Compassion Without Borders
Compassion Without Borders (CWOB) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that delivers free veterinary care, spay/neuter services, and animal rescue on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, operating shelters, mobile clinics, and an interstate rescue partnership spanning California, Mexico, and Minnesota.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersSanta Rosa, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Compassion Without Borders does
Compassion Without Borders (CWOB) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit animal welfare organization founded in 2001 and headquartered at 1130 Butler Avenue, Santa Rosa, California. The organization provides free and low-cost veterinary care, spay/neuter services, and animal rescue on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border through four core programs: International Dog Rescue (Mexico-origin dogs), Central Valley Dog Rescue (California), U.S. Free Veterinary Wellness Clinics, and Mexico Veterinary Wellness and Spay/Neuter. CWOB operates the Muttopia shelter and Clinica Esperanza in Puerto Peñasco, Mexico, where an average of over 200 homeless animals are housed daily, and has cumulatively impacted 59,089 animals across U.S. and Mexico programs.
The underlying technology footprint is minimal and not publicly disclosed beyond a marketing website (cwob.org), a WordPress blog, social media profiles, and a Classy/GoFundMe-powered donation platform (give.cwob.org). Service delivery is people-led: mobile veterinary clinics, shelter staff, volunteer networks, and an interstate rescue transport pipeline that moves 40+ Chihuahuas every six weeks from overcrowded Central Valley shelters to Animal Humane Society in Minneapolis via Delta Cargo, having saved 1,500+ lives over three years.
CWOB's business model is donation-driven with no commercial product revenue. Funding streams include one-time and recurring individual donations, the Circle of Hope monthly giving program, the Whiskers & Wings memorial program (Forever Star at $50, Memory Stone at $150+), and annual calendar sales at $25 each. Major foundation and corporate partners include PetSmart Charities, Petco Foundation, Maddie's Fund, Hill's Pet Nutrition, ASPCA, and Greymuzzle, alongside operational partners such as Fresno Humane Animal Services and Los Guilicos. The organization reports a Charity Navigator 4-Star rating and GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency, with the most recent capital signal being a $10,000 grant from Jameson Humane in December 2025.
Compassion Without Borders firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Compassion Without Borders
- Legal name
- Compassion Without Borders
- Website
- https://cwob.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Compassion Without Borders (CWOB) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that delivers free veterinary care, spay/neuter services, and animal rescue on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, operating shelters, mobile clinics, and an interstate rescue partnership spanning California, Mexico, and Minnesota.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Compassion Without Borders industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Animal Welfare Services
- NAICS
- Veterinary Services (54194)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Animal Shelters & Rescue Operations (AFAEALAB), Veterinary Charity Clinics & Medical Aid (BPAGAIAD)
Keywords
Where Compassion Without Borders is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Santa Rosa
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Compassion Without Borders business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual supporters, including online donations, direct mail, and event-based giving. 100% of online donations go to CWOB programs.
- Circle of Hope Monthly Giving Program: Monthly recurring donor program where supporters commit to regular monthly contributions. Donors receive a welcome packet, recognition in Annual Impact Report, and exclusive email communications.
- Whiskers & Wings Memorial Program: Remembrance program allowing donors to honor deceased pets with donations at different levels (Forever Star at $50, Memory Stone at $150+), with contributions supporting animals in need.
- Calendar Sales: Sale of annual calendars featuring rescued animals, priced at $25 each, with proceeds supporting CWOB programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | 2026 Calendars - $25 each |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Whiskers & Wings Memorial Donation Levels |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Compassion Without Borders product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Compassion Without Borders is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes dogs in need on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. It operates shelters (Muttopia in Puerto Peñasco, Mexico and Santa Rosa, CA), free community veterinary wellness clinics, and spay/neuter programs targeting underserved, low-income communities. It also runs donor programs (Circle of Hope monthly giving, Whiskers & Wings memorial program, calendar sales) to fund these animal welfare services.
Product overview
Compassion Without Borders operates as a unified non-profit animal welfare organization with multiple interconnected programs spanning both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. The core offerings include International Dog Rescue (rescuing dogs from Mexico), Central Valley Dog Rescue (California rescue), U.S. Free Veterinary Wellness Clinics, and Mexico Veterinary Wellness and Spay/Neuter services. Supporting programs include the Circle of Hope Monthly Donor Program for sustainable funding, Whiskers & Wings Memorial Program for pet remembrance, annual Calendars merchandise, and the Muttopia Shelter facility. All programs work together to provide direct rescue, rehabilitation, veterinary care, and adoption services for animals in need.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Whiskers & Wings: A remembrance program to pay tribute to animals that have been loved and lost, featuring memorial garden at Muttopia.
- Muttopia
- Clinica Esperanza
- Circle of Hope
Products and services
- International Dog Rescue International rescue program for dogs with backgrounds of homelessness and neglect from Mexico. Dogs are rescued from streets or animal control centers, rehabilitated at shelters in Puerto Peñasco, Mexico, then transported to Santa Rosa, CA for adoption.
- Central Valley Dog Rescue Program Dog rescue program from California's Central Valley where overcrowding and euthanasia rates are alarmingly high. Includes interstate Chihuahua rescue partnered with Animal Humane Society Minneapolis.
- U.S. Free Veterinary Wellness Clinics Free veterinary wellness clinics for underserved communities in the U.S., primarily targeting low-income Latino neighborhoods. Services include vaccinations, deworming, flea control, microchips, ID tags, and spay/neuter referrals.
- Mexico Veterinary Wellness and Spay/Neuter Free and low-cost veterinary care and spay/neuter services for animals in Mexico, including at their shelter Muttopia and clinic Clinica Esperanza.
- Circle of Hope Monthly Donor Program Monthly recurring donation program providing sustainable funding for Compassion Without Borders' animal rescue and welfare operations. Monthly donors receive a welcome packet, annual report recognition, and exclusive email communications.
- Whiskers & Wings Memorial Program Remembrance program honoring pets that have passed away. Features Forever Star (name etched on star, $50) and Memory Stone (hand-painted rock in Memorial Garden, $150+) giving tiers, located at Muttopia shelter.
- 2026 Calendars Annual calendar featuring inspiring portraits of rescued animals whose lives have been transformed. Proceeds support animals on both sides of the border. Calendars are $25 each.
- Muttopia Shelter The organization's shelter in Puerto Peñasco, Mexico housing an average of over 200 homeless animals daily. Provides medical care, food, and safe recovery space before adoption. Includes Whiskers & Wings Memorial Garden.
Quantifiable outcome
- 59,089 total animals impacted through rescue and veterinary wellness programs
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Compassion Without Borders
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Compassion Without Borders technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Compassion Without Borders partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and support.
- Animal Humane Society (Minneapolis)coreFlagship interstate rescue partnership transporting 40+ Chihuahuas every 6 weeks from overcrowded California shelters (Fresno area) to Minneapolis, where the dogs are adopted quickly. CWOB selects, vet checks, and behavior tests the dogs before Delta cargo transport. Partnership has saved over 1,500 lives in three years.
- Fresno Humane Animal ServicescorePartnership for community veterinary clinics in severely under-resourced regions of the Central Valley, bringing low-cost spay/neuter and wellness services to underserved communities.
- Los Guilicos (Temporary Housing Facility)minorHost location for community veterinary clinic serving homeless populations in California, bringing pet care directly to those in need.
- Delta Airlines CargosupportCargo transport partner used for interstate Chihuahua rescue flights from California to Minneapolis.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Compassion Without Borders competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Best Friends Animal Society: Largest no-kill animal welfare nonprofit in the U.S., operating sanctuaries, adoption programs, and spay/neuter initiatives nationally. Closely comparable mission and direct-rescue model, though at materially larger scale than CWOB.
- Animal Humane Society (Minneapolis): Direct rescue and adoption partner of CWOB, receiving interstate Chihuahua transports every six weeks. Operates shelters, adoption services, and veterinary care in the Upper Midwest — same mission, complementary geography.
- PAWS (Progressive Animal Welfare Society): Regional animal welfare nonprofit operating shelters, wildlife rehabilitation, and adoption services in the Pacific Northwest. Similar service mix to CWOB including low-cost veterinary offerings.
- Villalobos Rescue Center: Rescue and rehabilitation nonprofit focused on high-need dogs with a niche-rescue orientation and cross-state transport approach. Comparable mission specificity and programmatic intensity to CWOB, though breed-specialized.
- SPCA International: International animal welfare nonprofit supporting rescue, disaster response, and shelter programs globally. Closely aligned with CWOB's international, cross-border operational posture.
Broad incumbents
- ASPCA: One of the oldest and largest U.S. animal welfare organizations, providing rescue, shelter, veterinary, and advocacy services nationwide. Cited as a CWOB partner — operates a much broader geographic and programmatic footprint.
- Humane Society of the United States: Nation's largest animal protection organization with rescue, advocacy, and shelter programs. Operates at vastly larger scale and scope than CWOB but addresses an overlapping animal welfare mission.
Regional players
- San Diego Humane Society: Major regional shelter and animal welfare organization serving Southern California with adoption, veterinary, and rescue programs. Geographic adjacency and comparable service portfolio, though California-focused.
Emerging players
- Austin Pets Alive!: No-kill rescue and adoption nonprofit known for innovative programs and breed/dog-specific transport partnerships. Similar operating philosophy and creative programmatic model to CWOB at comparable scale.
Others
- Maddie's Fund: Major animal welfare grantmaking foundation funding rescue, adoption, and spay/neuter programs nationwide. Listed as a CWOB funding partner — directly comparable in mission orientation though not a direct operator.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Compassion Without Borders social profiles
Digital presenceCompassion Without Borders financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Compassion Without Borders leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Compassion Without Borders funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Compassion Without Borders M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Compassion Without Borders
What does Compassion Without Borders do?
Compassion Without Borders is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes dogs in need on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. It operates shelters (Muttopia in Puerto Peñasco, Mexico and Santa Rosa, CA), free community veterinary wellness clinics, and spay/neuter programs targeting underserved, low-income communities. It also runs donor programs (Circle of Hope monthly giving, Whiskers & Wings memorial program, calendar sales) to fund these animal welfare services.
Is Compassion Without Borders a public or private company?
Compassion Without Borders is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Compassion Without Borders founded?
Compassion Without Borders was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Compassion Without Borders based?
Compassion Without Borders is headquartered in Santa Rosa, United States, in the North America region.
How does Compassion Without Borders make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are circle of Hope Monthly Giving Program, whiskers & Wings Memorial Program and calendar Sales.
Who are Compassion Without Borders's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Best Friends Animal Society, Animal Humane Society (Minneapolis), PAWS (Progressive Animal Welfare Society), Villalobos Rescue Center and SPCA International. Broad incumbents are ASPCA and Humane Society of the United States. San Diego Humane Society is listed as a regional player. Austin Pets Alive! is listed as an emerging player. Maddie's Fund is listed as an others.
Does Compassion Without Borders have an API?
No public API is recorded for Compassion Without Borders.
What industry is Compassion Without Borders in?
Compassion Without Borders's product category is Animal Welfare Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAIAA, Animal Shelters & Adoption Services, with a secondary code of AFAEALAB, Animal Shelters & Rescue Operations. Its NAICS code is 54194 and its SIC code is 8300.