Four-year-old shepherd mix “Conway” is one of thousands of stray dogs and cats that have been flown out of Southern California over the past several months.
The Riverside County Department of Services (RCDAS) says it is using “transfer flights” to address the overpopulation of shelters.
“In 2024, 6,262 cats and dogs were transferred from RivCo shelters to partners across the U.S. and Canada,” County officials stated in a news release Monday.
Conway is one of 27 RCDAS dogs who recently boarded a cross-country flight to Michigan after arriving at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus in December. Funding for the flight was provided by the BISSELL Pet Foundation.
“During his stay at the shelter, he attended free-adoption events at the Riverside County Fair and PetSmart, but no one stepped up to adopt him,” the news release stated.
The flight included long-stay dogs who had been at shelter locations all over Riverside County for over 100 days.
“Addressing the large dog overpopulation in our community is critical, and I’m grateful to Cathy at BISSELL and the whole foundation for their support and willingness to help,” said RCDAS Director Mary Martin. Thanks to the trip, Conway is on his way to finding a new family, the news release stated.
Officials said these flights also help the dogs who remain in the shelter system by giving them a better chance of finding permanent homes.
More information on how you can help change the lives of shelter pets can be found on the RCDAS website.
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