Animal Services

Mission Viejo Animal Services is dedicated to serving our community and promoting healthy animal-human interactions. On Saturday, July 25, we shared information about a situation that included two encounters with our local coyote population. While both incidents were minor in nature, we still take such incidents seriously and are currently working with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). 

SuzieQ is a 4-year-old domestic short-haired cat. She is a little shy with new people, but once comfortable, she will seek attention. She will let you know when she feels like she’s had enough. SuzieQ enjoys watching the world through windows and loves playing with sparkle pom-poms. 

She will go home with an approved applicant microchipped and with up-to-date vaccines and flea control. She is also part of the cool cats of summer promo, which ends July 31. 

The Mission Viejo Animal Services Center is reminding residents to take steps to prevent birds from flying into chimneys after a feathered friend was rescued from a home in Laguna Niguel. 

The resident could hear the little bird trying to fly out without success. When officers arrived, they quickly assessed the situation to see how to rescue the small bird. Since the officers have experience with this type of call, they were able to free the little bird, which flew off.  

Every year, the Mission Viejo Animal Services (MVAS) Center rescues and seeks treatment for hundreds of injured wild animals. Unfortunately, some are so critically injured or sick that treatment is not an option. To avoid an agonizing death, these animals are humanely euthanized. To keep our wildlife healthy and free, we're focusing on the most effective tool - education. Every month, MVAS releases an educational newsletter to raise awareness about encounters with sick or injured animals with the goal of creating a world in which wildlife and humans can thrive. 

On January 15, the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center rescued a black lab named Spencer through our "A Mission for Home Rescue" program.  Spencer came from an over-populated shelter in LA where dogs can get sick and be euthanized at any time. Through this program, we help dogs like Spencer by transferring them to our center where they will be adopted.  With the onset of COVID-19, all our dogs residing in the center were placed into foster homes, and Spencer was lucky enough to be fostered by Mission Viejo Councilwoman Wendy Bucknum!

We hope you had a great Fourth of July and that your pets were safe, too. July is National Lost Pet Prevention Month, highlighting one of the scariest experiences you can have as a pet owner - losing your furry friend. 

The Mission Viejo Animal Services Center is celebrating the “Cool Cats of Summer” this month by offering all adult cats for adoption to approved applicants for only $20.   

Since summertime is kitten season, a time when adult cats are often overlooked, the nonprofit Dedicated Animal Welfare Group (DAWG) is paying the adoption fees for every adult cat.  Adopters will only pay for the cat’s microchip. 

Raccoons are probably one of the most clever and tenacious suburban pests, boasting a wide range of athletic skills. They can climb, swim, jump, and run with ease. Their ability to break into trash cans is truly unparalleled in the animal kingdom.

To ensure the health and safety of the public, the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center on Tuesday, June 23 will host a drive-through low-cost pet vaccination clinic for Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita and Laguna Hills residents.

The clinic, which will ensure social distancing, is from 5:30-7:30 pm at 28095 Hillcrest. 

The Mission Viejo Animal Services Center is proud to acknowledge the hard work of all first responders during the COVID-19 pandemic. As their way of saying thank you, the shelter is offering a “First Responder Tuesdays” promo for all doctors, nurses, firefighters, EMTs, and police officers.