Verde Valley Humane Society

What Verde Valley Humane Society does

Verde Valley Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal welfare organization headquartered in Cottonwood, Arizona, operating in the Verde Valley region of Yavapai County. Founded in the early 1980s, the organization runs a no-kill animal shelter (Best Friends Animal Society certified, 2025) that provides adoption, animal control, lost-and-found, and surrender services. It holds municipal contracts with the City of Cottonwood, Town of Clarkdale, and Yavapai County for animal control and impound services. In 2023, the organization took in 780 animals, with 756 taken in during 2024; over 700 pets are adopted or returned to owners annually. The shelter maintains a staff of 11-50 employees supplemented by a substantial volunteer base (19,300+ hours in 2024, up from 13,000+ in 2023).

The organization's revenue model is diversified across individual donations (56%), municipal service contracts (23.1%), adoption fees (8.8%), fundraising events (8.5%), and grants (2.3%). Reported 2023 revenue totaled $595,788 against operating costs of $633,784, indicating a modest operating deficit. In November 2024, the organization launched the Lucy Malloy Memorial Surgical Suite, enabling in-house spay/neuter and other veterinary procedures — previously performed by external partners — alongside added dog run capacity. The organization is governed by a 7-member working board of directors established in 2024, with Nicole Gonzalez appointed Operations Manager. There is no proprietary technology platform; operations rely on standard shelter management practices, volunteer labor, and community partnerships (e.g., Smelter Town Brewery).

Name

Verde Valley Humane Society

Legal name

Verde Valley Humane Society

Website

https://verdevalleyhumanesociety.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Verde Valley Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit no-kill animal shelter in Cottonwood, Arizona, providing adoption, animal control, and veterinary services across the Verde Valley under municipal contracts with Cottonwood, Clarkdale, and Yavapai County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Shelter Services

NAICS

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAIAA

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services

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)

SECONDARYBPAGAIAE

Spay/Neuter & Population Control Programs

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 programs
• Spay and neuter services
• Animal welfare nonprofit
• Lost pet recovery

Headquarters

HQ city

Cottonwood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual and business donations form the largest revenue source at over 56% of income in 2023. Includes general donations, memorial gifts, tribute donations, and recurring donation programs.
2. Municipal Contracts: Contracts with municipalities (City of Cottonwood, Town of Clarkdale, Yavapai County) for animal intake services, representing 23.1% of revenue in 2023.
3. Adoption and Program Fees: Fees from pet adoptions and related services, representing 8.8% of revenue in 2023.
4. Fundraising Events: Revenue from events including golf tournaments, bake sales, and community fundraisers, representing 8.5% of revenue in 2023.
5. Grants: Grant funding from foundations including Arizona Community Foundation ($5,000 dental equipment grant), Gisene and Kristine Crandall Foundation ($2,500 matching grant), representing approximately 2.3% of revenue.
6. Lobby Store Sales: Thrift shop in shelter lobby selling pet supplies and unique bargains, with proceeds going directly to animal care.
7. Kennel Sponsorships: Annual sponsorship program for dog kennels ($500) and cat kennels ($250) displayed in lobby.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Verde Valley Humane Society operates a no-kill animal shelter providing intake, care, and adoption services for homeless cats and dogs in the Verde Valley region of Arizona. It offers spay/neuter and microchipping services, a foster program, trap-neuter-return for community cats, lost-and-found pet reunification, dog licensing support, and an in-house surgical suite (Lucy Malloy Memorial Surgical Suite). The organization funds its operations through donations, municipal contracts, adoption/program fees, sponsorships, grants, and community fundraising events.

Product overview

Verde Valley Humane Society operates as a nonprofit animal shelter offering a comprehensive range of services including animal adoption, foster care, and volunteer programs. The organization provides specialized services such as a Working Cats Program, TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) Program, Pets for Patriots matching program, and in-house surgical services through the Lucy Malloy Memorial Surgical Suite. Fundraising initiatives include annual events like the Golf Outing, Bark & Brew, and Thrill the World, alongside merchandise programs including Kennel Sponsorships, Tribute Bricks, and an on-site Lobby Store. The shelter serves the Verde Valley region including Cottonwood, Clarkdale, and surrounding Yavapai County areas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Animal Adoption Services Direct adoption program for homeless cats and dogs housed at the Cottonwood shelter, matching prospective adopters with shelter animals using socially conscious sheltering practices.
• Foster Care Program Temporary in-home care program for shelter animals needing extra support, including young or orphaned animals, those recovering from medical procedures, shy or stressed animals, and senior pets.
• Low-Cost Spay and Neuter Services Low-cost spay and neuter events sponsored by VVHS to reduce pet overpopulation in the Verde Valley community.
• Microchipping Services Microchip implantation service for pet owners to support lost-pet reunification across the Verde Valley region.
• Dog Licensing Services Information and assistance for Verde Valley residents seeking to license their dogs in compliance with local regulations.
• Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) Program Trap-Neuter-Return program providing humane management of community cat populations in the Verde Valley area.
• Working Cats Program Program placing healthy, sterilized cats as mousers and barn cats in outdoor homes such as farms, ranches, and warehouses.
• Lost and Found Pet Services Shelter-based intake and identification services to reunite lost pets with their owners across the Verde Valley area.
• Kennel Sponsorship Program Annual sponsorship opportunity for individual dog kennels at $500 and cat kennels at $250, with donor name plaques displayed in the shelter lobby.
• Tribute Bricks Personalized bricks installed in the shelter entrance walkway to memorialize people or pets.
• Annual Golf Outing Fundraiser Annual charity golf tournament (4th Annual in 2026) at Sedona Golf Resort charging $160 per golfer (including 18 holes, cart, and lunch) plus tiered sponsorship packages ranging from $25 to $3,000 to raise funds for shelter operations.
• Bark & Brew Fundraiser Community fundraiser hosted at Smelter Town Brewery featuring raffle prizes, adoptable pets, and donations benefiting VVHS.
• Thrill the World Fundraiser Annual modified Thriller dance event in Downtown Clarkdale supporting the shelter through monetary and pet supply donations.
• Lobby Store / Thrift Shop On-site shop offering pet supplies for new adopters and unique bargains, with all proceeds supporting shelter animal care.

Quantifiable outcome

• 756 homeless pets taken in and cared for in 2024
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Pets for PatriotscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational program that matches shelter pets with veterans and military families, providing companionship and therapy benefits to heroes while giving animals loving homes.
• Rosie Rescue RanchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCamp Verde rescue partner for special needs animals. Assisted with Wrinkles the cat's emergency C-section and rehabilitation. Ongoing collaboration for animal transfers and care.
• Smelter Town BrewerycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerClarkdale brewery hosts Bark & Brew fundraisers. Starting August 2026, donates $1 from every drink on Sundays to VVHS.
• ChewyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNew account orders generate $20 donation to VVHS through shop-to-support program.
• PetsensecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPet supply retailer with regular donation days, Easter bake sale hosting, and promotional support. Regular sponsor through events at their locations.
• Oxendale Chrysler Dodge Jeep RamcoreGTM or Marketing Partner2026 Golf Tournament Presenting Sponsor for the 4th Annual Golf Outing fundraiser.
• Alcantara Vineyard and WineryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted Dog Days Before Summer event. Golfer Gift Sponsor for 2026 Golf Tournament.
• Foothills BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRefreshment Cart Sponsor for 2026 Golf Tournament.
• Papa Murphy's PizzacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRegular sponsor through donation days. Donates $3 from every full-priced pizza sold on Verde Valley Humane Day (2nd Saturday of month).
• Bing's Burger StationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides free deluxe burger and fries with proof of adoption from VVHS.
• Cottonwood ACE HardwarecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDonates 10% of paint sales on first Saturday of every month to VVHS. Co-sponsor of new outside Adoption Park project.
• Yavapai CollegeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWine & Wags Fest partnership. Student film club created promotional video about shelter.
• Manzanita OutreachminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for Pet Food Sharing program to provide pet food with kindness and dignity to pet owners in need.
• Local VeterinarianscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerVVHS has no in-house veterinarian; purchases services from busy local veterinarians for medical care and surgical procedures.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Pets for Patriots: National nonprofit partnering with shelters (including VVHS) to place pets with veterans and military families; serves as an adoption channel and ecosystem partner rather than a competing shelter operator.
• PetSmart Charities: Major animal-welfare grantmaker that funds adoption and spay/neuter programs at shelters like VVHS; a critical funding ecosystem player rather than a shelter competitor.

Regional players

• Pima Animal Care Center: Public, open-intake animal shelter in Tucson, AZ funded largely by municipal contracts; shares VVHS's municipal-contract revenue model and Arizona operating environment but operates at materially larger scale as a county-run facility.
• Yavapai Humane Society: No-kill shelter serving adjacent Yavapai County communities in Arizona; shares geographic footprint, no-kill ethos, and municipal-contract dynamics with VVHS, but operates primarily in the Prescott area rather than Verde Valley.

Broad incumbents

• Humane Society of the United States: Largest national animal protection organization and namesake peer for VVHS; focuses on advocacy and shelter support rather than running local shelters, but competes for donor dollars in the same charitable giving category.
• Best Friends Animal Society: National leader of the no-kill movement and the certifying body for VVHS's 2025 No-Kill badge; operates sanctuary and shelter programs nationwide and influences donor and adopter sentiment toward local no-kill shelters.
• ASPCA: National animal welfare organization offering sheltering, spay/neuter, and cruelty prevention services; not a direct substitute for VVHS but a national peer in mission, donor market, and advocacy positioning.

Direct peers

• HALO Animal Rescue: No-kill shelter in Phoenix operating adoption, spay/neuter, and surrender-prevention programs; comparable to VVHS in its community-driven model, no-kill ethos, and reliance on donations and volunteers.
• Arizona Humane Society: Regional no-kill animal shelter serving the Phoenix metro area; operates adoption, clinic, and cruelty-investigation programs at a similar mission and revenue scale-up trajectory to VVHS but in a larger Arizona market.
• Animal Foundation: Las Vegas-based no-kill shelter operating adoption, low-cost veterinary, and TNR programs; comparable business model (donation + contract revenue, in-house clinic, foster network) at a similar single-metro scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCm1aG1HTfAGS-xfJFws8yig
• Facebookfacebook.com/HumaneSocietyVerdeValley
• Instagraminstagram.com/verdevalleyhumanesociety
• TikToktiktok.com/@verdevalleyhumanesociety

Compliance2 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 Verde Valley Humane Society