The Riverside County Department of Animal Services has revealed that the Board of Supervisors has unanimously voted to support two initiatives proposed by animal services officials. These initiatives are designed to improve the welfare and development of cats in the county.
Dr. Kim Youngberg, from the Riverside County Department of Animal Services, explained in a press release issued by the department, "Many cats impounded in county shelters are unsocial ‘feral’ cats and lost cats. These cats have few opportunities for adoption or placement. Also, fewer than two percent of shelter cats are reclaimed by their owners. We can help save cats’ lives by returning those cats that are healthy and not injured to where they were found."
According to the press release, one resolution supports the return of healthy cats to their original habitats. This initiative acknowledges that there are no state laws prohibiting cats from roaming freely and seeks to address the issue of lost, uninjured pet cats being taken to shelters by concerned residents. Under these new guidelines, sick or injured cats will still be accepted into the shelter system. Here, veterinary staff will provide necessary care such as spay/neuter services if available before considering adoption, fostering or returning them to their owners.
The second resolution endorses the 5,000 Cat Challenge — an initiative aiming to enhance live outcomes for cats in Riverside County in 2024. The Challenge's action items include reducing adoption barriers, implementing a community cat program, promoting fostering and rescue opportunities and prioritizing spay/neuter services.
Since initiating the Cat Challenge in January, Animal Services' officials have collaborated with local Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) groups to spay and neuter over 100 cats. Youngberg stated in the release: "This is about saving cats’ lives at a time when our shelters are extremely overcrowded with lost pets and strays. The longer an animal languishes in the shelter system, the more at risk it is of not having a live outcome."
Youngberg, who serves as the assistant director of Riverside County Department of Animal Services, promotes responsible pet ownership through animal welfare initiatives, community outreach and humane education. As stated on its website, the department has so far found homes for 8,636 homeless animals and has saved nearly 20,000 in total through adoption, transfers or reunification with owners.