Animal Services

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.

Mission Viejo Animal Services actively tracks reported sightings of apex predators in our jurisdiction. Apex predators are considered to be Mountain Lions, Coyotes, and Bobcats. If you have spotted an apex predator, please complete the form including as much information as possible. These reports will be monitored daily. If you require emergency assistance, please contact Mission Viejo Animal Services at 949-470-3045. If you are in a life threating situation, call 911 immediately .
 

The Mission Viejo Animal Services Center has received reports of mountain lion sightings near the crossing of Avery Parkway on the Arroyo Trabuco Trail. Mountain lions hunt deer, which live in the surrounding area, as well as coyotes, raccoons, skunks, opossums, rodents, rabbits, etc. They do not typically prey on domestic animals unless an opportunity arises and are solitary, elusive and typically avoid humans as much as possible.

Meet sweet 12-year-old sisters Cheeky and Koukla - the perfect pair for a calm adult home. Cheeky is a brown tabby domestic shorthair while Koukla is a silver tabby domestic shorthair.

Cheeky and Koukla were brought to the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center because their owner had emergency medical issues and could no longer care for them. These sweet sisters are from the same litter and have been with each other their entire lives.

Many may not realize Mission Viejo Animal Services Center takes in many animals other than dogs and cats. The center recently received a number of guinea pigs that are now available for adoption. 

Why do guinea pigs make great pets?

The Mission Viejo Animal Services Center will host a drive-through low-cost pet vaccination clinic on Saturday, May 15 for Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita and Laguna Hills residents.

The clinic is from 8:30 to 10 am at 28095 Hillcrest.

The pandemic has brought sterilization and decontamination into the forefront of our collective consciousness.  We have become all too familiar with the need to wash our hands and clean our environment after exposure to viruses, chemicals, or even radiation.  However, we may forget that our pets can be exposed to these same pathogens.  Some viruses or chemicals may not be harmful to animals, but they can still be a danger to humans just by carrying these things on their fur.  

The Mission Viejo Animal Services Center is proud of all its hard-working team members, so we want to spotlight them.  We will feature one important member of our team in each newsletter so you can get to know the City employees who dedicate their lives to helping animals in your community.