In the spirit of community engagement and addressing pet overpopulation, Pima Animal Care Center (PACC), Friends of PACC, and the County Communications Office are collaborating with La Estrella Bakery in a Spanish outreach initiative. This partnership aims to increase awareness and accessibility of PACC's services within Spanish-speaking communities, particularly in the ZIP codes 85706 and 85713, which have witnessed a disproportionate number of pets entering the shelter versus those being adopted, fostered, or reunited with their owners.
The collaboration with La Estrella is structured around a campaign that leverages the bakery's reach within the community, following a previously successful partnership with El Güero Canelo. According to information provided by Pima County's Newsroom, El Güero Canelo supported the cause by placing educational materials in its establishments and providing diners with free microchip coupons. The new campaign with La Estrella kicked off on Sept. 15, at their southside establishment, with unique bone-shaped cookies, the sales of which will benefit Friends of PACC.
At the initial event, attendees had the opportunity to receive free pet collars, tags, and other giveaways. Marking a sweet note of synergy, PACC has even named some of its adoptable pets after the bakery’s popular pastries, creating a thematic tie between the community's culinary favorites and the animals in need of homes.
The outreach campaign is backed by a grant from Friends of PACC and focuses on cultural relevancy, employing language, idioms, and imagery that resonate within the Spanish-speaking demography. Pima County data indicates that the targeted ZIP codes are home to a substantial Spanish-speaking population, and the county aims to bridge the awareness gap about PACC's resources among these residents. Since January, PACC's efforts have included various community fairs and microchip events, reported Pima County's Newsroom, during which they have distributed vital pet supplies and microchipped numerous pets, with the commitment to sustaining family and pet togetherness.
La Estrella is a family-owned local stalwart, run by siblings Isabel Montaño, Jorge Franco, Erica Franco, and Sandra Franco. The bakery's participation is a gesture of their dedication to community welfare. "It is an honor for us to take part in such an important campaign for our local community," Montaño said to Pima County's Newsroom, emphasizing the value placed on the safety and comfort of pets which, in many households, are considered family.
