Cap’n Crunch cereal box doggie “Razz Berry” gets second chance at forever family

July 14, 2019 Trevor Montgomery

RIVERSIDE COUNTY — A cute and cuddly puppy who was dropped off at a Riverside County animal shelter in the most “unique pet carrier” animal control officials later said they had ever seen has won a second chance at having a forever family after a local family won the curly-haired and playful pooch by way of a lottery drawing held at the Western Riverside County/City Animal Shelter in Jurupa Valley yesterday morning.

The 9-week-old maltese-yorkie mix, who was “severely infested” with fleas, had been dropped off at the shelter last week inside an empty Cap’n Crunch “Crunch Berries” cereal box, which led to officials naming her Razz Berry – based on one of the iconic cereal’s flavors.

LEADING THE RCNS HEADLINES:
SJ man arrested after double shooting that killed man, wounded boy, 10
UPDATE: Second child dies after solo-vehicle San Jacinto crash
More details surface after Menifee Veteran’s weapons arrest

Animal Services Chief and Media Relations & Social Media Strategist John Welsh later told RCNS the person who brought Razz Berry to the shelter claimed they found the diminutive doggie at an area park and brought her to the shelter inside the cereal box possibly due to her flea infestation.

After animal control officials mentioned Razz Berry’s unique delivery in social media posts, so many people fell in love with and wanted to adopt her that officials decided to hold a lottery drawing to ensure all interested parties had the opportunity to adopt her. About 20 families showed up for yesterday morning’s drawing, according to officials.

The Sheets’ family will be able to pick up “Razz Berry” next week, after pulling the highest number during a lottery held in Riverside County this morning. RCDAS photo

“We have seen some creative pet carriers in our days,” animal control officials explained in their releases. “This @RealCapnCrunch cereal box has to be one of the oddest ways a pet came to us as an over-the-counter drop off.”

“The family that pulled out the highest number – 92 – saw the story about Razz Berry on the news on the same day their beloved 12-year-old Puggle, Ginger, died,” Welsh later told RCNS. (See video below.)

“The good news is that a few of this morning’s ‘non winners’ adopted other pets at our shelter, Welsh continued. “So it was a win-win for the four-leggers here in Riverside County.”

The family who won the lottery will be able to pick up Razz Berry next week, after she has been spayed, according to Welsh. Having grown up eating Cap’n Crunch cereals, the family intends on keeping the name given Razz Berry by officials.

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 47, moved last year to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 28 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 15 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.