The return of Downtown LA Dog Day for its 17th year in mid-September not only brought together residents and their pets after a two-year pandemic pause but also cast a spotlight on those dedicated to animal welfare, from city rescuers to non-profit founders.

The event, promoted via the Instagram page downtown la, drew a large crowd of enthusiastic dog lovers to Maguire Gardens at the LA Central Library on Sept. 12 for a day of
community and canine celebration, featuring dog caricatures, dog photo shoots, and group dog walks set to a live rock band.

For Oscar Luna, an officer with LA Animal Services, the event was a key opportunity to
connect with the public.

“We’re just trying to spread the word on all the services and different things that we offer because a lot of people think they know, but it’s not getting out there,” Luna said.

His connection to the work is deeply personal. He adopted his own dog, Lucky, last year after rescuing it from a sewer in Wilmington while on a call with animal services.

Luna describes dogs as “just lovable” and “good companions” that are always happy to see their owners.

Another prominent voice at the event was Suzanne Saunders, co-founder of K-9 Armor, a
charity that provides bulletproof vests for California police dogs. She explained the critical need for her organization’s work.

“Many dogs are shot and hurt or killed, and they don’t automatically get a vest,” Saunders said. She was inspired to start the charity after seeing a television special about 20 years ago and realizing that police departments often do not budget for this crucial protective gear.

“It turns out that unless we do… fundraisers, they go without a vest,” she explained.

Events like Downtown LA Dog Day are vital for K9 Armor’s mission. “It’s so important for
word of mouth,” Saunders stated. “We don’t spend hardly any money at all on advertising, so when people go to our website… that really helps.”

This community-based support is the lifeblood of the organization, which has provided vests for nearly 200 dogs in departments like the Gardena Police, the Los Angeles World Airport Police, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff.

Saunders highlighted the deep bond between officers and their canine partners, who live with their handlers 24 hours a day and become part of the family.

“They depend on these dogs with their lives,” she noted, which makes providing them with protection so important.

The event allowed organizations like LA Animal Services and K-9 Armor to share their
missions directly with the public they serve and reinforced the powerful connection between the city’s residents and their beloved dogs.