Pets for Patriots
Pets for Patriots is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit connecting U.S. military veterans and Gold Star families with companion pet adoptions from shelters. It operates across 40 states through 268+ shelter and 76+ veterinary partners, funded entirely through diversified donations and grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersLong Beach, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Pets for Patriots does
Pets for Patriots, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2010 and headquartered in Long Beach, New York (EIN 27-1082210, CFC #49553). The organization operates a national companion pet adoption program connecting U.S. military veterans and Gold Star families with dogs and cats from animal shelters. Program delivery runs through a website-based pre-qualification portal that verifies military credentials and matches approved applicants with shelter partners within approximately 40 driving miles. The technology stack is intentionally lightweight — no public API, no SDK, no proprietary AI components — and is described internally as "operational nonprofit focused on program management and matching services."
The business model is donation-funded rather than revenue-generating: all programs are free for qualifying veterans and Gold Star families, with adoption fees waived or discounted by shelter partners and beneficiaries receiving a $200 welcome home gift card plus veterinary discounts and 20% off Vetster Plus telehealth. Core programs include the Adoption Program, Hardship Program (crisis support to prevent pet surrender), and Hero Program (medical bill assistance). Distribution is channel-partner driven through 268+ shelter/rescue partners, 76+ brick-and-mortar veterinary practices, 3,064 VIP Petcare community clinics at Tractor Supply locations, and 6,000+ Vetster telehealth providers across 40 states. Funding sources span individual donations, vehicle donations (via Careasy), stock and cryptocurrency donations (via DonateStock), real estate donations (via Giving Property), workplace giving through CFC and state campaigns, planned giving, and foundation/corporate sponsorships including Veterans United Foundation and Petco Love.
The organization has facilitated 5,205+ veteran-pet adoptions cumulatively, with a record 558 adoptions in 2025 (29% YoY growth). Operational efficiency metrics from 2024 show 85% of expenses directed to programs, 7.5% to administration, and $0.07 fundraising cost per $1 raised, supporting a Four-Star Charity Navigator rating and Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency. Governance is provided by a volunteer Board of Directors chaired by Keith Weaver, with Beth Zimmerman serving as Founder, Executive Director, and CEO since 2010.
Pets for Patriots firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pets for Patriots
- Legal name
- Pets for Patriots, Inc.
- Website
- https://petsforpatriots.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Pets for Patriots is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit connecting U.S. military veterans and Gold Star families with companion pet adoptions from shelters. It operates across 40 states through 268+ shelter and 76+ veterinary partners, funded entirely through diversified donations and grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pets for Patriots industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Pet Adoption Services (Veteran-Focused Nonprofit)
- NAICS
- Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Veterinary Charity Clinics & Medical Aid (BPAGAIAD), Animal Shelters & Rescue Operations (AFAEALAB)
Keywords
Where Pets for Patriots is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Long Beach
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Pets for Patriots business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual donations: One-time and recurring monetary gifts from individual donors supporting the mission of connecting veterans with companion pets.
- Vehicle donations: Accepts cars, trucks, motorcycles, RVs, boats, and trailers. Typical vehicle donation supports four adoptions, assists three pets with vital medical care, or keeps two adopters and their pets together during crisis.
- Stock and cryptocurrency donations: Accepts appreciated securities and cryptocurrency, allowing donors to avoid capital gains taxes while receiving fair market value deductions.
- Real estate donations: Partners with Giving Property to accept homes, land, and commercial property donations.
- Workplace giving: Payroll deduction programs for federal employees through Combined Federal Campaign (CFC #49553) and various state employee giving programs.
- Planned giving: Bequests through wills/trusts, life insurance beneficiary designations, and IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions for donors 70.5+.
- Foundation and corporate sponsorships: Partnerships with foundations and corporations including Veterans United Foundation, Petco Love, and others for programmatic and financial support.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | One-time | Free adoption program for military veterans |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Pets for Patriots product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Pets for Patriots operates a national companion pet adoption program that matches U.S. military veterans and Gold Star families with at-risk dogs and cats from partner shelters, providing a $200 welcome-home gift card, ongoing member benefits, and follow-on support. The organization supplements adoption with a Hardship Program that prevents pet surrender during financial crises and a Hero Program that grants funds for essential and palliative veterinary care for veterans' adopted pets. All services are delivered free of charge to qualifying veterans and Gold Star families and are funded entirely through donations, grants, sponsorships, and fundraising events.
Product overview
Pets for Patriots operates a nonprofit adoption platform connecting military veterans and Gold Star families with shelter animals. The core offering is the Adoption Program, which is supported by the Hardship Program (crisis support to prevent pet surrender) and the Hero Program (medical bill assistance). The organization also runs The Wet Nose Blog for adoption storytelling, the Forget Me Not showcase for long-term shelter pets, and the Welcome Home Ride annual fundraising event. All programs are administered through a website-based platform with no public API.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Hero Program: Helps veterans with pet medical bills they cannot afford
- Hardship Program
- Welcome Home Ride
Products and services
- Veteran & Gold Star Companion Pet Adoption Program Free national companion pet adoption program matching U.S. military veterans and Gold Star families with dogs and cats from partner shelters; includes a $200 gift card for welcome-home supplies, discounted veterinary care through partner practices, 20% off Vetster Plus telehealth, and ongoing member benefits.
- Hardship Program Crisis support service providing short-term financial assistance to veterans and military families so they can keep their adopted pets during financial or personal hardship, preventing surrender of pets back to shelters.
- Hero Program (Veterinary Medical Bill Grants) Grant-based financial assistance program that helps veterans pay for essential, life-extending, and palliative veterinary care costs for pets adopted through the organization when those costs are otherwise unaffordable.
- Forget Me Not Long-Term Shelter Pet Showcase Online pet showcase service that surfaces the longest-staying dogs and cats from partner shelters to help them find veteran adopters, including individual pet profile pages highlighting animals in need of homes.
- Welcome Home Ride Annual Cycling Fundraising Event Annual fundraising cycling event held in Venice, Florida, offering 14-mile and 36-mile route registration with peer-to-peer fundraising components, raising funds and awareness for the veteran pet adoption mission.
Quantifiable outcome
- 5,205+ veteran-pet adoptions completed since 2010
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Pets for Patriots
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Pets for Patriots technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Pets for Patriots partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- PsychArmorcoreCommunity partner providing resources and education for supporting military veterans.
- Real WarriorscoreCommunity partner offering mental health resources for military members and veterans.
- Dogs on DeploymentcoreCommunity partner providing pet foster care for deploying military members.
- Best Friends Animal SocietycoreCommunity partner in animal welfare supporting shelter partnerships and pet transport.
- Bissell Pet FoundationcoreCommunity partner supporting adoption events and shelter partnerships.
- VIP Petcarecore3,064 wellness and community clinics providing $10 off entire bill for veterans in the program. Walk-in clinics at select Tractor Supply stores.
- Vetstercore24/7 veterinary telehealth platform providing 20% off first year of Vetster Plus subscription for program members. 6,000+ licensed veterinary professionals available.
- Salt Lake County Animal ServicescoreShelter partner with 60+ adoptions through Pets for Patriots. Offers fee waived adoptions for veterans.
- IndyHumanecoreShelter partner since 2010, offers $50 off adoption fees for program members.
- DFW Humane Society of IrvingcoreShelter partner since 2023 offering fee waived adoptions for program-eligible pets.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Pets for Patriots competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- ASPCA: One of the largest U.S. animal welfare organizations with shelter/rescue and veterinary programs. Comparable broad animal welfare focus though not veteran-specific.
- Best Friends Animal Society: Leading national animal welfare nonprofit operating the largest sanctuary for homeless pets and running shelter partnerships nationwide. Comparable partner-network model and shelter-animal mission.
- Petco Love: Formerly Petco Foundation, a national nonprofit funding animal welfare organizations and adoption initiatives. Directly comparable as a financial sponsor and partner of Pets for Patriots.
- Bissell Pet Foundation: Animal welfare nonprofit supporting adoption events, shelter partnerships, and pet homelessness. Comparable animal welfare partner of Pets for Patriots.
- Humane Society of the United States: Largest animal protection organization in the U.S. addressing shelter pets, puppy mills, and disaster relief. Comparable scale of animal welfare nonprofit operations.
Direct peers
- Wounded Warrior Project: Major veteran services nonprofit providing physical/mental health programs, career counseling, and long-term support. Comparable veteran-focused donor base and mental health mission.
- K9s For Warriors: Nation's largest veteran service dog nonprofit pairing rescue dogs with military veterans suffering from PTSD/TBI. Directly comparable nonprofit mission combining veteran support with shelter/rescue dog placement.
- Warrior Canine Connection: Nonprofit that pairs rescue dogs with wounded warriors in a therapeutic service dog training program. Directly comparable mission integrating veterans, rescued animals, and mental health recovery.
- Paws for Purple Hearts: Service dog organization providing veterans with PTSD and TBI assistance dogs, including rescued dogs. Comparable nonprofit combining animal welfare and veteran mental health support.
Peers
- Dogs on Deployment: Nonprofit that provides a pet foster care network for military members during deployments, boarding costs, and education about responsible pet ownership. Directly comparable mission of supporting military pet ownership and preventing pet surrender.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Pets for Patriots social profiles
Digital presencePets for Patriots compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Pets for Patriots financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pets for Patriots leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Pets for Patriots funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pets for Patriots 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 Pets for Patriots
What does Pets for Patriots do?
Pets for Patriots operates a national companion pet adoption program that matches U.S. military veterans and Gold Star families with at-risk dogs and cats from partner shelters, providing a $200 welcome-home gift card, ongoing member benefits, and follow-on support. The organization supplements adoption with a Hardship Program that prevents pet surrender during financial crises and a Hero Program that grants funds for essential and palliative veterinary care for veterans' adopted pets. All services are delivered free of charge to qualifying veterans and Gold Star families and are funded entirely through donations, grants, sponsorships, and fundraising events.
Is Pets for Patriots a public or private company?
Pets for Patriots is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Pets for Patriots founded?
Pets for Patriots was founded in 2010. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Pets for Patriots based?
Pets for Patriots is headquartered in Long Beach, United States, in the North America region.
How does Pets for Patriots make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Individual donations are the primary driver. The others are vehicle donations, stock and cryptocurrency donations, real estate donations, workplace giving, planned giving and foundation and corporate sponsorships.
Who are Pets for Patriots's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are ASPCA, Best Friends Animal Society, Petco Love, Bissell Pet Foundation and Humane Society of the United States. Direct peers are Wounded Warrior Project, K9s For Warriors, Warrior Canine Connection and Paws for Purple Hearts. Dogs on Deployment is listed as a peer.
Does Pets for Patriots have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pets for Patriots.
What industry is Pets for Patriots in?
Pets for Patriots's product category is Pet Adoption Services (Veteran-Focused Nonprofit). Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAIAA, Animal Shelters & Adoption Services, with a secondary code of BPAGAIAD, Veterinary Charity Clinics & Medical Aid. Its NAICS code is 813 and its SIC code is 8300.