Riverside County Animal Shelter Faces Scrutiny Over Data Irregularities and Costly Consultant

RIVERSIDE COUNTY – The controversy surrounding Riverside County Animal Services deepens as new findings expose irregularities in shelter data and questions arise over the $2.5 million consultant hired to implement changes.

Animal welfare data analyst David Kirk has been studying the shelter’s operations for years, uncovering massive inconsistencies in reported numbers. “At one point, records showed 15,000 animals still in shelters from as far back as 2016—clearly an error,” Kirk explained. He also pointed out discrepancies in live release rates, a key measure of shelter performance. While the county’s consultant recently claimed a 90% live release rate, actual numbers show it closer to 81%—or even lower when examined more critically.

These findings have sparked concerns that data is being manipulated, possibly by double-counting fostered animals or using the Community Cat Program to inflate positive outcomes. Adding to the frustration, the county’s new consultant—hired at a steep cost—is implementing a plan already successfully used by Palm Springs Animal Shelter, a move critics say could have been achieved for far less.

With increasing public outcry and mounting questions about who is truly in charge, animal advocates are demanding accountability and real change before more animals lose their lives.