Wanted: Forever Homes

June 1, 2014 marked the opening day of the fifth and final Rachel Ray $100K Challenge. The Rachel Ray $100K Challenge offers financial reward to the animal shelter that places more animals in homes this year than during same period last year. The challenge is on from June - August. Moreno Valley Animal Shelter at 14041 Elsworth Street is working hard to win. But it isn't just about the winning, Steve Fries, Animal Services Division Manager, and the staff at Moreno Valley Animal Shelter are dedicated to bringing pets and people together. Fries not only wants a healthy, happy environment for pets waiting to be adopted, but he and his staff make it a priority to provide real "customer service." Customer service didn't used to be a consideration in animal shelters of the past, but it is part of a new paradigm in animal placement. The customers of Moreno Valley Animal Shelter know that they are getting "quality" pets. Animals from the shelter come with spay/neuter surgery, vaccines, and a HomeAgain Microchip. The cost right now to adopt a dog from the shelter is $50.00 and $25.00 for cats and kittens. Everyone at the shelter shares in Dr. Sarah Strongin's philosophy, "Make adoption the first option." Dr. Strongin is one of two full-time veterinarians at the Moreno Valley Animal Shelter. The shelter provides many services that some residents may not be aware of such as: health checks, vaccinations, licenses, resource guides to trainers, and trap rental. There is an information board filled with literature on everything from lost pets to Q&As on mandatory spay and neuter laws. They even offer a conference room where potential adoptees can be introduced to other animals from their prospective homes to make sure everyone is a good match. The emphasis on adoption has been growing since the early 1970s and all this effort is paying off. A Humane Society article, by Andrew R. Rowan, Ph.d, cites a 60% drop in euthanasia rates since 1973. The staff at Moreno Valley Shelter looks at every possibility to place it's animals in good homes, including partnering with many rescue groups and organizing community events. Providing customer service in a time still recovering from deep budget cuts is difficult and the Moreno Valley Animal Shelter is always grateful to receive help in the form of volunteers and/or items on its "Wish List" such as: towels, newspapers, toys for puppies and kittens, and dry food. A complete list of needs can be picked up at the shelter office. The Moreno Valley Animal Shelter is also the permanent home of Rusty. Rusty is a big, orange, eight-year-old cat who came to the shelter as a kitten with his brothers, sisters and mom. He arrived with a broken leg that became infected, and the shelter nursed him back to health. He was adopted twice but returned to the shelter each time when his families had to move. On his second return, the staff simply adopted him. He wanders around the shelter still with a slight limp from his early injury and greets visitors from his post on the reception area desk. For more information on adoption, upcoming animal shelter events or to visit Rusty, call Margaret Linne or Diane Dinerstein at 951-413-3790.