Meet Our Staff

Meet Sgt. JR Stewart, our Senior Animal Control Officer.  JR grew up on a farm, so he developed a passion for animals at an early age.  He was constantly surrounded by all sorts of creatures — from dogs and cats to snakes and chickens, so he learned animal-handling skills and husbandry when he was young. This early childhood exposure to multiple pets naturally led him to consider a career working with animals, so after high school he applied at the San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter and became a part-time Animal Control Officer.  He worked at that shelter for seven years before transitioning to Mission Viejo Animal Services in 2010.  His responsibilities increased when he was promoted to the Senior Officer position in 2020.  

JR performs routine daily patrol duties but is also involved in neglect and cruelty investigations, dangerous dog declarations, and barking dog violations. However, his favorite part of the job is working with injured or abandoned wildlife, re-releasing them to the wild, and educating the public about their importance in our environment. His wildlife rescues are often posted on social media platforms, so you may have seen some of his dramatic rescues recently.

His other passion is children, so he and his wife are licensed foster parents who recently adopted another foster child, adding to their family of two boys.  He also has four dogs that were all adopted from the shelter.  In his free time, JR enjoys camping, hiking, and lifting weights. Next time you see JR in the field, say hello and keep an eye on Facebook and Instagram to see him in action.