Animal Services

Heatwave approaching! Should you shave you pet's coat?

Summer is around the corner and as pet owners, our first instinct might be to send our pup to the groomer.  Like dog breeds, coat length varies and what might be best for one dog could leave another dog panting for help.  Here are some helpful tips to better understand your dog's needs during the hot summer months. 

Mission Viejo Animal Services received a call from a concerned citizen regarding an animal that was stuck inside a large trash container behind her business, especially since trash hauler was on its way. When the Animal Services officer arrived at the scene, she spotted a raccoon. The animal looked healthy but was trapped. It had no way of getting out. The officer placed poles inside the bin to see if the raccoon will climb out, but it was too scared. Using a catch all, the officer looped it around the raccoon's belly under the arms and lifted it out of the bin.

Mission Viejo Animal Services Center received a call about a baby skunk in the City of Laguna Hills. Officer Enriquez responded to the scene and saw a small baby skunk inside a container in front of a home. He noticed the skunk was too young to be on its own, so he safely placed the baby skunk inside a crate - luckily without being sprayed. Officer Enriquez transferred the baby skunk to a licensed rehabilitator where it will be properly cared for until it is old enough to survive on its own.

Meet Zilla! She is a 1.5-year-old beautiful Siberian Husky and Labrador Retriever mix that was rescued from an overcrowded shelter through our "A Mission for Home Program." Zilla is well-mannered and mellow. She loves to go on walks, play with toys and lounge around. 

It's officially kitten season! This means the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center needs experienced bottle-feeding fosters. Every year the center takes in hundreds of orphaned kittens in need of care. While many are eating on their own, there are also a large number of kittens who are without their mothers and cannot feed themselves. These adorable kittens wouldn't make it if it weren't for our foster families. Mission Viejo Animal Services will provide medical care, food, and supplies for all foster parents.

Luci is a 5-year old Carolina dog. She is a sweet, gentle and playful dog looking for her forever home.

The Mission Viejo Animal Services Center is seeking donations of pet food for its Pet Pantry to help people provide food for their beloved animals.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact many people and their ability to provide for themselves and their pets. 

"We are proud to be able to sponsor our Pet Pantry, which provides needed supplies to a few of our local facilities which distributes them to people and their pets," said Animal Services Manager Michelle Claud-Clemente. "Currently, we have a shortage of pet food to provide to families in need." 

Six dogs have a new "leash" on life after being rescued from an overcrowded shelter in Los Angeles County.  

The dogs, which came from the Baldwin Park Animal Shelter, were saved as part of the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center's "Mission for Home" rescue program.   

Dogs are sweet, loving and therapeutic; however, at the end of the day, they are animals and can bite. In recognition of National Dog Bite Prevention week, the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center is sharing tips on how to prevent dog bites.

While summer hasn't officially started, Orange County has been experiencing warmer weather. With the change in temperature, different wildlife begin to emerge at this time, including snakes. Each year Mission Viejo Animal Services receives hundreds of calls about snakes. The most common snakes in the area are the Gopher snake, Western Rattlesnake, and California Kingsnake.