Wild Tunes program arranges music performances for shelter pets – Orange County Register

Waiting for a new home can be nerve-wracking.

Using music to calm anxious animals is the latest program adopted by the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center to help the pets in its care that are hoping to find adoptive families.

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Yuvi Agarwal, 12, of Houston plays some music for a shelter dog at the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center in Mission Viejo on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025. Agarwal developed the Wild Tunes program which brings together volunteer musicians to play soothing music for shelter animals to increase their chances of being adopted. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

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On Tuesday, Aug. 5, the shelter introduced Wild Tunes, a music program created by Yuvi Agarwal, a 12-year-old Houston boy who was on hand to perform for some of the dogs. His nonprofit helps organize volunteer musicians and singers to perform for shelter pets. The program was also introduced last week at the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority shelter in Downey.

“Music has the power to calm, connect and heal,” Yuvi said in a statement. “Wild Tunes is a win-win opportunity that helps abandoned and stressed shelter pets associate humans with something good. When pets are routinely exposed to music, it helps them become more comfortable around humans, which ultimately increases their chances of finding forever homes. For the volunteers, it is a great way to practice their music and boost their confidence.”

Animals on Tuesday were treated to several performances, including by new volunteer Annika Almgren, 15, who has an interest in becoming a veterinarian in the future.

“I love animals. I am also a performing artist. I love to sing and play instruments,” she said. “I just thought this was the perfect opportunity and I applied.”

The center is seeking more volunteer musicians and singers, to learn more or to register, visit wildtunes.org/volunteers or call 949-470-3045.