What Pets In Need does

Pets In Need (PIN) is a 501(c)(3) no-kill animal shelter founded in 1965 in Redwood City, California, and now operating two shelter locations — its original Redwood City site (purchased 1993, rebuilt 2010 as a Silver LEED-certified facility) and a Palo Alto site operated under a public-private partnership with the City of Palo Alto since 2019. The organization runs a community-led operating model that combines no-kill animal adoption (1,313 adoptions in 2025; 97% save rate) with a growing portfolio of fee-for-service veterinary lines: a Community Veterinary Clinic launched in 2024, a weekly Low-Cost Vaccine Clinic, a Spay & Neuter Clinic, and a VetTriage telehealth integration for 24/7 emergency triage at a flat $50 fee. Adjacent community programs include a Pet Pantry (18,954 meals distributed in 2025 in partnership with the Ecumenical Hunger Program), a foster network (968 animals in 2025), volunteer operations, lost-and-found and pet surrender services (gated to partner municipalities), end-of-life and cremation services, and an annual Party Like An Animal benefit gala.

The revenue model is donation-led, supplemented by adoption fees ranging from $40 (small animals) to $350 (puppies under 6 months), low-cost clinic services priced at $25–$85 per unit, and grants from foundation and corporate partners including Petco Love, Maddie's Fund, Bissell Pet Foundation, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, and the Palo Alto Community Fund. Customer segments span Bay Area pet owners (adopters, clinic clients), low-income households needing food or veterinary assistance, partner municipalities (Palo Alto, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills) receiving animal-services delivery, and donor/grant providers. Distribution is two physical sites plus a foster network, EHP-hosted Pantry events, and digital channels (Facebook, Instagram, X, Yelp, email newsletter, blog); marketing is emotional storytelling about animal outcomes, layered with practical promotions (e.g., kitten two-for-one, Pets for Vets fee waivers). Technology stack is explicitly non-product; no proprietary software or API platform exists beyond standard shelter listings and the VetTriage video integration.

Pricing is segmented and mission-aligned: waived fees for seniors adopting seniors (60+ adopting 5+), military veterans (Pets for Vets), and capacity-managed assistance through the Crockett Memorial Fund (currently at capacity). Adoption services are recorded with fee discounts, and clinic services are priced below private-vet benchmarks (e.g., $25 rabies, $85 wellness consultation) to extend access. Leadership consists of CEO Laura Toller Gardner (USC journalism; Georgetown nonprofit management certificate) plus four operating directors and an 11-member Board of Directors chaired by Barry Cheskin. The organization holds a 4-star Charity Navigator rating (highest tier; one of only three Northern California animal rescues with this distinction) and Fear Free Certified staff credentials.

Name

Pets In Need

Legal name

Pets In Need

Website

https://petsinneed.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pets In Need is a 501(c)(3) no-kill animal shelter operating two Bay Area locations (Redwood City and Palo Alto) that delivers animal adoption, affordable veterinary clinics, foster and volunteer programs, and a pet food pantry, supported by donations, adoption fees, clinic revenue, and a public-private municipal services contract.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291), Veterinary Services (541940)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Animal Shelters & Rescue Operations (AFAEALAB), Behavioral Medicine & Training-Integrated Veterinary Services (HLAMAAAI)

Keywords

• Animal adoption services
• No-kill shelter services
• Low-cost veterinary care
• Community veterinary clinic
• Pet adoption programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Redwood City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Pets In Need relies heavily on financial contributions from individual donors, corporate sponsors, and foundation grants. They conduct fundraising campaigns, accept monthly recurring donations, and receive support through events like the annual Party Like An Animal benefit.
2. Adoption Fees: Fees collected from animal adoptions ranging from $40 for small animals to $350 for puppies under 6 months. These fees partially offset the cost of caring for animals including spay/neuter, microchipping, and vaccinations.
3. Veterinary Clinic Services: Revenue from low-cost community veterinary clinic services including wellness consultations ($85), vaccinations, flea/tick prevention, microchipping, and diagnostic testing. Services are provided at affordable rates to increase access to pet care.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Pets In Need operates a no-kill animal shelter providing adoption services for dogs, cats, and small animals at two Bay Area locations (Redwood City and Palo Alto). It supplements adoption with affordable veterinary clinics (wellness consultations, vaccinations, spay/neuter, microchipping), a free Pet Pantry for low-income families, telehealth triage via VetTriage, end-of-life services, foster and volunteer programs, lost-and-found reunification, and owner-surrender intake, plus animal control services for partner municipalities.

Product overview

Pets In Need is a no-kill animal shelter organization operating two adoption centers in Redwood City and Palo Alto, CA. The organization functions as a unified service operation offering animal adoption (dogs, cats, small animals), community veterinary clinics (Community Veterinary Clinic, Low-Cost Vaccine Clinic, Spay & Neuter Clinic), and emergency/telehealth services (VetTriage, End of Life Services). These are complemented by community support programs including the Pet Pantry for food distribution, Financial Grants for veterinary assistance, Foster and Volunteer Programs, Lost and Found Pet Services, Pet Surrender Services, Training Resources, and Animal Control Services. Additional offerings include an annual fundraising event (Party Like An Animal), the Crockett Memorial Fund for senior pet owners, and multiple donation processing options. Not a SaaS platform; all services are delivered directly through physical shelters and partner services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Animal Adoption Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% save rate in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Petco LovecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner providing support to Pets In Need's animal welfare programs and adoption services. Petco Love is a national nonprofit focused on animal welfare.
• Maddie's FundcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation partner supporting shelter medicine and animal welfare initiatives. Maddie's Fund focuses on achieving no-kill for healthy shelter pets.
• Bissell Pet FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation partner supporting adoption events and programs. Known for the 'Empty the Shelters' campaign to reduce adoption fees.
• Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional foundation providing philanthropic support and grants to nonprofits in the Silicon Valley area.
• Palo Alto Community FundcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal foundation supporting community programs in Palo Alto, aligned with PIN's mission in the region.
• LaureL FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation supporting PIN's animal welfare and community programs.
• Acton Family GivingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSmall business partner supporting PIN through donations and community giving programs.
• Grounds HoundsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSmall business partner that donates 10% of proceeds to Pets In Need when customers use code PetsInNeed. Customers also receive 15% off their order.
• Little BeastminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUS-based retailer that designs dog clothing. Using code PetsInNeed provides 10% off and 10% donation back to PIN. Supports small businesses, women entrepreneurs, and animal welfare.
• Iconic PawminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPet product company that donates 25% of proceeds to Pets In Need when customers use code PetsInNeed. Plus 10% discount and free shipping on orders $100+.
• Pets In PosesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional pet photography service that donates more than 50% of session proceeds to Pets In Need.
• City of Palo AltocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic-private partnership since 2019 where PIN operates the Palo Alto Animal Shelter, providing animal care services for residents of Palo Alto, Los Altos, and Los Altos Hills. This is described as a national model for humane treatment of animals in public shelters.
• Ecumenical Hunger Program (EHP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization hosting monthly Pet Pantry events in East Palo Alto, providing consistent access to pet food for families in need.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• San Francisco SPCA: Direct peer providing adoption, full-service veterinary care (including low-cost clinics), and behavior/training in the Bay Area. Operates a similar integrated shelter-plus-clinic-plus-community-program model.
• Pasadena Humane Society: No-kill municipal shelter operating community veterinary clinics, adoption, and animal control services in a Southern California city—a near-analog operating model to PIN, useful for municipal-shelter scaling comparisons.
• Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA: Direct regional peer operating no-kill animal sheltering, adoption, and veterinary services on the San Francisco Peninsula. Operates the Redwood City municipal shelter contract that PIN does not hold, making it the closest geographic and programmatic competitor.
• Marin Humane: Bay Area county-affiliated no-kill shelter offering adoption, low-cost vet care, pet pantry, and behavior services. Same programming stack as Pets In Need and similar donor/revenue profile.
• Humane Society Silicon Valley: Direct peer offering adoption, low-cost veterinary care, and animal sheltering in Silicon Valley. Comparable mission-driven model, clinic operations, and donor base that overlaps with PIN's core geography.

Broad incumbents

• ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals): National incumbent in animal welfare and sheltering. Competes for national donor dollars, foundation grants (e.g., Maddie's Fund partnerships), and corporate partnerships across the same constituency as PIN.
• Best Friends Animal Society: National no-kill advocacy and shelter operator with broad programming. Competes with PIN for national foundation grants, brand-aligned donors, and corporate partnerships in the no-kill space.
• Maddie's Fund: Major national animal welfare foundation funding no-kill shelter initiatives. Functionally a funder/peer—PIN is a grantee and shares the no-kill advocacy mission and ecosystem with Maddie's broader network of partner shelters.

Emerging players

• VetTriage: Telehealth triage provider integrated with PIN. Adjacent in the animal-care stack and a channel for PIN to expand veterinary access without owning a 24/7 clinic.

Regional players

• Contra Costa Animal Services: Bay Area municipal animal services operation providing animal control, sheltering, and adoption. Comparable to PIN's Palo Alto animal-control partnership but run directly by a county government rather than via nonprofit partnership.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/petsinneed1
• Facebookfacebook.com/petsinneed1965
• Instagraminstagram.com/petsinneed_rwc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/petsinneed1965

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 In Need