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Paws on Slauson
Paws on slauson Pet Pantry & Community Pet Resource Center
Our Mission
Keeping Families Together by Supporting the Pets They Love.
Paws on Slauson
Our Programs
For many families throughout South Los Angeles, pets are more than companions. They are family. They bring comfort during difficult times, unconditional love, protection, and joy to our homes and neighborhoods.
No family should ever have to choose between putting food on the table and caring for the pet they love. Yet too many residents continue to face barriers to accessing affordable pet food, veterinary care, and essential pet resources simply because of where they live.
Paws on Slauson is about changing that. Together with the Slauson Corridor, we are building a district-wide Pet Equity Initiative dedicated to expanding access to critical pet resources, supporting responsible pet ownership, and keeping families and their beloved companions together.
Our vision is to make Council District 9 a model for the City of Los Angeles by creating a community where every family, regardless of income or ZIP Code, has the opportunity to care for the animals they love. Through partnerships, education, volunteerism, and community investment, we are laying the foundation for a movement that protects both pets and the people who care for them.
Every family deserves the opportunity to care for the animals that enrich their lives, and together we can ensure that compassion has no ZIP Code.
Jose Ugarte Community Leader and South Central Stakeholder
Why Council District 9 Needs Paws on Slauson
Supporting Slauson Corridor Means Supporting Your Community
Many families throughout District 9 rely on public transportation or have limited transportation options.
When the nearest affordable veterinarian or pet supply store is several miles away, routine care becomes more expensive and more difficult to access.
Transportation costs, work schedules, childcare responsibilities, and rising living expenses can all become barriers to responsible pet ownership.
Paws on Slauson is designed to bring resources directly into the community instead of expecting families to travel across Los Angeles.
Support Slauson Corridor's Mission
Council District 9 Pet Equity Report U
Paws on Slauson believes every family deserves the opportunity to care for the pets they love, regardless of income, ZIP Code, language, or transportation. This report highlights why improving access to pet resources is an important quality-of-life issue throughout Los Angeles Council District 9.
About Council District 9
Council District 9 is one of Los Angeles' most historically significant and culturally diverse districts. It stretches from Downtown Los Angeles through much of South Los Angeles and includes neighborhoods such as South Park, University Park, Exposition Park, Vermont Square, Central Alameda, Florence, Green Meadows, and South Central Los Angeles. It is also home to major destinations including the Los Angeles Convention Center, Crypto.com Arena, LA Live, Exposition Park, the California Science Center, the Natural History Museum, the California African American Museum, and the University of Southern California.
While the district attracts millions of visitors each year, many residential neighborhoods continue to experience disparities in access to essential services, including affordable pet care and supplies.
District 9 by the Numbers
Approximately 250,000 Residents
Council District 9 serves roughly a quarter of a million residents and is among the most densely populated districts in Los Angeles.
Nearly 80% Hispanic or Latino
The district is predominantly Hispanic or Latino (approximately 80%), with a strong African American community and growing immigrant populations representing dozens of cultures and languages.
Renters Make Up the Majority
Approximately 72.5% of housing units are renter occupied, creating unique challenges for pet ownership, including pet deposits, breed restrictions, and limited pet-friendly housing options.
Economic Challenges
Historic Census data show that Council District 9 has faced some of the city's highest poverty rates and among the lowest median household incomes, illustrating why affordable community resources are especially important.
Join Slauson Corridor's Community Today
Pets Strengthen Communities
Keeping Families and Pets Together
Research consistently shows companion animals contribute to healthier communities by:
- Reducing stress
- Improving emotional well-being
- Encouraging physical activity
- Helping combat loneliness
- Supporting children through healthy emotional development
- Providing companionship for seniors
- Strengthening neighborhood connections through shared outdoor spaces and community interaction.
Keeping Families and Pets Together
Keeping Families and Pets Together
Temporary financial hardship should never mean losing a beloved family pet.
Paws on Slauson focuses on prevention by connecting families with pet food, supplies, referrals, and educational resources before small challenges become crises.
Keeping pets with their families also benefits the broader community by reducing unnecessary shelter admissions and strengthening the human-animal bond.
The Paws on Slauson Model
Rather than operating solely as a pet pantry, Paws on Slauson is being developed as a comprehensive Community Pet Resource Center.
Services will expand over time to include:
- Pet food assistance
- Pet supply distribution
- Veterinary referrals
- Low-cost vaccination clinics
- Microchipping events
- Spay and neuter referrals
- Responsible pet ownership workshops
- Youth education
- Volunteer opportunities
- Community pet wellness events
- Emergency pet assistance
- Annual Paws on Slauson Community Festival
Measuring Our Impact
Measuring Our Impact
Paws on Slauson is committed to transparency. As the program grows, we will publicly report:
- Families served
- Dogs supported
- Cats supported
- Pounds of pet food distributed
- Volunteer hours
- Veterinary referrals
- Vaccinations facilitated
- Microchips provided
- Spay and neuter referrals
- Community partners
- Sponsorships secured
- Estimated value of donated food and supplies
Our Vision
Measuring Our Impact
Our Vision
Our long-term vision is for Council District 9 to become Los Angeles' first Pet Equity District, where every resident has meaningful access to the resources needed to care for companion animals.
Through strategic partnerships, community leadership, volunteerism, and innovation, Paws on Slauson seeks to demonstrate that improving access to pet resources strengthens not only animals but families, neighborhoods, and the community as a whole.
Contact Us
Measuring Our Impact
Our Vision
Have a question or a suggestion? We're always here to help. Contact us today and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
Our Partners
Understanding Animal Welfare Deserts
Animal Equity Matters
Researchers use the term "animal welfare desert" to describe communities where residents have limited access to:
- Veterinary clinics
- Affordable pet food
- Pet supply retailers
- Preventive veterinary care
- Grooming services
- Training resources
- Animal welfare organizations
Research has found that these gaps often overlap with neighborhoods facing economic hardship and transportation barriers, resulting in unequal access to services that help families keep their pets healthy.