Presented by The Living Desert, this week’s Roggin Report highlights a series of growing concerns at Riverside County Animal Services. Despite a public pledge to transform the shelters into a no-kill system by June, insiders and attorneys are raising serious questions about what’s really happening behind closed doors.
Mary Martin, the newly appointed director, introduced herself in a heartfelt social media video, pledging to increase live release rates and rebuild community trust. Her warm welcome message painted the picture of a fresh start—but critics argue it’s more of the same, with some disturbing new twists.
To achieve the goal of appearing “no-kill,” the department has begun limiting animal intake, making it more difficult for residents to surrender pets. Fees to surrender animals remain steep—up to $220, with some reports of even higher charges—effectively discouraging intakes that could increase euthanasia numbers.
More troubling are reports that shelter staff are allegedly manipulating adoption records, red-listing healthy animals, and fast-tracking euthanasia to “clean out” the shelters before June. One anonymous insider at the San Jacinto shelter described it as a “death chamber.”
Attorney Dan Bolton, representing clients in two lawsuits against the county, recently sent a letter to Riverside County’s legal counsel expressing concern over the spike in euthanasia. He argued that the dramatic increase in red-listed animals appears to be a calculated effort to meet the county’s self-imposed deadline for becoming no-kill. Bolton called the practice “unconscionable and illegal.”
Public trust, already eroded by past leadership and costly consulting efforts, now hangs in the balance. While Riverside County claims it does not euthanize adoptable or healthy animals, Bolton’s letter challenges the county to explain why that policy is being ignored—and why directors Mary Martin and Kristen Hassett have yet to address it.
Whether community outrage, legal pressure, or both will force the county to change course remains to be seen. But as it stands, the lives of countless animals hang in the balance.
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By: Fred Roggin
May 7, 2025
