What Dane County Humane Society does

Dane County Humane Society (DCHS) is a private non-profit animal welfare organization founded in 1921 and headquartered on a 29-acre campus at 5132 Voges Road in Madison, Wisconsin. DCHS operates as an open-admission shelter providing refuge, medical care, and adoption services to companion animals, exotic species, barnyard animals, and injured or orphaned wildlife. The organization maintains a 91-95% save rate annually under its Adoption Guarantee policy established in 2012, admitting 4,633 companion animals in 2026 and completing 12,294 medical exams and 3,496 spay/neuter surgeries. Core operational units include the Adoption Center, Wildlife Center (formerly Four Lakes Wildlife Center, operating since 2002), and Maddie's F.I.T. Center, the world's first dedicated on-site ringworm treatment facility in a shelter setting developed with UW-Madison's School of Veterinary Medicine.

DCHS operates a diversified revenue model anchored by individual donations, bequests, corporate support, grants, and fundraising events, supplemented by adoption fees, two thrift store locations (West opened 2019, East opened July 2024), and a government contract with Public Health Madison and Dane County for stray animal sheltering and rabies prevention services. The organization runs an extensive service portfolio including the Shelter Support Program (mobile veterinary services to 17 partner shelters across Wisconsin), Pets for Life community outreach delivering free pet food to underserved zip codes, and the Pet Food Pantry partnership that has distributed over 260,000 pounds of pet food since 2011. Adoption fees are publicly disclosed on a sliding scale, ranging from $30 for senior cats up to $800 for horses, with all adoptions including spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations, and microchipping.

The organization is led by Executive Director Pam McCloud Smith (since 2002), supported by 140 employees and more than 1,200 active volunteers, operating on an $8.1 million annual budget. DCHS is independently governed, not affiliated with national animal welfare organizations, and serves as a regional hub in Wisconsin's animal welfare network through partnerships with UW-Madison, Wisconsin Federated Humane Societies, and the broader shelter ecosystem. Recent strategic activity includes serving as the staging ground for the May 2026 Ridglan Farms beagle rescue operation involving 500 dogs.

Name

Dane County Humane Society

Legal name

Dane County Humane Society

Website

https://giveshelter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1921

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Dane County Humane Society is a private non-profit animal welfare organization founded in 1921 in Madison, Wisconsin, operating an open-admission shelter serving companion animals and wildlife with a 91-95% save rate, two thrift stores, and a mobile veterinary program across 17 partner shelters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Welfare Services

NAICS

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291), Veterinary Services (54194)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Veterinary Charity Clinics & Medical Aid (BPAGAIAD), Spay/Neuter & Population Control Programs (BPAGAIAE), Sanctuaries & Long-Term Care (Farm, Equine, Exotic) (BPAGAIAH)

Keywords

• Animal shelter services
• Pet adoption services
• Wildlife rehabilitation
• Humane education programs
• Animal welfare nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Major funding source from individual donations, bequests, corporate support, grants, and fundraising efforts from community members. DCHS emphasizes donor-supported private non-profit status.
2. Adoption and Service Fees: Adoption fees for companion animals, fees for euthanasia and cremation services, microchipping fees, and other animal care services.
3. Thrift Store Revenue: Two thrift store locations generate revenue supporting DCHS operations. Thrift Store West at 6904 Watts Road and Thrift Store East at 5231 High Crossing Blvd.
4. Government Contract: Contract with Public Health Madison and Dane County (PHMDC) for stray animal sheltering, bite quarantine, and rabies prevention services. Contract funding covers only a fraction of total expenses.
5. Special Events and Fundraising: Major fundraising events including Toto's Gala, Bark & Wine, and other community fundraising activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Dane County Humane Society is a private, open-admission animal shelter that provides refuge, healing, and rehoming services for thousands of companion animals, exotic species, barnyard animals, and injured or orphaned wild animals each year. Its core offerings revolve around an Adoption Center that places dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, small mammals, and birds with new owners; a Wildlife Center that rehabilitates and releases native wildlife; and a portfolio of supporting services including veterinary care, foster placement, dog training, microchipping, spay/neuter assistance, and humane education. Operations are funded primarily through donations, adoption and service fees, thrift store retail revenue, a public health contract, and special events.

Product overview

Dane County Humane Society operates as an open-admission animal shelter with a multi-service portfolio centered on animal welfare. The core offering is the Adoption Center, which facilitates pet adoptions through counseling and waitlist management. Supporting services include the Wildlife Center for wild animal rehabilitation, two Thrift Store locations generating operational revenue, and community programs like Pets for Life (free pet food delivery), Maddie's Felines in Treatment Center (ringworm treatment), and the Lonely Hearts Club for long-waiting animals. Additional programs encompass foster care, dog training, microchipping, spay/neuter assistance, and humane education camps and events. All services operate under an 'Adopters Welcome' philosophy focused on removing barriers to adoption.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Maddie's Felines in Treatment Center: World's first dedicated on-site ringworm treatment facility in a shelter setting, providing treatment services for cats with ringworm from DCHS and other organizations.
• Pets for Life
• Lonely Hearts Club

Products and services

• Adoption Center Main animal adoption service matching prospective pet owners with adoptable companion animals including dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, small mammals, birds, and barnyard animals. Features adoption counselors, a meet-and-greet waitlist system, and bundled post-adoption veterinary care.
• Wildlife Center Wildlife rehabilitation facility providing specialized care and treatment to injured, sick, and orphaned wild animals with the goal of releasing healthy animals back to their natural habitats. Includes animal admitting procedures, on-site diagnostics such as a blood lead level analyzer, and public education on wildlife safety.
• DCHS Thrift Store Two-location thrift store operation (West at 6904 Watts Road and East at 5231 High Crossing Blvd) selling donated items with proceeds supporting DCHS animal care operations.
• Maddie's Felines in Treatment (F.I.T.) Center World's first dedicated on-site ringworm treatment facility in a shelter setting, treating cats with dermatophyte from DCHS and other partner organizations.
• Dog Training Classes Training classes for dogs of all ages to support behavioral development and strengthen the human-animal bond.
• Euthanasia and Cremation End-of-life services including euthanasia and cremation options for community pets.
• Microchipping Microchipping service for pet identification to facilitate lost pet reunification.
• Spay/Neuter Assistance Financial assistance program helping pet owners afford spay and neuter surgeries to reduce pet overpopulation.
• Camp Pawprint Humane education summer camp program for children teaching compassion and responsibility toward animals.
• Shelter Support Program Program where DCHS veterinary staff travel to 17 partner shelters across Wisconsin to provide affordable spay/neuter, dental, and surgical services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% to 95% save rate maintained over five years
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Center for a Humane EconomycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Animal welfare organization that purchased approximately 1,500 beagles from Ridglan Farms along with Big Dog Ranch Rescue. Coordinating nationwide shelter adoptions with DCHS serving as staging ground for 500 remaining dogs.
• Big Dog Ranch RescuecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Animal welfare organization that purchased approximately 1,500 beagles from Ridglan Farms along with Center for a Humane Economy. Coordinating nationwide adoption efforts with DCHS as staging ground.
• Beagle Freedom ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Lead agency for standards of care and placement for Ridglan Farms beagle rescue operation. Removing 500 remaining dogs from facility with DCHS serving as staging ground.
• Public Health Madison and Dane County (PHMDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing annual contract to provide essential state-mandated public services including shelter and care for stray animals, bite quarantine, and rabies prevention. DCHS serves as the county's official stray holding facility. Funding shortfall discussed publicly as challenge for organization.
• Wisconsin Federated Humane Societies (WFHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDCHS helps define sheltering standards, encourage collaboration, and support shelters of all sizes. Executive Director Pam McCloud Smith serves on WFHS board since 2004 and as President since 2012. Partnership facilitates transfers, training, and shared advocacy for animal welfare legislation.
• University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong partnership providing training opportunities including fellowship camps, clinical rotations, seminars. UW veterinary students attend ambulatory rotations at DCHS. UW Wildlife Medicine veterinarians support wildlife rehabilitation. DCHS hosts Maddie's Shelter Medicine Internship.
• Partner Animal Shelters and RescuescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner17 shelters and rescues partnered through Shelter Support Program providing veterinary services including 350 exams, 2,477 spay/neuter surgeries, 78 dentals, and 52 other procedures. DCHS receives animal transfers from southern states and transfers extensive medical/surgical patients to partner organizations.
• Community Action Coalition for South Central WI (CAC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to supply pet food and cat litter to participating Dane County food pantries. Since 2011, the program has collected and distributed over 260,000 pounds of pet food and kitty litter.
• Mounds Pet Food WarehouseminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDonation barrel locations at Madison East (4275 Lien Road), Madison West (231 Junction Road), and Sun Prairie (2422 Montana Avenue) locations for pet food and cat litter drives.
• Participating Dane County Food PantriesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFood pantries distributing pet food including Middleton Outreach Ministry, The River Food Pantry, and United Methodist Church Food Pantry.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Maddie's Fund: Major pet welfare foundation that has funded DCHS's F.I.T. Center and Shelter Medicine Internship program. Ecosystem funder rather than operational peer, but shapes industry practices DCHS adopts.
• Center for a Humane Economy: Animal protection advocacy organization that partnered with DCHS as a staging ground for the Ridglan Farms beagle rescue. Ecosystem partner rather than operational peer.

Broad incumbents

• Best Friends Animal Society: National no-kill advocacy leader that runs adoption centers and sanctuaries plus a national network. Broader scale but overlaps in mission and partner transfer relationships.
• American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA): National animal welfare organization operating shelter, advocacy, and veterinary programs. While geographically broader, competes for donor dollars and engages in similar nationwide rescue operations.

Direct peers

• Arizona Humane Society: Mid-large open-admission shelter with adoption, mobile vet, and behavior programs. Comparable scale (~150+ employees), diversified revenue, and similar community outreach mission profile.
• Humane Society of Boulder Valley: Mid-size open-admission shelter in Colorado operating adoption, veterinary, and community programs. DCHS staff have prior tenure here, indicating comparable operating model and scale.
• Wisconsin Humane Society: Wisconsin's largest animal shelter with multiple campuses including Milwaukee and Madison. Directly comparable as a Wisconsin-based open-admission shelter offering adoption, wildlife, spay/neuter, and community programs.
• Asheville Humane Society: Independently operated (non-national) adoption-guarantee shelter with similar mid-size budget. Comparable operating model emphasizes managed intake and community programs.
• Richmond SPCA: Independent, non-affiliated humane society with adoption guarantee and full-service veterinary clinic. Shares DCHS's "independent, donor-supported" non-national posture and community education focus.
• Multnomah County Animal Services: Oregon-based open-admission shelter with government contract structure for stray animal services. DCHS board member has prior volunteer experience here, signaling similar adoption guarantee model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/DCHSGiveShelter
• Facebookfacebook.com/GiveShelter
• Instagraminstagram.com/dchsgiveshelter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Dane County Humane Society