Riverside County Animal Services Faces Scrutiny Over Leadership, Spending, and Shelter Conditions

Frustration continues to mount over Riverside County Animal Services as residents and animal advocates demand answers to ongoing issues of poor shelter conditions, questionable leadership hires, and taxpayer spending. Despite public outcry and months of scrutiny, meaningful changes remain slow.

Leadership Decisions Raise Eyebrows

The county's decision to hire Mary Martin as the new director has sparked outrage. Martin, formerly with Maricopa County Animal Care & Control, faced similar criticism for inhumane conditions and poor management. Reports from her previous tenure describe temperatures reaching 108°F inside shelters, with animals left in distressing conditions.

Critics argue the pattern of hiring unqualified leaders—including Martin’s predecessor, Erin Geddes—has jeopardized animal welfare and eroded public trust. Despite widespread complaints, Geddes was promoted after her removal, intensifying frustrations.

Millions Spent, Minimal Results

To address these issues, Riverside County spent $2.1 million on a consultant, Kristen Hasse, whose recommendations mirror solutions offered for free by local nonprofits like the Greater Palm Springs Animal Allies.

"Why pay millions when local experts have offered help for 20 years?" asked animal welfare advocate Tamara Hedges, whose organization runs a successful no-kill shelter model. Despite numerous offers to assist, the county has consistently declined collaboration until recently, finally scheduling a meeting—after public pressure intensified.

What’s at Stake?

Advocates emphasize that healthy, adoptable animals are still being euthanized, despite the county’s website claiming otherwise. Basic shelter reforms, like implementing a foster program—standard at most successful shelters—remain absent.

"Residents have been asking for improvements for years," said Fred Roggin on The Roggin Report. "Yet here we are, months into this investigation, with minimal action beyond lip service."

The county also recently hired an architectural firm to assess expanding the Coachella Valley Animal Campus—a move critics argue is obvious and long overdue.

Moving Forward

As taxpayers demand accountability, the key questions remain:

• Why has reform taken so long?

• Why spend millions on outside consultants when local solutions are readily available?

• Will Riverside County finally prioritize animal welfare over bureaucracy?

With public patience running thin and animals’ lives at stake, calls for immediate action are growing louder.

Stay tuned to NBC Palm Springs for continued coverage on this developing story.