More than 60 Dogs from Riverside County House Fire Need Loving Homes
Dogs Rescued from Hemet House Fire Available for Adoption
RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif. – A total of 65 dogs saved from a devastating house fire in Hemet are now seeking new homes. Tragically, seven dogs perished in the fire, but the rest have been relocated to the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus.
The incident, which unfolded recently, saw animal services officials heroically rescue the surviving dogs from the property. "There were dogs inside the property and loose around the property. A lot of them have been through a dramatic experience and so really being able to assess if there were any medical needs. Thankfully, there was no critical condition for any of them," said Veronica Perez from the Riverside County Department of Animal Services. She confirmed that none of the surviving dogs showed signs of abuse or neglect, although they had endured a traumatic situation.
The majority of the rescued dogs are small chihuahuas, with several German Shepherds and Pitbull mixes also among them.
Currently, the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus is facing a significant challenge, as it operates at 300% of its normal capacity. "More dogs continue entering the shelter system than are leaving through adoption, return-to-owner, or rescue," the shelter stated. In January alone, 1,694 dogs were taken in, while only 1,237 found new homes or were returned to their owners.
Despite the overcrowding, the shelter has reported 40 adoptions since calling for assistance. The organization is now eager to find homes for the remaining dogs.
For those looking to adopt, the shelter has waived adoption fees through March, with spay/neuter services and vaccinations included.
The need for homes continues to grow, as shelter officials work tirelessly to ensure the welfare of these animals.
