Dedicated Animal Welfare Group (DAWG)

09/24/2025

Join DAWG and all the animals at Mission Viejo Animal Services Center for this fun, fall event. There'll be a pumpkin patch, crafts and activities for kids, wildlife education animal meet-and-greets AND over a dozen partner rescue groups bringing adoptable dogs, cats, bunnies and reptiles! Visit the DAWG booth for some tasty dog treats for your favorite four-legged friend. Mission Viejo Animal Services Center City of Laguna Niguel - Government City of Laguna Hills City of Aliso Viejo - Local Government City of Rancho Santa Margarita - Local Government City of Mission Viejo, CA - Local Government

09/20/2025

09/20/2025

09/08/2025

Thanks everyone that came out for A Leash on Love: Art & Adoption event! We made some beautiful leash holders, visited with Barkowski, Rory, Bunny & Princess from Mission Viejo Animal Services Center and raised funds for the animals at the shelter. Special thanks to Mike, Becky & Irna at Potocki Center for the Arts who provided the art supplies and artistic guidance. We really appreciated your invitation and thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon with you. For more information about all the art classes offered at Potocki Center for the Arts, visit arts@cityofmissionviejo or call 949-470-8470. Mission Viejo Animal Services Center City of Mission Viejo, CA - Local Government City of Laguna Niguel - Government City of Laguna Hills City of Aliso Viejo - Local Government City of Rancho Santa Margarita - Local Government

09/06/2025

Thank you Mission Viejo Animal Services staff, Animal Medical Center and foster families for taking such great care of these puppies until they reached their forever homes. Congratulations puppies and families, we love your reunion story!

09/03/2025

Join DAWG today to support the animals at Mission Viejo Animal Services Center. DAWG members receive our quarterly newsletter where you’ll read about heartwarming rescue stories and you’ll see beautiful photos of many happy pets we have restored to good health.

This month DAWG provided spay & neuters for 8 adorable baby bunnies and many litters of kittens, medical & dental care for an extremely neglected 8 year old Pit Bull, sweet Princess, emergency care and hospitalization for beautiful Lilac Point feline, Tori, who went without food and water for two weeks after being abandoned, and emergency surgery for German Shepherd mix, Rory, who ripped out her stitches after a procedure to remove a dangling dewclaw. These are just some of the many pets DAWG has helped recently.

DAWG membership is $25 per year and those funds are used to provide extraordinary medical care, training for rambunctious dogs, senior pet dental care and spay & neuter surgeries for the animals at Mission Viejo Animal Services Center. Dedicated Animal Welfare Group has been saving animal lives for the past 30 years and in the last fiscal year alone, we provided over $200,000 in care. Join DAWG this month during our membership drive, we’d love to have your support. Go to dawg.org to join!

Mission Viejo Animal Services Center City of Mission Viejo, CA - Local Government City of Laguna Niguel - Government City of Laguna Hills City of Aliso Viejo - Local Government City of Rancho Santa Margarita - Local Government

09/03/2025

Mission Viejo Animal Services Center has recognized Jen Crume as September Volunteer of the Month.

"Meet Jen Crume, a dedicated dog walker volunteer at the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center whose passion for animal advocacy began long before she joined us. Jen’s commitment to giving back is rooted in her belief that every dog deserves a chance to feel safe and loved. After adopting her rescue dog Luna, Jen focused on helping her build confidence, and it became clear that she could extend that same support to other dogs in need—if only for a little while.

Originally from Toronto, Canada, Jen relocated to Orange County to be with her husband. Together, they adopted Juno (formerly known as Journey) from our shelter, and Jen knew immediately that Juno was something special. It has been such a joy watching Juno bond with Luna!

When Jen isn’t volunteering at the shelter, she runs her own small business, dedicates her free time to training their dogs, and indulges in her love for travel, beach days, and discovering new culinary delights.

We are truly grateful for Jen's unwavering support and the compassion she offers to the furry friends at the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center. Her volunteer work creates a loving environment for dogs in need of a little extra care and attention. We are grateful for all Jen’s wonderful contributions!"

Thanks Jen for all you do for the dogs at the shelter!

09/03/2025

Congratulations Willow and family!

08/28/2025

We love the new mural! It's a beautiful backdrop for a family photo with your adopted pals.