News Summary
The Mission Viejo Animal Services Center is set to launch the ‘Wild Tunes’ program, which aims to enhance pet adoption rates by using live music to create a calming environment for shelter animals. Musicians of all skill levels are encouraged to volunteer, providing soothing melodies that help reduce stress for the animals. The initiative, inspired by a young Texan, has gained widespread support and will officially kick off with a public performance. This creative approach not only benefits the pets but also provides a platform for volunteers to showcase their musical talents.
Mission Viejo, CA – The Mission Viejo Animal Services Center will launch the “Wild Tunes” program next week, aiming to improve the adoption prospects for shelter pets through the soothing effects of live music. This innovative initiative encourages musicians and singers of all skill levels to volunteer their talents in an effort to create a calming environment for the animals and provide them with positive experiences.
The director of the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center aims to have both amateur and professional musicians perform for the shelter pets for one hour weekly. This will help drown out the typically noisy shelter sounds and replace them with relaxing melodies, which is believed to benefit the animals’ emotional well-being.
The “Wild Tunes” program was originally established in 2023 by Yuvi Agarwal, a then-10-year-old from Texas. The initiative focuses on helping abandoned and stressed pets associate humans with positivity through exposure to live music. Agarwal has emphasized that such exposure helps pets feel more comfortable around people, thereby increasing their chances of finding forever homes.
Among the initial volunteers is 15-year-old Kayden Tokarski, who has performed songs designed to calm the animals, such as “Lost Boy” and “Rainbow.” Several other animal shelters across Southern California, including those in San Diego County and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of L.A., are also participating in the Wild Tunes program, showcasing its broad appeal and support within the community.
The official launch of the Wild Tunes program will take place on Tuesday, August 5, at noon. Yuvi Agarwal, now 12 years old, is expected to perform on the keyboard during the opening event, which is open to the public. Interested musicians who wish to volunteer for the program can register online or contact the shelter directly by phone. Aspiring volunteers must complete a training session before their performances and may use a variety of string or wind instruments, such as keyboards, violins, guitars, or flutes. However, instruments like drums and percussion are not permitted as they may cause anxiety in the pets.
In addition to enhancing the adoption rates of shelter pets, the program also offers benefits for volunteers, providing them a platform to practice their music and build their confidence. Brynn Lavison, the Animal Services Center director, views this program as a significant addition to their existing enrichment efforts, which include aromatherapy, handmade toys, and peanut butter frisbees for the animals. Lavison believes that Wild Tunes will enhance the experience for animals waiting for adoption and promote improved well-being for both staff and volunteers.
Supporting evidence suggests that classical music has a calming effect on dogs, although some experts caution that further research is needed to validate these claims thoroughly. The Wild Tunes program reflects an innovative approach combining art and animal care in a way that aims to benefit both the pets in the shelter and the community by encouraging musical talent to flourish in an engaging setting.
Through the collaboration between local musicians and animal shelters, the Wild Tunes program symbolizes a creative pathway for shelter animals to find comfort, joy, and undoubtedly, a forever home.
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Mission Viejo Launches ‘Wild Tunes’ Program for Shelter Animals
Mission Viejo Launches “Wild Tunes” Program for Shelter Animals
Mission Viejo Launches ‘Wild Tunes’ Program for Shelter Animals
Music Initiative Enhances Animal Welfare in Mission Viejo
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