About the Zoo

We are a 501c3 Charitable Organization. How did we start?

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An elderly man holding a brown rabbit on his lap, sitting in a wicker chair indoors.

The Little Zoo’s mission is simple, yet powerful; to bring joy, loving connection and healing through visits with animals!

Our Story

In 2017, founder Erin Maxick started out working for The Mobile Zoo of Southern California doing educational shows and birthday parties with an occasional visit to a senior home.

Erin discovered the profound effect that spending time sharing the love of animals can have.  There are so many unable to afford these programs, so Erin set out with love and dedication to provide a low to no cost service to those in need while offering birthday and special event services to support the non-profit work.

Over the years, Erin and started rescuing, adopting and caring for a little zoo of animals at her home with the idea that she would eventually visit those in need.  

While dog related animal therapy groups are plentiful, there are far fewer that bring out chinchillas, guinea pigs, snakes, lizards, tortoises, chickens and more!  The sweetness, care, fun, delight, and sensory and cognitive stimulation these special animals bring is absolutely amazing!

A smiling young woman wearing a safari vest and hat taking a selfie with an elderly woman with white hair. A snake is wrapped around the elderly woman's shoulders.
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    • The Make a Wish Foundation

    • The Braille Institute

    • Five Acres Foster Care     

    • Peace4Kids Foster Care

    • Embrace Me!  Adoption and Foster Care     

    • Blissful Living Group Home

    • Covenant House homeless youth shelter/support

    • My Friends Place homeless youth support center

    • SBCC Kids Mental Health

    • Glennwood House group home for adults with complex needs

    • AltaMed Pace "all inclusive care for the elderly"

    • Joyful Living Senior Residential Home

    • Motion Picture & Television Fund Assisted Living Care Facility

    • Atria Grand Oaks Assisted Living & Memory Care

    • Compassion Project LA for low income families

    • The Hills Post Acute

    • Thousand Oaks Post Acute

    • Silverado Memory Care and Assisted Living     

    • Freedom Village Assisted Living

    • Harriet Tubman Elementary School

    • Van Ness Elementary School     

    • Milestones Community Preschool

    • Straight up Abilities Summer Camp 

    • Temple City Convalescent Hospital

    • Silver Gan Israel Day Camp

    • Immanuel Lutheran Vacation Bible School

    • Vista Del Mar Senior Living

    • Girl/Boy Scouts of America Summer Camp

    • Lady Bug Kid Care

    • First Steps for Kids

    • Professional Child Development Assoc.

    • Teens with Autism 

    • The Clubhouse complex needs after school program

    • Baldwin Gardens Nursing Home