster relief donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Riverside County Department of Animal Services (RCDAS) is a county government animal welfare agency that operates four shelter campuses providing animal intake, housing, medical care, and adoption services. The department delivers animal control and field services, pet licensing, low-cost spay/neuter and vaccination clinics, lost and found reunification, foster and rescue coordination, wildlife services, humane euthanasia, and disaster animal rescue through the R.E.A.R.S. program. It is funded primarily by Riverside County general fund allocations, contracted city service fees, adoption and licensing fees, citations, and charitable donations and grants.

Product overview

Riverside County Department of Animal Services operates as a county government animal sheltering and animal control agency offering a comprehensive portfolio of animal welfare services. The core offering centers on four shelter campuses (Western Riverside County/City Animal Shelter, San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus, Coachella Valley Animal Campus, and Blythe Animal Shelter) that provide animal intake, housing, medical care, and adoption services. Supporting the shelter operations, the department offers complementary service modules including the Rescue Partner Program for animal transfer coordination, the Ironwood Dog Foster Program (prison-based dog training), Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) services for community cats, and mobile wellness/vaccination clinics. The department also provides animal control functions (licensing, citations, animal cruelty investigation, noisy animal complaint processing, wildlife services), lost and found reunification services, volunteer and foster care programs, and the R.E.A.R.S. disaster response system. The RivCo Rise initiative represents a transformation program focused on transparency and improved outcomes. All services are provided directly by department staff across Riverside County service areas, with partnerships for licensing (DocuPet), appointment scheduling (Acuity Scheduling), and shelter data management (24PetConnect).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RivCo Rise: Transformation initiative with new leadership, targeted investments, and community partnership programs to improve animal outcomes
• Ironwood Dog Foster Program
• R.E.A.R.S.
• RivCo MVP
• DIBS!

Products and services

• Animal Shelter Services Animal intake, housing, medical care, and adoption services operated from four shelter campuses (Western Riverside County/City Animal Shelter in Jurupa Valley, San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus, Coachella Valley Animal Campus in Thousand Palms, and Blythe Animal Shelter) serving Riverside County residents.
• Pet Adoption Services Pet adoption program with tiered fees (cats $25–$65, dogs $105 in first 48 hours) and fee-waived adoptions during overcapacity periods and promotional events such as BISSELL Empty the Shelters and California Adopt-a-Pet Day. Includes DIBS! pre-adoption process, spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchip, and ID tag.
• Foster Care Program Temporary foster placement program for orphaned puppies and kittens, senior pets, animals recovering from illness or injury, and shy or fearful pets, with sub-programs including Foster Hero (found pet), Dog Day Out, Ticket to Ride, and Save-a-Life fostering.
• Rescue Partner Program Notification and transfer system for approved rescue organizations to pull animals from RCDAS shelters, with categorized urgency levels (Needs Rescue, Rescue Only 48-hour, Red Status 72-hour) for transparent and timely transfer of at-risk and overcrowded animals.
• Ironwood Dog Foster Program Collaborative foster program with Ironwood State Prison where incarcerated individuals care for shelter dogs, providing leash training, crate sleeping, socialization, and routine to prepare dogs for adoption.
• Lost and Found Services Lost pet reunification services using Petco Love Lost national database integration, microchip scanning, shelter visits, and community outreach to help owners locate lost animals.
• Pet Licensing Annual rabies vaccination and pet licensing service for dogs across unincorporated Riverside County and contract cities, administered via DocuPet partnership with fees ranging from $8 to $360 annually depending on jurisdiction, pet status, and senior discounts.
• Spay and Neuter Services Free mobile spay/neuter clinic services offered throughout Riverside County districts by appointment, plus referral resources for additional low-cost options.
• Mobile Wellness Clinics Free mobile pet wellness clinics at community locations throughout Riverside County offering vaccinations, microchipping, flea/tick treatments, deworming, and rabies vaccines.
• Vaccinations and Microchips Low-cost vaccine and microchip appointments at shelter clinics and mobile wellness events offering dog vaccines (Rabies $10, DA2PP $18, Bordetella $18) and cat vaccines (FVRCP $18, FeLV $18), plus microchip implantation at $21 using 24PetWatch protection services.
• Wildlife Services Wildlife management services including assistance with injured wildlife, rattlesnakes, coyotes, and bears, with referrals to California Department of Fish and Wildlife for game animals.
• Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) Program Community cat TNR services including spay/neuter surgery, ear tipping, vaccinations, and microchipping at multiple shelter locations with varying capacity limits.
• Humane Euthanasia Services Owner-requested humane euthanasia for pets at end of life or suffering, with $50 fee covering euthanasia and remains care, by appointment only.
• Deceased Animal Removal 24/7 pickup service for deceased animals blocking streets or roads, plus fee-based disposal services for owned pets ($55 in contract city areas with city pickup; $25 drop-off for unincorporated county residents).
• Citation and Collections Services Processing of correctable and non-correctable animal control citations with payment plans, extensions, and collections services for animal control violations.
• R.E.A.R.S. Disaster Animal Rescue Riverside Emergency Animal Rescue System - disaster response and animal evacuation service for domestic and livestock animals during emergencies, coordinated with the R.E.A.R.S. volunteer academy of trained responders.
• Behavior Assistance Online resource library with guidance for dog and cat behavior issues including submissive urination, digging, nipping, chewing, house training, litter box issues, and crate training.
• Noisy Animal Complaint Processing Administrative hearing-based process under Ordinance 878 for resolving animal noise complaints, including warning notices, petition filing, and enforcement procedures.
• Volunteer Program Structured volunteer opportunities including cat socialization, pet photography, transport assistance, wellness clinic support, adoption matchmaking, and dog walking and enrichment activities.
• Pet Owner Support Pet owner support resources including pet food assistance, community cat programs, low-cost veterinary care referrals, and senior pet owner assistance programs.
• Pet Rehome Services Resources for pet owners needing to rehome animals, including self-rehoming platforms (Rehome, Home-to-Home), rescue group referrals, and temporary boarding assistance for crisis situations.
• Donation Program Monetary and supply donation acceptance including Amazon wish lists for specific programs and shelter locations, disaster relief donations, and direct mail giving options.

Quantifiable outcome

• 92% of adopters who use post-adoption support services successfully integrate their new pets
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Animal SamaritansflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Animal Samaritans is a key strategic partner in the Coachella Valley Animal Campus (CVAC) facility in Thousand Palms. CVAC opened in 2005 as a partnership between RCDAS, Animal Samaritans, and the Coachella Valley cities. Animal Samaritans holds an ex-officio seat on the CVAC Commission.
• Maddie's FundcoreOthersMaddie's Fund is listed as a proud partner of RCDAS. Maddie's Fund provides resources including foster care flash classes and marketing courses for shelter pets, which RCDAS references in its foster care resources.
• Bissell Pet FoundationflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerBISSELL Pet Foundation partners with RCDAS for Empty the Shelters national adoption events, covering reduced adoption fees. RCDAS participated in the July 2026 Empty the Shelters event (July 5–26) and the 10-year anniversary event in 2026.
• Best Friends Animal SocietycoreOthersBest Friends Animal Society is listed as a proud partner, providing shelter improvement resources, data transparency guidance, and community programs that align with RCDAS's RivCo Rise transformation goals.
• Cal for all AnimalsminorOthersListed as a proud partner. Cal for all Animals is a California statewide animal welfare initiative.
• ASPCAcoreOthersASPCA is listed as a proud partner of RCDAS, providing national-level animal welfare resources and advocacy support.
• ASK FoundationminorOthersASK Foundation is listed as a proud partner, contributing to RCDAS's mission support.
• VCA CharitiesminorOthersVCA Charities is listed as a proud partner, providing charitable veterinary care resources.
• DocuPetcoreTechnology or IntegrationRiverside County partners with DocuPet to offer enhanced pet licensing. Every license includes a unique ID tag and free HomeSafe 24/7 lost pet service. Licensing is managed through riversidecounty.docupet.com.
• Petco Love LostcoreTechnology or IntegrationRCDAS uses Petco Love Lost national lost and found database for stray animals brought to shelters. Found animals are automatically uploaded to Petco Love Lost. The public is directed to petcolovelost.org to report and search for lost/found pets.
• 24PetConnectcoreTechnology or Integration24PetConnect is RCDAS's public-facing adoption listing platform, providing online pet adoption browsing, foster pet listings, lost and found pet reports, and outcome tracking for each of the four shelter campuses.
• Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption CenterminorOthersMary S. Roberts provides low-cost spay/neuter services and pet food assistance (in partnership with Meals-on-Wheels). RCDAS refers residents to this resource.
• Ironwood State PrisoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative foster program where incarcerated men at Ironwood State Prison in Blythe care for shelter dogs, providing leash training, crate sleeping, socialization, and routine. Dogs are then adoption-ready. Facility address: 19000 Wiley's Well Road, Blythe, CA 92225.
• Loving All AnimalsminorOthersLoving All Animals holds an ex-officio seat on the Coachella Valley Animal Campus Commission.
• Palm Springs Animal ShelterminorOthersPalm Springs Animal Shelter holds an ex-officio seat on the Coachella Valley Animal Campus Commission.
• Outcomes for PetscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOutcomes for Pets provides consulting services to RCDAS, including shelter euthanasia protocols and operational consulting. They are listed as consultants on the CVAC Commission and provide guidance for RCDAS data reporting using the Chameleon system.
• Wings of RescuecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWings of Rescue conducts lifesaving flights transporting RCDAS shelter animals to other states for adoption. April 2026: 58 RivCo dogs transported on back-to-back flights. February 2026: 25 RivCo pets transported to Washington State.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• San Diego County Department of Animal Services: Operates three shelter campuses in San Diego County providing sheltering, animal control, licensing, and field services — a direct SoCal peer with a comparable county-government service mandate to RCDAS.
• San Bernardino County Animal Care and Control: Neighboring Inland Empire county animal services agency running multiple shelters with the same animal control, licensing, and adoption mandate — directly comparable in geography and operational scope.
• Houston BARC (City of Houston Animal Services): Municipal animal services agency operating in a large U.S. metro with comparable intake scale, public-private rescue partnerships, and adoption-event programming — a structural peer for municipal shelter operations.
• Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control: California's largest county animal services agency, operating seven shelters across LA County with similar jurisdiction-wide intake, licensing, and animal control mandate — the closest functional comparable to RCDAS in scale and statutory role.

Emerging players

• Austin Pets Alive!: Large Texas-based open-intake shelter nonprofit known for innovative programs (Fospice, FeLV adoption) and high live-release rates — a peer through RCDAS's innovation-focused programs (DIBS!, Ironwood) that compete for the same national best-practice conversation.
• BISSELL Pet Foundation: National animal welfare foundation operating the largest fee-waived adoption event (Empty the Shelters); directly partners with RCDAS on adoption events — comparable as an event-driven adoption platform shaping the same shelter pipeline.

Broad incumbents

• ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals): National animal welfare organization that provides grants, advocacy, and direct sheltering services — a partner of RCDAS and a broad incumbent in the animal welfare ecosystem.
• Best Friends Animal Society: National no-kill advocacy and shelter-support organization that funds and partners with municipal shelters including RCDAS; not a direct operator of municipal sheltering but operates sanctuaries and runs no-kill coalition programs comparable in mission.

Others

• Maddie's Fund: Pet-focused family foundation funding shelter innovation, foster programs, and shelter medicine education; a key resource and ecosystem partner to RCDAS and comparable leadership foundations in the field.

Regional players

• Palm Springs Animal Shelter: Local shelter in the Coachella Valley served by RCDAS and a CVAC Commission ex-officio member — provides directly adjacent shelter services in the same Riverside County geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/helpinRIVcoPETS
• Facebookfacebook.com/3664733083667833
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/riverside-county-department-of-animal-services

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Riverside County Department of Animal Services