OC Animal Care — Local services in Tustin

I had such a great experience getting a new dog with this shelter. The facility is ENORMOUS and seemed nice/clean/modern. I interacted with about 6 different members of the staff or volunteers and all of them were so helpful and great. The appointment system was a little bit annoying just because you can only see two dogs per appointment, which you have to choose beforehand, and there is very little information about the dogs on the website. Of course, they don't HAVE much information on a lot of the dogs, but if you call in, it seems like most of the dogs have at least a few more notes that the call center worker can tell you and it would be nice if those notes were available on the website--things like what medical issues they have, if they know how the dog does with other dogs, etc. Instead, you mostly just have to go off of a single photo and the age + weight or waste the time of the busy seeming call center workers by asking questions about a bunch of different animals. Still, the appointment system was VERY well run and well organized and probably makes it less stressful for the dogs. I also appreciated that they have a nice outdoor area with a little bit of space where you meet the dogs you chose (though this also made me a little nervous that there's a chance that they don't want you to see the kennels behind the scenes because it might be way worse than the public areas.) Definitely makes it easier to assess them than meeting them in a kennel or a small room. I also didn't feel rushed at all, even though the shelter is clearly very busy. When I was there, they were also running a program where they take some of the (more socialable, I assume) dogs and have them outside for people to meet during designated hours on the weekend with no appointment needed which seems FANTASTIC.

Overall, the entire experience was easy and pleasant. Gratuitous photos of my new dog from OC Animal Care attached...

If I can give a negative I would this is the worst place your dog can land at if your pet gets gets lost!!! My friend got detained and dog pound brings Rosie Izquierdo to this horrible place! Dog pound lady from Orange County stated Rosie was going to remain at this facility for 30 days! My friend who was detained June 18th 2023 gives me full authorization meaning, I am now the owner of Rosie!! Obviously, my friend cant do much being detained in Orange County and gets transfer to San Bernardino county. I called to set up payment arrangements to get Rosie back! No payment arrangement was offered until the owner was out!! It was going to cost over $700 to get Rosie back! I begged to set payment arrangements until paid in full!!! I requested Manager Pablo to set up payment arrangement and it was denied to me. The owner finally is out Friday June 29. 2023. We come to find out OC Animal Care puts Rosie for adoption Sunday July 2, 2023. While the owner was detained NOT GIVING 30 DAYS AS WHAT OC DOG POUND STATED!!! WE LOVE ROSIE we MISS HER SO MUCH!!! That was my friends baby girl!! This place gave Rosie for adoption!!! While the owner was detained and no authorization was given to me to set up payment arrangements!! This place is heartless!!! When you own a dog for YEARS!!!!!! It becomes your baby your kid!!! My friend is already talking to an Attorney and taking this to legal matter!!!! By the way while discussing this matter with one of the staff members she had the audacity to call my friend a "Criminal" and that's why he lost Rosie Rights!!" She is very unprofessional, rude and definitely her customer service...

Ugh. Just ugh. We went in to adopt a kitty and right off the bat I was met with “we only have two cats” . A shelter that only has two cats? Interesting. So we went in to see one cat and immediately fell in love. They gave me no information about the cat and put him in a tiny box. While we handled the paperwork. It was like 20 mins. Why not wait to put him in a box. So adopting a cat is $125? A non profit charges a lot less AND they are non kill. Stop giving these places funding. Money oriented. Shelters usually are also very accommodating to veterans, VETERANS DONT COME HERE. Not only do they only give a $25 “discount” they are so loud about your information. They were training somebody and everyone in the room heard them say “they are not that kind of veteran” and then when they came back suggested to my partner to add the “veteran” symbol to their license. Also what KIND of veteran is my partner? Ughhh. Um thank you for the advice? Lastly our cat is SO SKINNY. When I mentioned that they said “all cats his age are skinny like that”. no man I can see all of his rib cage. This is not normal. Anyway go to a non profit. Don’t give these non animal people money.

UPDATE: our cat turned out to be special needs. Love him so much and we won’t be returning him. BUT there is no way they didn’t know? Or they are so lightly evaluated..? Nonetheless I wasn’t advised and informed before adoption. I’m blessed enough to be able to afford a special needs kitty but I feel he probably wouldn’t gotten so lucky. Anyway, If anyone cares he is a chubby boy now....