Animal Services

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and Mission Viejo Animal Services (MVAS) are searching for a juvenile mountain lion that was spotted Thursday in the area of Montanoso and Serenata.

MVAS and Orange County Sheriff's Department personnel were on scene to find and track the cat. Working with a biologist from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, a perimeter and trap were set, but the animal was not captured.

Meet Cricket, a sweet 2-year-old Black Labrador mix waiting for her forever home.  It's a mystery why Cricket hasn't yet been adopted because she has a great disposition and would make a loyal and loving companion.   

Four puppies have a new "leash" on life and are available for adoption thanks to "A Mission for Home Rescue" program.  

Found in a box with eight siblings in the middle of a Texan desert, the adorable pups had a rough start to life.  A young woman walking her dog discovered the abandoned pups that were barely old enough to survive on their own. Thankfully, she knew of the Ghetto Rescue Foundation and drove two hours to meet with Tami from the organization.   

The Mission Viejo Animal Services Center recently received a call regarding a skunk stuck in a rat trap. When Animal Services Officer Stewart arrived, he saw an adult skunk with its paw stuck in the trap. He could tell the skunk was in pain and quickly took the trap off without getting sprayed. Luckily, the skunk was healthy other than a swollen paw. By watching the skunk scamper off, Officer Stewart knew it did not need medical attention.

Although most dog owners know to never leave their pooch in a vehicle unattended, the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center receives numerous calls every summer about dogs left in cars. 

On June 12 at 9 am, Mission Viejo Animal Services (MVAS) received a call from a camp ranger at Oso Lake Scout Camp in Rancho Santa Margarita reporting that three teens were involved in an incident with a coyote on Friday night, June 11 at 11:40 pm. 

The three children were taken to Mission Hospital at approximately 1:15 am for treatment.

June is Adopt a Shelter Cat Month, and the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center is full of cats and kittens galore!

The center has had an unusual influx of cats and kittens. Cats are smart, loyal and affectionate companions. They are also low maintenance pets, which makes them excellent for busy families who want to be pet owners.

The adoption fee for all cats is reduced to $20 through June 30 thanks to the non-profit Dedicated Animal Welfare Group.

The Mission Viejo Animal Services Center will reopen to visitors on Monday, June 7.

Although the center has operated throughout the pandemic, assisted the public with animal care needs via its website and appointments, the center remained closed per COVID-19 guidelines.  

Visitors will be welcome seven days a week from noon to 4 pm.  The center will continue to accepting appointments from 10 am to noon.  

Are you interested in having our staff present at your event or would your group like a tour of the center? Please submit your request via the form below. 

Requests must be submitted at least 30 days in advance, but no more than 90 days to accommodate center operations and staffing schedules. 

Please note that submitting a request does not guarantee participation or tour. Due to the high volume of requests it can take center staff up to 7 days to review your request and contact you.  

The Mission Viejo Animal Services Center recently welcomed 11 dogs to the shelter through the Mission for Home Rescue program.

The Mission for Home Rescue program involves handpicking pets from overcrowded shelters and bringing them here to make them available for adoption locally. Funded exclusively through the nonprofit Dedicated Animal Welfare Group (DAWG), this program is a win-win for the animals and shelters alike.