Cortland County SPCA

What Cortland County SPCA does

Cortland County SPCA (legally The Cortland County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Inc.) is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit, no-kill animal shelter headquartered at 879 McLean Road, Cortland, New York. Incorporated as Tax ID 51-0244203 and operating continuously with a single physical site, it serves Cortland County across six municipalities (Town of Cortlandville, Village of McGraw, Town of Cincinnatus, Town of Marathon, Village of Marathon, Town of Solon) and enforces New York State Agriculture and Markets Laws county-wide. Its mission-oriented service portfolio spans animal adoption, low-cost spay/neuter surgery, an à la carte and package-priced wellness clinic (vaccines, microchipping, flea/tick treatment, deworming), a Pet Food Pantry, owner surrender intake, lost/found pet reunification, foster placement via the Pawssible Futures program, a Barn Cats working-cat adoption track, and a GoodPup dog-training partnership aimed at retention.

The Spay/Neuter program — launched by board members and community volunteers in 1998 and expanded in 2000 to include low-income-owned pets following a Helen Long donation — anchors the veterinary service line, now delivered under contract with Shelter Outreach Services (founded 2003 by Cornell veterinarian Dr. Leslie Appel). Lifesaving outcomes are tracked through Shelter Animals Count under the Best Friends Animal Society no-kill framework, with a save rate that improved from 90.92% in 2022 to 93.09% in 2023. The technology footprint is purposefully lean and operational rather than proprietary: AnimalsFirst for adoption, foster, volunteer, owner-surrender, and pet-food applications; Kindful for donation processing and the Guardian Angels recurring giving program; ClinicHQ for clinic scheduling; and Google reCAPTCHA on intake forms — no AI/ML components are disclosed.

Revenue derives from a blend of fee-for-service and donation streams. Fee-based streams include one-time adoption fees ($50 for adult cats to $300 for puppies under six months, with package inclusions of spay/neuter, microchip, vaccinations, and municipal license fees), spay/neuter procedures ($90–$175 plus a $50 brachycephalic surcharge), and wellness clinic à la carte items plus packages (Cat Basic $60, Cat Deluxe $85, Dog Basic $65, Dog Deluxe $125). Donation streams include unrestricted monetary giving, the Guardian Angels tiered monthly subscription ($25–$250/month), planned giving/bequests, the Fur-ever Love e-card fundraiser (via dontsendmeacard.com), the Jim Forshee Memorial Fund, and a bottle-and-can redemption partnership with JM Murray Center and Springbrook that delivered over $14,000 in 2023. The organization carries no subsidiaries, no parent entity, and no disclosed capital structure; governance is via an independent board of directors.

Name

Cortland County SPCA

Legal name

The Cortland County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Inc.

Website

https://cortlandspca.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cortland County SPCA is a private, no-kill, 501(c)(3) animal shelter serving Cortland County, New York, providing pet adoption, low-cost spay/neuter services, a wellness clinic, and county-wide animal cruelty enforcement funded by adoption fees and community donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Shelter Services

NAICS

Veterinary Services (54194)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAIAA

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Animal Welfare & Wildlife Rescue

SECONDARYBPAGAIAE

Spay/Neuter & Population Control Programs

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Animal Welfare & Wildlife Rescue

SECONDARYBPAGAIAD

Veterinary Charity Clinics & Medical Aid

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Animal Welfare & Wildlife Rescue

SECONDARYBPAGAIAH

Sanctuaries & Long-Term Care (Farm, Equine, Exotic)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Animal Welfare & Wildlife Rescue

SECONDARYBPAGAIAL

Lost & Found, Reunification & Microchipping Programs

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Animal Welfare & Wildlife Rescue

Keywords

• Animal shelter services
• Pet adoption services
• Low-cost spay neuter
• Animal welfare nonprofit
• Veterinary wellness clinic

Headquarters

HQ city

Cortland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Adoption Fees: Fees collected from adopters when they take home dogs or cats. Adoption fees vary by animal type and age, ranging from $50 for adult cats to $300 for puppies under 6 months old. Fees include spay/neuter, microchip, vaccinations, flea treatment, deworming, and a bag of pet food.
2. Spay/Neuter Clinic Services: Low-cost spay/neuter services to the public. Pricing ranges from $90 (cat neuter) to $175 (dog spay), with additional fees for vaccinations, testing, flea treatment, and microchipping. This revenue stream began in 1998 and expanded to serve low-income owners in 2000.
3. Wellness Clinic Services: Vaccinations, microchipping, flea/tick treatment, and deworming services offered at competitive prices. Services are offered à la carte or in packages (Basic and Deluxe) for both cats and dogs.
4. Monetary Donations: The organization relies heavily on monetary donations from the public. Accepts one-time donations, monthly Guardian Angel recurring donations, planned giving/bequests, and contributions to specific funds like the Jim Forshee Memorial Fund.
5. Bottle & Can Redemption Donations: Partnership with JM Murray Center and Springbrook allows donors to drop off cans and bottles for deposit, with proceeds directly benefiting the SPCA. Donations totaled over $14,000 in 2023.
6. E-Card Fundraiser: Digital e-card fundraiser where supporters can send personalized electronic greeting cards with donations to support homeless animals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cortland County SPCA operates a no-kill animal shelter that rescues, rehabs, and rehomes dogs and cats, supported by a low-cost spay/neuter clinic and a wellness clinic offering vaccinations, microchipping, and parasite prevention. The organization also serves as the designated animal law enforcement authority for Cortland County, handling cruelty investigations and dog control services for multiple municipalities, and offers community support programs including a pet food pantry, foster program, lost/found pet reunification, and owner surrender services.

Product overview

Cortland County SPCA operates as a no-kill, private animal shelter offering a unified portfolio of animal welfare services. The core offerings center on pet adoption (dogs and cats), low-cost spay/neuter clinic services, and a wellness clinic for preventive pet care. The organization also provides county-wide animal law enforcement through its Law Enforcement Department, handles lost and found pets, and offers owner surrender assistance. Supporting programs include a Pet Food Pantry for community assistance, a Barn Cats adoption program, dog training resources through a GoodPup partnership, and the Pawssible Futures foster care program. Fundraising products include Guardian Angels monthly giving, Planned Giving bequests, and the Fur-ever Love e-card fundraiser.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pet Adoption Program No-kill shelter adoption program for dogs and cats. All adoptable pets are spayed/neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated before placement. Adopters complete an application and visit during business hours; adoption fees range from $50 (adult cats) to $300 (puppies under 6 months) and bundle municipal dog license fees for canines.
• Spay/Neuter Clinic Low-cost spay/neuter clinic for cats and dogs, with pricing by procedure ($90 cat neuter to $175 dog spay) and a $50 surcharge for brachycephalic breeds. Open to the public, including a program serving low-income owners; first-come, first-served appointments with non-refundable deposits scheduled via ClinicHQ.
• Wellness Clinic

Quantifiable outcome

• Achieved 93.09% save rate in 2023 (up from 90.92% in 2022)

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, moderate and minor.

• SOS Shelter Outreach ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit low-cost spay/neuter program in which highly trained veterinarians and licensed vet techs travel to shelters to perform spay/neuter clinics. Dr. Leslie Appel, professor and veterinarian with Cornell University, started SOS in 2003.
• New York State Animal Protection FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level animal protection organization that provides resources, advocacy, and networking for SPCAs and animal welfare organizations in New York.
• Best Friends Animal SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational animal welfare organization leading the no-kill movement. Cortland SPCA is a Best Friends Network Partner committed to saving all animals that can be saved.
• Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program at Cornell UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine focused on shelter animal health, behavior, and welfare. Provides expertise and resources for shelter medicine best practices.
• Hill's Pet NutritionmoderateGTM or Marketing PartnerPet food manufacturer partnership providing nutritional products and support for shelter animals.
• Bissell Pet FoundationmoderateGTM or Marketing PartnerNational foundation supporting pet adoption and shelter programs through funding and promotional initiatives.
• Shelter Animals CountcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiative supported by major animal welfare organizations to promote transparency and standardized data reporting for shelters nationwide.
• JM Murray CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner organization that processes bottle and can donations for deposit refunds, with proceeds directly benefiting the SPCA.
• SpringbrookminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner organization that processes bottle and can donations for deposit refunds, with proceeds directly benefiting the SPCA.
• GoodPupmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvanced dog training partner providing behavioral support to help keep dogs in their homes. GoodPup offers free first week and partial weekly costs for shelter referrals. Cortland SPCA covers part of the weekly cost as a retention tool.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Petco Love (formerly Petco Foundation): National animal welfare foundation that partners with shelters nationwide on adoption, spay/neuter, and lifesaving initiatives. Shares mission alignment with Cortland and is listed as a partner, but operates as a corporate-affiliated grantmaker rather than a single-location shelter.
• Bissell Pet Foundation: National foundation that funds pet adoption and shelter programs and is a current partner of Cortland County SPCA. Comparable focus on shelter adoption support and lifesaving outcomes, but operates through grants and events rather than direct shelter operations.
• New York State Animal Protection Federation: State-level advocacy and resource organization for SPCA and humane societies in New York, and a direct partner of Cortland. Comparable in animal welfare mission and shelter support role, but functions as an umbrella association rather than an operating shelter.
• PetSmart Charities: Major national funder of shelter adoptions, spay/neuter, and pet welfare programs; partner of Cortland County SPCA. Operates as a corporate foundation channeling resources to local shelters rather than as a direct shelter operator.
• Maddie's Fund: National animal welfare foundation that is a direct funding partner of Cortland County SPCA. Comparable in its no-kill mission alignment and shelter-support role, but functions as a grantmaker and program developer rather than an operating shelter.

Broad incumbents

• Humane Society of the United States (HSUS): National animal welfare advocacy and shelter-support organization. Shares the SPCA/Humane mission of rescue, adoption, spay/neuter, and cruelty prevention but focuses on policy and large-scale programs rather than operating a single local shelter like Cortland.
• ASPCA: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is the national 501(c)(3) animal welfare organization that Cortland County SPCA is locally affiliated with through the broader SPCA brand. Comparable mission (shelter, adoption, spay/neuter, cruelty enforcement, advocacy) but operates at national scope with vastly greater resources.
• Best Friends Animal Society: National leader of the no-kill movement and a core Network Partner of Cortland County SPCA. Operates its own sanctuaries and shelters while providing grants, resources, and lifesaving programs to local shelters — directly comparable in no-kill mission and shelter medicine focus.

Direct peers

• Shelter Outreach Services (SOS): Nonprofit low-cost spay/neuter program founded by Dr. Leslie Appel of Cornell that provides traveling veterinary services to shelters including Cortland. Directly comparable operating model — nonprofit spay/neuter clinic serving shelter animals and the public at low cost.

Regional players

• North Shore Animal League America: Large no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization based in New York. Comparable mission (no-kill shelter, adoption, spay/neuter, mobile veterinary clinics) but operates at multi-state scale on Long Island rather than a single upstate county.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=61562268857532

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Cortland County SPCA