An ongoing lawsuit against Riverside County Animal Services is gaining momentum after a judge ruled that the plaintiffs may proceed with core claims under California’s Hayden Act. Attorney Dan Bolton, who represents the plaintiffs, shared the latest updates during an interview.
Bolton explained that the court has allowed the case to move forward on allegations that Riverside County violated the Hayden Act by failing to provide emergency medical care and by neglecting proper record keeping for animals in its shelters. The court also gave Bolton’s team permission to amend the complaint to include further details about alleged taxpayer fund misuse.
The amended lawsuit highlights troubling incidents, including a recent case at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus (CVAC), where a man adopted a German Shepherd and a Husky. When the dogs appeared sick, he returned them to the shelter for care. The shelter tested the German Shepherd for parvo and confirmed the illness—but instead of offering treatment, staff gave the adopter an ultimatum: pay for care or surrender the dogs to be euthanized. Unable to afford care, the man surrendered them. The German Shepherd was euthanized, and the Husky was returned to a kennel, reportedly infecting other dogs that later died of parvo.
“This is a real example of what happens when the Hayden Act is ignored,” Bolton said. “Animals are dying from treatable conditions because they’re not receiving the care they’re entitled to under the law.”
The lawsuit also raises concerns about hiring decisions and contract spending—particularly a $2.5 million agreement with consultant Kristin Hasson, whose methods have drawn criticism. Bolton described her hiring as a “boondoggle deal,” alleging she duplicated the duties of the current shelter director, Mary Martin.
Bolton added that labeling animals as "behavioral" to justify euthanasia has increased under current leadership—an approach he says reflects the same cost-cutting tactics endorsed by Hasson. “Reducing numbers to look good isn’t a solution. It’s a cover-up for not doing the work to find homes,” he said.
Riverside County has 30 days to respond to the amended complaint. Bolton remains optimistic the court will allow the case to proceed further, citing over 20 pages of new allegations about misused public funds and ongoing violations.
Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.
By: NBC Palm Springs
April 24, 2025
