Animal Services

Even though Dedicated Animal Welfare Group (DAWG) and the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center can't hold the annual DAWG Walk & Adoption Extravaganza Event for the first time in 25 years due to COVID-19, the Pet Costume Contest will go on this fall!

This exciting virtual fundraising event will include photos you submit of your amazing cat, dog or other pet. Submit one photo featuring one pet per entry, and the most creative, adorable Howl-O-Ween pet picture will win a prize valued at $200.

The Mission Viejo Animal Services Center on Saturday, August 8 will host a drive-through pet vaccination clinic for Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita and Laguna Hills residents.

The low-cost clinic is from 8:30-10 am at 28095 Hillcrest.

Mission Viejo Animal Services (MVAS) responded to two coyote-biting incidents on July 25 and reported the incident to California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) as is part of wildlife management efforts. MVAS worked in coordination with CDFW in closing the trail and notifying residents of the closure.

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.