Animal Services reports nearly 1,000 service calls in Indio in five months

*Animal Control officers start their day at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus in Thousand Palms. (Photo: Riverside County Department of Animal Services)*

Officials from the Riverside County Department of Animal Services presented an update to the Indio City Council on Wednesday, reporting on the number of service calls in the city and highlighting new initiatives aimed at increasing adoption rates and public accessibility.

The presentation comes as the city continues to monitor a one-year contract with the county agency. Indio leaders approved the service agreement in June following resident complaints regarding response times and the quality of care at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus.

During the meeting, representatives reported that animal control officers responded to 969 calls for service within Indio city limits between July 1 and the end of December. The call volume included 69 reports of aggressive animals, 74 rabies control investigations, 78 potential cruelty cases, and 119 calls for sick or injured animals.

Shelter data for the same six-month period showed that 647 animals were taken in from Indio. While the majority of these animals were categorized as strays, officials noted that 43 animals were confiscated as part of cruelty investigations. On the operations side, the department recorded 366 adoptions, 100 animals returned to their owners, and 69 transfers to rescue partner groups.

To address capacity issues, the department has waived fees for adoptions. Officials announced that this policy will extend to the upcoming Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival, where the department will maintain a full-time presence to encourage on-site adoptions.

The department is also emphasizing a pet support program designed to provide resources to residents who might otherwise feel forced to relinquish their pets due to financial or logistical hardships. Other community-focused updates include free pet identification tags and the waiving of reclaim fees for owners recovering lost pets.

The Coachella Valley Animal Campus has recently expanded its hours of operation, now opening Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The facility remains closed on Mondays. Veterinary services are also seeing a modest expansion, with low-cost vaccination clinics currently held on Wednesdays and Thursdays, with plans to add Friday availability next month.

Council members expressed optimism regarding the report, noting a visible improvement in service presence.

“We’re very passionate about taking care of our animals and the services that you provide,” Mayor Elaine Holmes said. “I’ve seen your trucks all around the city recently, day and night.”

During the discussion, county revealed they have completed heat mapping of Indio to identify specific neighborhoods with high concentrations of animal-related issues. The department offered to meet with city leadership privately to review those hot spots and coordinate targeted outreach.