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The Riverside Humane Society Pet Adoption Center is now the Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center. Teresa Rhyne, a director of the Center, made the announcement to more than 100 supporters attending a reception honoring the family of Duane Roberts held at the Historic Mission Inn in Riverside.
Mary S. Roberts was the mother of Duane Roberts, owner of the Historic Mission Inn and also a food company and real estate businessman, and philanthropist.
The Riverside Humane Society was established in 1897. In 1995 it was renamed the Riverside Humane Society Pet Adoption Center when the organization turned over all animal-control services to the Riverside County Dept. of Animal Services. The Pet Adoption Center (petsadoption.org) will remain a non-profit 501 (c)(3) public benefit charitable organization and carry on its mission to rescue and find loving homes for homeless cats and dogs.
“It makes me so happy, I’m so deeply honored and proud to have the Center named after my mother,” Roberts said. “I started the Mary S. Roberts Foundation in her honor to support animals and children, among others.”
On behalf of the board of directors and staff of the Pet Adoption Center, Rhyne presented to Roberts and his wife, Kelly, a watercolor painting of the Center with the new name across the front of the building.
Michael Arms, president of Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe, CA, was guest speaker at the reception. He gave a passionate talk, citing heart-wrenching examples, including a personal one of his own, of how animals help and save people. He stated that animals, in turn, need people to help them, which he sees happening whenever he visits the Pet Adoption Center, thanks to its hard-working, dedicated staff.
“We not only want to honor the Roberts family who has been so very supportive of our organization for many years by making this name change, but we also want to try to eliminate the ongoing confusion the public has regarding our Center and local animal-control services,” explains Denise Perry, executive director of the Pet Adoption Center.
“Not a day goes by that we don’t have someone coming to the Center or calling us looking to turn in a stray animal or wanting to buy a dog license, for instance,” she adds. “We want people to know where they should go to get the services they need.”
“And even though the word Riverside was in our former name, our reach extends far beyond the city of Riverside and Riverside County. Animals we’ve rescued have been adopted by people from throughout southern California, and even northern California and Arizona.”
“Additionally, the words humane society in our name confused the public even more,” Perry continues. “We are a private non-profit organization supported solely by donations and fundraising events. We do not receive any financial support from the Humane Society of the United States, the American Humane Society, or any other similarly named organization. We also do not receive funds from any governmental entity.”
The Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center is a non-profit public benefit charitable organization serving communities in Riverside County and beyond. As the largest no-kill pet adoption organization in Riverside County, the center accepts owner turn-ins of cats and dogs and transfers from local animal-control agencies. Prior to adoption, each animal is spayed or neutered, vaccinated, evaluated for behavior issues, and microchipped. Each animal also is monitored for physical, emotional and mental health, and receives ongoing socialization. For information, contact the Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center at 951-688-4340.
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