On a quiet afternoon, tucked in the hills of Mission Viejo, piano notes drift through a local animal shelter as 13-year-old volunteer Leah Morita plays her keyboard.
The usual barking dogs now sit quietly, listening to her song.
Morita is volunteering as part of the Wild Tunes program at Mission Viejo Animal Services. It’s meant to bring volunteers and animals together through music — benefiting both musicians and homeless pets that are available for adoption at the shelter and stuck in a kennel most of the day.
Launched in August of last year, the Wild Tunes program — initially beginning in Houston, TX — expanded to Mission Viejo Animal Services, along with other shelters in Southern California.
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The program invites volunteer musicians to perform for shelter animals and aims to create a peaceful environment while helping animals, many with traumatic pasts, associate humans with comfort and safety through music.
Wild Tunes operates most weekdays and Saturdays at the shelter, bringing volunteers of all ages and abilities to play instruments such as piano, guitar and harp. The program follows specific guidelines that prioritize animal safety and comfort, opting for softer instruments to maintain a soothing atmosphere inside the shelter.
Since its launch in Mission Viejo, the program has become a beloved and consistent part of shelter operations, according to shelter staff.
“I know when there’s a volunteer here when there is no barking,” said Alison Nieves, animal services coordinator at Mission Viejo Animal Services. “It’s quiet.”
To view all dogs available for adoption at Mission Viejo Animal Services, click here.
To view all cats available for adoption at Mission Viejo Animal Services, click here.
Wild Tunes first began with 10-year-old Yuvi Agarwal, who founded the non-profit in Houston in 2023 following his own love of music and animal care.
Beyond creating a quieter shelter, the program also serves as a tool to help rehabilitate the animals.
Regular exposure to gentle sounds and volunteers helps build trust between the animals and people — creating positive associations, calming the animals and helping them get adoption ready, according to Nieves.
For volunteers like Leah Morita, 13-year-old piano player, the experience offers both a creative outlet and a way to give back.
Leah uses Wild Tunes as her piano practice stage with the animals as her audience. Leah and her mother, Alyssa Morita, have been longtime participants in the program, visiting every other week since 2025 to set up the keyboard in front of the dog kennels.
“Music is such a gift,” Alyssa said in an interview on March 31 at the Mission Viejo animal shelter.
When asked about her favorite memory of volunteering with her daughter, Alyssa said every time is memorable.
“[Leah] feels so energized when we come home.”
The municipal animal shelter was also recently awarded the Outstanding Animal Care and Control Award by the National Animal Care & Control Association highlighting the safety, care and work of the shelter.
The National Animal Care & Control Association was formed in 1978 to provide resources, standardized training and support for animal care and control professionals across the U.S.
“Our officers and staff take great pride in protecting animals and our community through compassionate care, proactive service, and meaningful human-animal connections,” reads a statement from Brynn Lavison, director of Mission Viejo Animal Services.
“From lifesaving field responses and thorough investigations to maintaining a clean, welcoming shelter and reuniting lost pets with their families, our work is rooted in service, accountability, and community trust.”
The Wild Tunes program has expanded to other Southern California shelters with goals of expanding to Northern California.
Kayden Tokarski, Wild Tunes ambassador for Southern California, works with the Southern California animal shelters to expand the program and bring it to new locations.
“Music is a powerful tool,” Tokarski said. “It affects more than just humans — it also affects animals.”
As Wild Tunes continues to grow statewide, Tokarski said the program is always looking for volunteers and donations to further expand their cause and outreach.
“[The program is] something really important. More joy and peace in the world.”
Collegiate News Service Editor Angelina Hicks contributed to this report.