Cincinnati Animal CARE

What Cincinnati Animal CARE does

Cincinnati Animal CARE (CAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2020 that serves as the official animal shelter for Hamilton County, Ohio. The organization operates two physical shelter locations in the Northside neighborhood of Cincinnati — the main shelter at 3949 Colerain Ave (dogs and general intake) and Kitty City at 4210 Dane Ave (cats and kittens) — and is open seven days a week from 1pm-6pm for walk-in, same-day adoptions with no appointments required. CAC also provides 24/7 animal control services, lost-and-found pet reunification, low-cost veterinary care through the Community CARE Vet Clinic and Thursday vaccine clinic, microchipping, dog licensing, and emergency response for the county.

CAC's service portfolio centers on adoption (dogs, cats, small animals, and working cats), foster placement, volunteer engagement, and animal control. The organization runs a foster-to-adopt trial program and a CARE Close to Home initiative aimed at preventing surrender. Its revenue model blends six streams: adoption fees ($25-$200 per animal plus a $5 service fee), individual and corporate monetary donations, supply donations, dog licensing ($19.75 per Hamilton County license), kennel sponsorships, and merchandise sales through the CAC Shop. Distribution is via the two shelter storefronts, offsite PetSmart adoption events, and a multi-channel digital presence (website, Mailchimp newsletter, blog, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X).

CAC reports handling nearly 9,000 animals annually and operates with a paid headcount of 1-10, supplemented by over 900 active volunteers. The organization relies on a partner ecosystem that includes Petco Love, MedVet, Ohio Alley Cat Resource, UCAN, Eastgate Animal Hospital, Give Them Ten, and (as of May 2026) the Cincinnati Regional Chamber C-Change Program, which is supporting development of a Young Leaders Board. The organization has no proprietary technology, no AI/ML capabilities, and no app; all digital infrastructure is built on standard SaaS tools. No venture or private equity capital is involved, and only one external grant ($4,375 from Maddie's Fund in March 2023) is documented. Geographic scope is limited to Hamilton County, Ohio.

Name

Cincinnati Animal CARE

Legal name

Cincinnati Animal CARE Humane Society

Website

https://cincinnatianimalcare.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cincinnati Animal CARE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating as the official Hamilton County, Ohio animal shelter, providing adoption, foster, animal control, and low-cost veterinary services to roughly 9,000 animals annually across two Northside Cincinnati locations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Shelter Services

NAICS

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291), Veterinary Services (541940)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Animal Shelters & Rescue Operations (AFAEALAB), Low-Cost & Community Veterinary Clinics (HLAMAAAE)

Keywords

• Animal shelter services
• Pet adoption programs
• Animal control services
• Community veterinary care
• Lost and found pets

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Adoption Fees: Revenue from pet adoptions including dogs, cats, and small animals. Fees vary by animal type and age, ranging from $25 for small animals to $200 for puppies.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, CAC relies on monetary donations from individuals and organizations to support operations.
3. Supply Donations: The shelter accepts supply donations and hosts donation drives to support animal care operations.
4. Dog Licensing Fees: As the Hamilton County Animal Shelter, CAC processes dog licenses for Hamilton County residents at $19.75 per license.
5. Sponsorship Programs: Kennel sponsorship program allowing individuals and businesses to sponsor animal kennels.
6. Merchandise Sales: CAC Shop sells merchandise items.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cincinnati Animal CARE operates the official Hamilton County, Ohio animal shelter as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, providing pet adoption services for dogs, cats, and small animals; foster and foster-to-adopt programs; 24/7 animal control and bite response for the county; community veterinary care through its Community CARE Vet Clinic and Thursday low-cost vaccine clinic; dog licensing, microchipping, and lost-and-found pet reunification. It serves nearly 9,000 animals annually across two Northside Cincinnati shelter locations, supported by 900+ volunteers and partner organizations.

Product overview

Cincinnati Animal CARE is the Hamilton County, Ohio animal shelter operating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The organization offers a comprehensive suite of animal welfare services centered around adoption (dogs, cats, small animals, and working cats), foster care, and volunteer programs. Core services include animal control, community veterinary care, microchipping, vaccination clinics, dog licensing, and lost & found pet reunification. The organization operates two Northside shelter locations (3949 Colerain Ave for dogs, 4210 Dane Ave for cats) and serves nearly 9,000 animals annually. Additional offerings include foster-to-adopt trials, private rehoming services, community cat programs, merchandise sales, and various donation/sponsorship opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dog Adoption Adoption program for dogs of all ages — puppies (under 6 months), adults (6 months and older), and seniors (8 years and older) — available at CAC's main shelter and at PetSmart offsite adoption events. Same-day, walk-in adoptions with no appointments required. Fees cover annual vaccines and spay/neuter.
• Cat Adoption Adoption program for cats, kittens, and Working Cats (outdoor cats for barns/warehouses) housed at the dedicated Kitty City facility. Same-day, walk-in adoptions 7 days/week.
• Small Animal Adoption Adoption program for small animals including bunnies, mice, rats, guinea pigs, ferrets, chinchillas, gerbils, turtles, and fish, with a flat $25 adoption fee.
• Foster Program Free community foster program enabling Hamilton County residents to temporarily house cats, kittens, puppies, and adult dogs — including day trips, neonatal care, and behavioral rehabilitation cases — with flexible commitment durations and shelter staff support.
• Animal Control Services 24/7 on-call animal control and bite-report response for Hamilton County, provided by CAC in its capacity as the official county animal shelter, with an after-hours emergency line.
• Community CARE Vet Clinic Community veterinary clinic operated by CAC that provides affordable veterinary services to Hamilton County pet owners, complementing the Thursday vaccine clinic and microchipping offerings.
• Dog Licensing Official Hamilton County dog licensing service at $19.75 per license, required for all dog adoptions by county residents per Ohio state law and administered by CAC in its role as the county's designated animal shelter.
• Microchipping Microchipping service that provides permanent identification for pets, available to Hamilton County pet owners as a standalone service and integrated with adoption and vaccine clinic offerings.
• Thursday Low-Cost Vaccine Clinic Recurring Thursday low-cost vaccine clinic providing affordable vaccinations for Hamilton County pets as part of CAC's preventive-care offerings.
• Lost and Found Pets Lost-and-found pet service including reunification assistance, lost pet reporting forms, and in-person/phone contact options; strays are held for a minimum of 72 hours per Ohio Revised Code.
• Private Rehoming Service for pet owners who need to surrender their pets, enabling surrender through CAC's shelter rather than requiring owners to rehome independently.
• Foster-to-Adopt Program Trial adoption program letting prospective adopters foster a dog 6 months or older in their home for up to 7 days before committing to a full adoption, reducing adoption risk.
• CARE Close to Home Program Community program that provides resources and support to help Hamilton County pet owners keep their pets in their homes and avoid surrender.
• Community Cats Program Community cat program providing trap-neuter-return (TNR) services and support for outdoor cat populations across Hamilton County, delivered in partnership with Ohio Alley Cat Resource.
• CAC Shop Online merchandise store selling branded items, with all proceeds supporting CAC's animal care operations.
• PetSmart Adoption Events Offsite adoption events held at PetSmart partner locations to showcase adoptable dogs and cats from CAC to PetSmart customers.
• Donation, Sponsorship, and Donation Drive Programs Charitable giving programs through which individuals, community groups, and businesses support CAC's nearly 9,000-animal annual operations, including general monetary/supply donations, the Sponsor a Kennel program, and the Donation Drive program for groups and organizations. Donations are tax-deductible under CAC's 501(c)(3) status.

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered major and supporting.

• Cincinnati Regional Chamber C-Change ProgrammajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 May 2026New initiative announced May 2026 to develop Young Leaders Board, building a pipeline of future advocates, donors, and leaders for Hamilton County's animal shelter.
• Petco LovemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPetco Love logo appears on the organization's partner highlight section, indicating a partnership for animal welfare initiatives and adoption support.
• Give Them TensupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerAnimal welfare organization partnership supporting shelter operations and adoption programs.
• Ohio Alley Cat Resource (OAR)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional cat welfare organization partnership for community cat programs and resources.
• MedVetmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerVeterinary hospital providing emergency and specialty medical care for shelter animals.
• UCAN (University of Cincinnati Animal Neighbors)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity-affiliated program supporting animal welfare community initiatives.
• Eastgate Animal HospitalsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal veterinary practice providing animal care services for shelter animals.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SPCA Cincinnati: Regional animal welfare nonprofit serving the Greater Cincinnati area with adoption, sheltering, and low-cost veterinary services. Directly comparable to CAC in mission, geography (overlapping Cincinnati footprint), and service mix, though it operates as an independent SPCA rather than the designated county shelter.
• Charleston Animal Society: Designated county-level animal shelter serving Charleston County with adoption, spay/neuter, and animal control services. Highly comparable as a county-mandate open-adoption shelter operating at similar scale to CAC.
• Austin Pets Alive!: Innovative no-kill animal rescue/shelter operating large-scale adoption, foster, and community pet support programs. Highly comparable open-adoption philosophy, foster-heavy model, and lifesaving mission, though at significantly larger scale.

Broad incumbents

• Ohio SPCA / Ohio Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: Statewide animal welfare organization providing shelter, advocacy, and humane law enforcement services. Comparable in mission and animal welfare focus, with broader Ohio-wide scope versus CAC's county-specific mandate.
• Best Friends Animal Society: National leading animal welfare nonprofit running shelter, adoption, and no-kill advocacy programs. Highly comparable mission and operating model, though at vastly larger scale and with national rather than county scope.
• ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals): National animal welfare organization operating shelter, adoption, mobile veterinary, and advocacy programs. Shares shelter/adoption/vet service mix with CAC, though at much greater scale and with national donor reach.
• Humane Society of the United States (HSUS): Largest U.S. animal protection organization with national advocacy, shelter support, and rescue programs. Comparable in mission and animal welfare focus, though primarily advocacy/donor-funded versus shelter-operator.

Others

• Petco Love (formerly Petco Foundation): Animal welfare funder and partner of CAC, providing grants and adoption support to shelters nationwide. Comparable as a funder/partner peer in the animal welfare ecosystem and key strategic relationship for CAC.
• Maddie's Fund: Major animal welfare foundation supporting no-kill shelter programs, grantmaking to community shelters, and research. Directly relevant as a known CAC funder and as the most prominent U.S. shelter-grantmaking body.

Regional players

• Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF): Community animal welfare organization providing adoption, low-cost veterinary, and youth education programs in the San Francisco Bay Area. Comparable service mix and nonprofit operating model, though geographically distinct.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CincyAnimalCARE
• Facebookfacebook.com/CincyAnimalCARE
• Instagraminstagram.com/cincyanimalcare
• TikToktiktok.com/@cincyanimalcare
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cincinnati-animal-care-humane-society

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cincinnati Animal CARE