An animal shelter in Orange County will incorporate live music in hopes of increasing the chances of its shelter animals finding forever homes.
Mission Viejo Animal Services Center announced Monday it’s partnering with Wild Tunes, a Texas-based nonprofit dedicated to comforting shelter animals through songs and instruments.
“It’s very soothing for the animals to listen to music, listen to songs, and so we’re very excited about it,” Director Brynn Lavison said.
Founded in 2023 by 12-year-old Yuzi Agarwal, Wild Tunes said routine exposure to music helps pets in shelters relax and become more comfortable around humans as they prepare for adoption. The nonprofit said it has expanded to shelters in Colorado, New Jersey and California.
Kayden Tokarski, a volunteer musician, said music provides the pets with comfort and peace.
“Many of these animals have gone through some really traumatic experiences, so it’s just really beautiful to be able to come together and use music to soothe them,” Tokarski said.
The partnership will add to the animal center’s enrichment program, Lavison said, as well as support staff well-being and volunteer involvement.
“It’s very important for us to have enrichment for the animals here while they’re waiting for their homes, and this is just going to add to that,” she said.
While some studies suggest that classical music can generally have a calming influence on dogs in stressful environments, including shelters, some researchers warn there’s not enough data to fully support the claim, and it’s better studied on a case-by-case basis.
Wild Tunes will officially launch at noon on Aug. 5 at Mission Viejo Animal Services Center.
More information on volunteering for Wild Tunes is available online or at 949-470-3045.