Pet Adoptions
| Pet Adoption Search | Click here to access the Pet Adoption Search | ||||||||||||||||
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| Animal Adoption Procedure | The City of Mission Viejo Animal Services Center is a pro-humane shelter where stray animals are cared for until they are reunited with their owners or until they can be placed in new permanent homes. Stray animals that are brought to the center are held a minimum of 5 full days awaiting redemption by their owner. The Mission Viejo Animal Services Center provides an animal adoption program that includes the screening and review of an individual adoption application, to ensure responsible and long term homes for the animals in our care. | ||||||||||||||||
| Current Pet Adoption Fee Schedule | |||||||||||||||||
| Dogs |
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| Cats |
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| Rabbits |
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| License Fees For 1 Year |
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| How Do I Adopt A Pet? | Adopting a pet is an exciting and rewarding experience. Before beginning your search, we encourage you to consider what type of pet will best fit your lifestyle, household, activity level, and expectations. While breed characteristics can provide helpful insight into a pet's typical temperament, energy level, and care requirements, every animal is unique. Taking some time to research different breeds, ages, and pet personalities can help you identify the qualities that are most important to you and your family. You may find that a playful puppy or kitten is the perfect fit, or that an adult pet better matches your lifestyle. Once you have a general idea of the type of companion you're looking for, it's time to start your search. Animal shelters care for thousands of wonderful dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens that are waiting for loving homes. We encourage prospective adopters to begin their search at a local animal shelter, where they can meet a variety of animals and find the pet that is just right for them. Our staff is happy to help guide you through the adoption process and answer any questions you may have along the way. Your new best friend may be waiting for you right now! 🐾 | ||||||||||||||||
| Basic Facts | Mission Viejo Animal Services Center provides quality animal care and control services to the cities of Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills, and Rancho Santa Margarita. All stray animals impounded by the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center are required by law to be held for a specified period of time. As a matter of policy, the Center exceeds the minimum legal holding requirements to provide owners with additional time to locate and reclaim their lost pets. Stray animals without identification are held for four (4) full working days, excluding the first day of impoundment and any legal holidays. Animals wearing a license tag or other form of identification are held for ten (10) working days, excluding the first day of impoundment and any legal holidays. These extended holding periods help ensure that pet owners have a reasonable opportunity to locate and redeem animals that may have become lost or separated from their families. Animals that are not reclaimed during the applicable holding period may then be made available for adoption. | ||||||||||||||||
| Animal Adoption Application | The adoption process begins with the completion of an Animal Adoption Application. Applications may be submitted at any time during or after the required stray holding period. However, no application will be approved until the animal has completed the entire stray holding period and is legally available for adoption. Once an animal becomes available, staff will make every effort to review applications as quickly as possible. Applications are accepted until the most suitable match is identified for each animal. Adoptions are not conducted on a first-come, first-served basis; our goal is to place each pet in the home that best meets its needs and ensures a successful lifelong match. If multiple applications are received, the first approved applicant will be notified once the adoption is approved. Applicants who are not selected for that particular animal will be notified after the pet has gone to its new home. If an application is not approved, we encourage the applicant to continue exploring other adoptable pets. Our staff is available to provide guidance and support throughout the adoption process and help match you with the right companion for your family. | ||||||||||||||||
| Completion of The Adoption Application | Every person interested in adopting an animal must complete an Adoption Application. Applicants do not have to be a resident of our services cities but they must be over the age of 18. The information requested on the application form is vital in determining the best possible adoptable home. Therefore, an incomplete application can be reason to deny the application. | ||||||||||||||||
| Adoption Requirements | To finalize the adoption process, the applicant must read, understand and sign a required Animal Adoption Agreement statement. The applicant will also be required to pay the established fees (see current fee schedule above) relating to pet adoptions. | ||||||||||||||||
| Spay/Neuter | Prior to passage of State Legislation (effective July 1,1999), The City of Mission Viejo adopted regulations that require Animal Services to spay or neuter all animals prior to being released through adoption. A spay/neuter deposit (established by City Council) must be collected in cases where the health, age, or an injury is a factor, otherwise NO ANIMAL will be adopted prior to being spayed or neutered. | ||||||||||||||||
| License Requirements | Every person owning or having custody of any dog four months of age or older shall procure for the dog a city dog license. Such license shall be procured within 15 days after the date on which it becomes due. No dog shall be licensed without proof of an approved rabies inoculation. No license may expire later than the expiration date of the rabies vaccination. Each dog required to be licensed shall wear the current license tag assigned to that dog at all times. | ||||||||||||||||