MISSION VIEJO : City to Buy Land for Animal Center

Moving to support the city’s fledgling stray-animal program, the City Council agreed to purchase land for an animal-control center.

The $1-million price tag will buy 37 acres--roughly seven of which are level enough to allow construction--behind Saddleback College off Marguerite Parkway. The property was owned by the Mission Viejo Co.

City officials hope to begin construction on the shelter building by the year’s end.

The decision on Monday was met with delight by representatives of Friends of Mission Viejo Animals, a volunteer group that is helping the city run its animal control program.

“This is wonderful news, I couldn’t be happier,” said Stu Halbert, vice president of the organization. “We’re delighted at the speed we’re moving with which we’re moving ahead.”

The shelter will be pro-life. Like a similar program in San Clemente, animals will be kept until a home can be found. Currently, the city contracts with a kennel in Santa Ana. Strays are first housed by a local veterinarian, who holds them for up to 24 hours until the city’s animal-control officer can take them to Santa Ana.

City officials are encouraged by the number of volunteers and amount of donations received by the program since the city took over animal-control services from the county on July 1.

“I’ve been pleasantly surprised” by the volunteer sign-ups,” said City Manager Fred Sorsabal. “We’ve seen good response to the program.”

Halbert said about 100 people are volunteering their time. About $3,000 in donations have been received since July 1.