Animal Services
The Mission Viejo Animal Services Center recently learned about an animal hoarding case in Diamond Bar where the Inland Valley Humane Society rescued more than 100 animals from an elderly woman's home.
Animal hoarding happens when someone has more animals than they can properly house. It's a complex mental health issue in which the person keeping the animals believes he or she is helping them in a way that no one else can. Unfortunately, in most cases, the home is in disarray and the animals are in poor health.
Kindra McMahon is our March 2022 Volunteer of the Month!
Kindra has been a dog walker since 2014. She is punctual and often helps with extra shifts throughout the week - sometimes on a moment's notice. Her love for our homeless animals is evident on every shift, and it's obvious that love is mutual.
She chose to volunteer here after adopting her dog Winston from our shelter. Winston was rescued from the overcrowded Riverside shelter.
"He is so special that I wanted to give back to the place that saved him," Kindra said.
Mission Viejo Animal Services (MVAS) on February 19 received word from OC Animal Care that an escaped serval cat was traveling through the County's jurisdiction. It was first reported to be loose in the Lemon Heights neighborhood in Tustin. The last sighting of the cat was near Whiting Ranch in Foothill Ranch. OC Animal Care was unable to capture the animal and advised that it would likely appear in our jurisdiction next.
Meet Brynn Lavison, our Animal Care Supervisor.
Brynn has been working at our center for more than 20 years. She began as a licensing representative in 2000 before being promoted to supervisor. She left Mission Viejo briefly in 2004 to accept the supervisor position at the San Clemente Animal Shelter but returned to Mission Viejo a couple years later. She has been with us for so long because she loves it and can't imagine working anywhere else.
Along with rescuing dogs, through our A Mission for Home Rescue Program, we rescue cats and kittens. Last October, when OC Animal Care was overflowing with kittens, we transferred nine from that shelter to ours. Since they came from a busy shelter, most of them immediately showed signs of upper-respiratory infection, so we had to isolate and treat them for two weeks. DAWG paid for their treatment so they could be adopted.
Henry is a 1-year-old boxer mix that came from the Desert Hot Springs Animal Shelter. He was one of 22 dogs housed in 10 kennels until the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center stepped up and brought Henry and some other dogs here.
At only 40 pounds, Henry is smaller than the average boxer but has all the traits of a boxer. He is goofy, wiggly and jumpy, fun and playful, and loves everyone he meets. However, he can be mouthy at times and needs some training to be polite. He is a typical young dog that acts like a silly kid.
The Mission Viejo Animal Services Center on Saturday, March 12 will host a low-cost pet vaccination clinic for Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita and Laguna Hills residents.
The drive-through clinic is from 8:30-10 am at 28095 Hillcrest.
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.
Nearly a year ago, the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center rescued a dog from a Texas shelter through the center's A Mission for Home Rescue Program.
Drake is a handsome 6-year-old American Bulldog that was turned in as a stray in late December. Typical of his breed, Drake is confident, social, and affectionate. American bulldogs generally bond strongly with their owners and crave attention, which is why the perfect home for Drake would be with someone who is home a lot, would take him on a couple of walks a day, and would love to hang out on the couch with Drake for the rest of the day.