Animal Samaritans

What Animal Samaritans does

Animal Samaritans SPCA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1978 and headquartered in Thousand Palms, California, operating as the Coachella Valley's most comprehensive animal welfare provider. It runs two full-service veterinary clinics (Thousand Palms and Indio) offering general practice, urgent care, and specialty services including oncology, cardiology, and internal medicine, alongside a no-kill animal shelter on Ramon Road and rescue, foster, and adoption programs. The organization has saved more than 16,000 animals through its rescue program and supports community-facing initiatives including free humane education for Desert schools, a Critter Camp for children ages 7-12, and an Animal Companion Therapy (ACT) program that visits nursing homes, assisted living facilities, special needs facilities, and hospitals.

The business model blends earned revenue from veterinary services with contributed revenue from donations, grants, and planned giving. Pricing for clinical services is not publicly disclosed, but the organization extends financial aid programs and payment plans to qualifying low-income pet owners to keep care accessible, and routes prescription fulfillment through an online pharmacy partner (VetsFirstChoice). Distribution is direct via two clinic locations and a shelter, with marketing conducted through the organizational website, an email newsletter, community events, and Pet Companion Magazine, which Animal Samaritans assumed publishing of in October 2024. As of 2024 the organization has launched a multi-phase Capital Campaign; Phase One (begun September 2024) renovates the Thousand Palms clinic, and Phase Two will deliver a new Pet Adoption & Humane Education Center on a 2.5-acre site, supported by $4M+ in restricted funds, pledged donations, and property assets including a $750,000 naming gift from the Richard Brooke Foundation and a $1,750,000 gift from Cade L. Morrow.

Operations are led by CEO Tom Snyder with a Board of Directors that includes professionals from legal, banking, broadcasting, real estate, and government backgrounds. The organization employs 51-100 staff and is governed independently with no parent company or external controlling entity, relying on a mix of service fees and donor support to fund mission-driven activities.

Name

Animal Samaritans

Legal name

Animal Samaritans SPCA

Website

https://animalsamaritans.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Animal Samaritans is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1978 operating two veterinary clinics, a no-kill shelter, and rescue, adoption, and humane education programs serving pet owners across California's Coachella Valley.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Welfare and Veterinary Services

NAICS

Veterinary Services (541940), Veterinary Services (54194)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Veterinary Charity Clinics & Medical Aid (BPAGAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

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

Keywords

• Veterinary clinic services
• Animal shelter operations
• Spay and neuter services
• Animal rescue services
• Humane education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Thousand Palms

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Animal Samaritans is a nonprofit organization that operates a full-service veterinary clinic offering general practice, urgent care, and specialty services (oncology, cardiology, internal medicine), along with a no-kill animal shelter, spay/neuter services, animal rescue programs, and community education initiatives including humane education for schools and the Animal Companion Therapy (ACT) program serving nursing homes and hospitals.

Product overview

Animal Samaritans is a non-profit organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of animal welfare services in the Coachella Valley. The core offerings include full-service veterinary clinics providing general practice, urgent care, and specialty services (oncology, cardiology, internal medicine); a no-kill animal shelter with adoption and foster programs; animal rescue operations; and community education programs including humane education for schools and the Animal Companion Therapy (ACT) program. Supporting services include financial aid, payment plans, and an online pharmacy. The organization also publishes Pet Companion Magazine. These services work together to fulfill the mission of improving the lives of animals and people through veterinary care, sheltering, rescue, and education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Veterinary Clinic Services Full-service veterinary care including general practice, urgent care, and specialty services such as oncology, cardiology, and internal medicine, provided at clinic locations in Thousand Palms and Indio for Coachella Valley pet owners.
• No-Kill Animal Shelter A no-kill shelter providing refuge for at-risk, adoptable dogs and cats, offering housing, food, water, socialization, and medical care until animals find forever homes.
• Spay and Neuter Services Affordable spay and neuter services for pet owners as part of the organization's animal welfare mission to reduce homeless animal population.
• Animal Rescue Program Rescue program that saves cats and dogs at shelters facing imminent euthanasia, having saved more than 16,000 animals to date.
• Humane Education Program State-accredited, grade-appropriate humane education provided to Desert schools at no cost, including lesson plans for elementary and middle school students and annual summer Critter Camps for children ages 7-12.
• A.C.T. (Animal Companion Therapy) Animal Companion Therapy program utilizing the healing power of animal-human connection to provide free animal visits to nursing homes, assisted living facilities, special needs facilities, and hospitals.
• Foster Program Program allowing community members to foster animals awaiting adoption, supporting the shelter's mission to save animals.
• Financial Aid and Payment Plans Financial aid programs and payment plans for qualifying low-income pet owners to help cover veterinary care costs.
• Online Pharmacy Online pharmacy service for pet medications and supplies accessible through VetsFirstChoice for prescription medications and pet health products.
• Pet Companion Magazine Magazine published by Animal Samaritans celebrating the unique bonds between pets and their owners, featuring stories on veterinary care, training, and animal welfare.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• PetSmart Charities: Animal welfare foundation affiliated with PetSmart that funds adoption, spay/neuter, and humane education programs nationwide. Thematically adjacent as a peer funder in the animal welfare ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals): National 501(c)(3) animal welfare organization operating shelter, veterinary, and adoption services. Larger-scale incumbent with direct programmatic overlap in veterinary care and rescue operations.
• Banfield Pet Hospital: National for-profit veterinary chain operating inside PetSmart stores, owned by Mars. Direct competitor for general-practice and wellness veterinary services within Animal Samaritans' Coachella Valley market.
• Best Friends Animal Society: National no-kill animal welfare nonprofit operating sanctuaries, adoption programs, and pet lifesaving initiatives. Larger-scale incumbent with overlapping mission around shelter, rescue, and adoption, though not a clinic operator.
• VCA Animal Hospitals: Largest U.S. for-profit veterinary hospital chain (owned by Mars). Competes with Animal Samaritans' general practice and specialty services in the Coachella Valley catchment using a for-profit, multi-location model.

Direct peers

• Marin Humane Society: Northern California nonprofit humane society offering shelter, veterinary services, behavior training, and humane education. Comparable integrated nonprofit animal welfare operating model with community education focus.
• Oregon Humane Society: Portland-based nonprofit operating a full-service animal shelter with in-house veterinary clinic, adoption, and humane education. Comparable geographic-anchored nonprofit with veterinary clinical services.
• San Diego Humane Society: One of the largest Southern California nonprofit animal welfare organizations operating shelters, veterinary clinics, and adoption services. Most directly comparable peer given integrated clinic-plus-shelter nonprofit model in the same state.
• Pasadena Humane Society: Southern California nonprofit SPCA operating shelter, low-cost veterinary clinic, and adoption programs. Closely mirrors Animal Samaritans' integrated clinic-plus-shelter-plus-community-education model in a comparable regional market.

Regional players

• Ventura County Animal Services (via SPCAI partnership): Southern California county animal services operation with shelter and limited clinical services. Adjacent regional peer operating similar shelter-plus-vet model in a neighboring California geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ansams
• Facebookfacebook.com/AnimalSamaritans
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/animal-samaritans

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Animal Samaritans