Pets for Patriots

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.

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

Product category

Pet Adoption Services (Veteran-Focused Nonprofit)

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAIAA

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services

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

SECONDARYAFAEALAB

Animal Shelters & Rescue Operations

Agriculture & Food Production/Animal Production & Aquaculture/Animal Welfare, Boarding & Production Support Services (non-veterinary)

Keywords

• Pet adoption services
• Veteran support programs
• Animal welfare nonprofit
• Companion animal matching
• Charitable fundraising programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Long Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual donations: One-time and recurring monetary gifts from individual donors supporting the mission of connecting veterans with companion pets.
2. 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.
3. Stock and cryptocurrency donations: Accepts appreciated securities and cryptocurrency, allowing donors to avoid capital gains taxes while receiving fair market value deductions.
4. Real estate donations: Partners with Giving Property to accept homes, land, and commercial property donations.
5. Workplace giving: Payroll deduction programs for federal employees through Combined Federal Campaign (CFC #49553) and various state employee giving programs.
6. Planned giving: Bequests through wills/trusts, life insurance beneficiary designations, and IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions for donors 70.5+.
7. Foundation and corporate sponsorships: Partnerships with foundations and corporations including Veterans United Foundation, Petco Love, and others for programmatic and financial support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core 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

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• PsychArmorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing resources and education for supporting military veterans.
• Real WarriorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner offering mental health resources for military members and veterans.
• Dogs on DeploymentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing pet foster care for deploying military members.
• Best Friends Animal SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner in animal welfare supporting shelter partnerships and pet transport.
• Bissell Pet FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner supporting adoption events and shelter partnerships.
• VIP PetcarecoreGTM or Marketing Partner3,064 wellness and community clinics providing $10 off entire bill for veterans in the program. Walk-in clinics at select Tractor Supply stores.
• VetstercoreGTM or Marketing Partner24/7 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 ServicescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShelter partner with 60+ adoptions through Pets for Patriots. Offers fee waived adoptions for veterans.
• IndyHumanecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShelter partner since 2010, offers $50 off adoption fees for program members.
• DFW Humane Society of IrvingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShelter partner since 2023 offering fee waived adoptions for program-eligible pets.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad 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

• Xx.com/PetsforPatriots
• Facebookfacebook.com/petsforpatriots
• Instagraminstagram.com/petsforpatriots

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Pets for Patriots