Animal Services

Mission Viejo Animal Services

Mission Viejo Animal Services (MVAS) is dedicated to protecting the health, safety, and welfare of animals and people while supporting a compassionate, responsible community

MVAS proudly provides animal care and control services in the cities of Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills & Rancho Santa Margarita. 

Mission Viejo Animal Services successfully rescued a lost dog from a remote canyon area following an extensive two-day search involving ground teams and aerial thermal drone technology.

Stephanie DeAlmeida has been named the City of Mission Viejo's 2025 Employee of the Year. 

A seven-year employee of the City, Stephanie has worked as an Animal Control Officer for the last three years. She is known for being kind, compassionate and caring, and her stellar work with Animal Services has earned the respect of her peers and supervisors alike.  

The Mission Viejo Animal Services Center will make every  attempt to assist you in rehoming your pet. We understand that individuals may find it necessary to surrender their pets due to unexpected life changes or unforeseen circumstances. Acceptance into our program is not guaranteed and based on many factors including but not limited to:

Inspiring the Next Generation of Animal Advocates

The Jr. Animal Control Officer (Jr. ACO) Program is an ongoing youth education program at Mission Viejo Animal Services. Modeled after the popular Junior Ranger programs at national parks, this hands-on experience helps children learn about animal care, safety, and local wildlife while engaging with their community in a meaningful way.

Who Can Participate?

The Jr. ACO Program is available to kids of all ages who are interested in animals and want to play an active role in supporting animal welfare.

Tish is a beautiful 2-year-old spayed female black German Shepherd that is ready for her forever home. 

Tish is currently working on her socialization skills and is eager to learn and grow with the right family. She came to the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center as a stray, and while staff doesn’t know her past, it seems she missed some essential training during her puppyhood. Although she may need some time to acclimate to new surroundings and people, with a caring owner and a little patience, she has the potential to become an amazing companion.

Mission Viejo Animal Services is asking the public to beware of a scam targeting owners of lost pets.  

For this new type of scam, a person claiming to be from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department or a similar agency calls a pet owner saying the owner’s animal was hit by a car or experienced a medical emergency. 

You can make a difference for injured and orphaned animals at the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center this holiday season by participating in the Dedicated Animal Welfare Group's (DAWG) 2025 Holiday Tree campaign.

Through this special virtual tree, you can honor a cherished pet or give a heartfelt gift to that hard-to-shop-for person in your life.

 Mission Viejo Animal Services recently attended a horse-handling training session at a local stable in Laguna Hills. This workshop provided Animal Control Officers and Animal Care Technicians with essential skills for safely approaching, restraining, and transporting horses, particularly in response to loose or injured equines in the area.  Animal Control Officer Adrian Enriquez organized the training to support ongoing professional development.