Riverside Residents Can Ride Out Last (Hopefully) Heatwave of the Year with Their Animal Companions at First Pet-Friendly Cooling Center
Published: 10/2/2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Oct. 2, 2024
Contact:
Phil Pitchford
Public Information Officer
951-826-5975
Riverside Residents Can Ride Out the Last (Hopefully) Heatwave of the Year with Their Animal Companions at First Pet-Friendly Cooling Center
With temperatures hovering around 100 this week, it will be ruff out there, so chill with Fido at the Ssgt. Salvador J. Lara Casa Blanca Library
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Halloween decorations are up, but so are temperatures in Riverside this week, so grab your pet and enjoy the first Pet-Friendly Cooling Center at the Ssgt. Salvador J. Lara Casa Blanca Library.
With the mercury rising near or above 100 degrees through early next week, the Riverside Public Library is offering the service to ensure the safety and comfort of both residents and their pets during high temperatures. This is believed to be the first government cooling center of its kind in Riverside County.
“Extreme heat is dangerous, so our cooling centers provide a vital respite during heatwaves like this,” Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson said. “Being able to bring your pet along with you makes it more likely that people will take advantage of this, while keeping our animal friends safe as well.”
The library, at 2985 Madison St., will provide a cool, safe space for both people and their animal companions to escape the heat Tuesday-Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (The library is closed Mondays).
The cooling center will offer designated areas for animals, with convenient access to our outdoor garden; access to water for filling pet dishes; emergency supplies, as available, including disposable water dishes, gloves, disposable bags, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant wipes.
“Pets are especially vulnerable to extreme temperatures, and this cooling center is designed to provide a safe refuge for them,” Mayor Pro Tem Jim Perry said. “A pet-friendly cooling center is a great place to relax and dream of cooler weather.”
To ensure our fury friends exist in harmony, there are some ground rules:
- Dogs must be on a leash at all times while on the premises.
- Owners are responsible for bringing their own food, food dish, and water dish for their pets.
- Owners must provide their own waste clean-up supplies (such as bags and wipes).
- Other animals (such as cats, rabbits, birds, etc.) must be contained in a suitable crate.
- Owners must maintain possession and supervision of their pets at all times.
- A maximum of three (3) animals is allowed per owner.
For more information, please contact the Ssgt. Salvador J. Lara Casa Blanca Library at 951-826-2120 or visit our website at https://riversideca.gov/library/.
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