Animal Services

David grew up in the local area and after graduating from high school, he worked as a service technician at a car dealership. In search of a new profession, David enrolled in the Orange County Park Ranger academy as a Reserve Ranger in 2010. For numerous years, David worked as a reserve ranger for Orange County Parks. David was reassigned to Orange County Animal Control as a reserve Animal Control Officer serving in the Special Investigations unit during his stint as a reserve ranger. David became interested in animal control during this time.

Our volunteers of the month are our father-and-son team Mike and Brad Kelly.

Mike and Bradley started volunteering at the center in September 2022 because they love all animals. They started as greeters for the center greeting and directing visitors and moved on to work with the small animals in our care. Mike and Bradley are dependable and committed to the bunnies and guinea pigs. They enjoy socializing them and making sure they are cozy and have lots of toys to keep them entertained after they leave.  

One of the most common wild animals that Mission Viejo Animal Services Officers interact with are opossums. These creatures are often thought of as pests, but they are actually interesting animals. Their main food source is ticks, which carry many dangerous zoonotic diseases. In North America, opossums are the only known marsupial, a small class of animals who raise their young in a pouch.

Many national and local organizations mark April as a month to raise awareness against animal cruelty. The images that we sometimes see of animal cruelty cases can be profoundly disturbing - they strike a deep chord within us. The topic of animal welfare is not limited to domestic family pets. Animal welfare is a significant national concern with a lengthy history in American law extending back to the early colonial times.

Hop over to Mission Viejo Animal Services Center on Saturday, April 1 for the second annual “Critter Care 101” adopt-and-shop event.

The fun takes place from noon to 3 pm at 28095 Hillcrest.

Shop several vendors that specialize in small pet products including Poppyseed Paws, Buttercup’s Bunny Boutique, The Organic Bun Co., Paw Kreations, and Bunny Bunch Boutique. With Love, From Scratch will also be on hand selling delectable delights for attendees.

Only one of Mission Viejo Animal Services Center's long-time dogs was adopted during the St. Pawtrick's Day special. Ten loving dogs are still available - Korra, Archer, Tasha, Flo Jo, Sparkplug, Mulligan, Twinkie, Gwen, Ernie, and Ophelia.

If you want to be lucky to adopt a special furry friend, head to the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center for the St. Pawtrick's Day adoption event now through March 31. The goal is to find loving, forever homes for the dogs that have been at the center the longest.

Could the path to the pot of gold be paved with pawprints? Stop by the center to meet with Korra, Archer, Tasha, Flo Jo, Sparkplug, Venice, Mulligan, Twinkie, Gwen, Ernie, and Ophelia.

Join Mission Viejo Animal Services for the second annual “Critter Care 101” on Saturday, April 1 from noon to 3 pm. Shop, adopt and learn about small animals at this fun event.

Attendees will see why small animals make fantastic pets and learn about small animal care with workshops from rabbit and Guinea pig pros.

Participants can also interact with adoptable small animals and shop vendors that specialize in small pet products.

If you’re passionate about animals and want to help preserve local wildlife, consider applying for the Helping out Wildlife Locally (HOWL) Volunteer Program. 

Mission Viejo Animal Services is seeking dedicated adults interested in helping the local wildlife and community through this volunteer program. HOWL volunteers take 20 hours of specialized training on the natural history of local wildlife, animal services operations, common wildlife issues and attractants. Volunteers also learn proper wildlife hazing and conflict mitigation techniques. 

It's that time of year again and for many of us - the weather is warming up, we look around our homes, where we work and want things to be brighter, cleaner and decluttered. But what about our pets?

Here are 10 spring cleaning tips for pet parents:

1. Clean and Organize Your Pet's Food Stash