The Animal Shelter Society

What The Animal Shelter Society does

The Animal Shelter Society, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, no-kill, adoptable animal shelter founded in 1959 and headquartered at 1430 Newark Road, Zanesville, Ohio. It serves the homeless animal population of Zanesville and Muskingum County through a core adoption service (dogs and cats spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped before placement) operated via the ShelterLuv online application platform, alongside an on-site Wellness Clinic providing low-cost vaccinations, heartworm and flea/tick prevention, reduced-price spay/neuter, and microchipping services by appointment. Supplementary programs include a Barn Cat Program for placing working cats in outdoor settings, a Fostering Program for nursing mothers and recovering animals, Lost Pet reunification, and animal-therapy visits at nursing homes (Cedar Hill Care Center, The Carr Center, The Oaks).

The organization is governed by a 15+ member Board of Directors led by President Stephanie Hill, Vice-President Adam Agin, Treasurer Josh Agin, and Secretary Jenifer Dittmar, with day-to-day operations run by Executive Director April Gibson and Animal Care Manager Rebecca Hunt on a small paid staff (11–50 total) supplemented by volunteers. It operates 365 days a year with no government funding, deriving 100% of its revenue from adoption fees, clinic fees, individual donations (including a Dollar-A-Day recurring program), corporate and foundation grants (e.g., The J.W. & M. H. Straker Charitable Foundation), and a dense annual event calendar headlined by the 10th Annual Yappy Hour, Putt for Paws Golf Outing, Pickleball 4 Paws, Music for Mutts, Feral Felines Sing-Along Brunch, Rockin' for Paws and Claws, and Disco InFURno.

The go-to-market is community-led: outreach runs through the website, Facebook, local media (WHIZ-TV, AM1240 Radio), Kroger Community Rewards (account LH612), Amazon and Walmart wish lists, and corporate restaurant fundraisers (Applebee's, Raising Cane's). Tiered sponsorship packages ($100–$1,000), promotional adoption pricing (e.g., $14 feline Valentine's special), and discount programs for veterans, first responders, and senior citizens are the primary commercial mechanics. Technology is intentionally lightweight: no proprietary platform, no AI/ML, and reliance on third-party SaaS (ShelterLuv) and Squarespace-hosted web infrastructure.

Name

The Animal Shelter Society

Legal name

The Animal Shelter Society, Inc.

Website

https://animalsheltersociety.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Animal Shelter Society is a 501(c)(3) no-kill animal shelter founded in 1959 in Zanesville, Ohio, providing dog and cat adoptions, low-cost veterinary services, fostering, and a Barn Cat Program to the residents and pets of Muskingum County, funded entirely by community donations and events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Shelter Services

NAICS

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291), Veterinary Services (54194)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spay/Neuter & Population Control Programs (BPAGAIAE), Veterinary Charity Clinics & Medical Aid (BPAGAIAD), Low-Cost & Community Veterinary Clinics (HLAMAAAE), Foster & Volunteer Network Programs (BPAGAIAF)

Keywords

• Animal shelter services
• Pet adoption services
• Low-cost veterinary care
• Animal welfare nonprofit
• Spay and neuter services

Headquarters

HQ city

Zanesville

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. Adoption Fees: Fees charged for dog and cat adoptions. Dogs are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped upon adoption. Cats also receive full vaccination, spay/neuter, and microchip before adoption.
2. Wellness Clinic Services: Low-cost vaccinations, heartworm prevention, flea/tick prevention, and related veterinary services offered by appointment. Revenue from dispensing medications.
3. Low-Cost Spay & Neuter Services: Reduced-price spay and neuter procedures for community members, with appointments and prepayment required.
4. Microchipping Services: Microchipping for dogs and cats, including promotional pricing during awareness events.
5. Special Events & Fundraising: Revenue from ticket sales, sponsorships, and donations from annual events including Yappy Hour, Putt for Paws Golf Outing, Pickleball 4 Paws, Music for Mutts, Feral Felines Sing-Along Brunch, Rockin' for Paws and Claws, and more. Corporate restaurant fundraisers (Applebee's, Raising Cane's) also generate donations.
6. Donations & Grants: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporate donors, and charitable foundations (e.g., The J.W. & M. H. Straker Charitable Foundation). No government funding. Also includes the Dollar-A-Day recurring monthly donation program.
7. Wish List / In-Kind Donations: Supplies donated via Amazon and Walmart wish lists. Monetary donations accepted via website, PayPal, Venmo, and mail.
8. Kroger Community Rewards: Enrollment in Kroger's loyalty program allows shoppers to direct a percentage of spending to the shelter at no additional cost.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Animal Shelter Society operates a no-kill, adoptable animal shelter in Zanesville, Ohio, placing homeless dogs and cats with approved adopters. It supplements adoption services with an on-site Wellness Clinic providing low-cost vaccinations, heartworm/flea/tick prevention, spay/neuter, and microchipping, plus community programs including a Barn Cat Program, fostering, and lost pet reunification.

Product overview

The Animal Shelter Society operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit animal shelter providing a unified suite of animal welfare services centered around animal adoption and veterinary care. The core offering is the Animal Adoption Services platform, supported by the Wellness Clinic, Low Cost Spay & Neuter, Microchipping, and Lost Pet Services. Additional programs include the Barn Cat Program for placing working cats, the Fostering Program for volunteer pet care, and the Dollar-A-Day recurring donation program. The shelter's services are funded through donations processed via PayPal, Venmo, and website, supplemented by fundraising events and community partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Animal Adoption Services Placement of homeless dogs and cats with responsible owners through an approved application process, background checks, landlord verification, and meet-and-greet sessions. All adopted animals are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped.
• Wellness Clinic Low-cost veterinary service providing vaccinations, heartworm prevention, and flea/tick prevention, operating by appointment only and open to community pet owners.
• Low-Cost Spay & Neuter Reduced-price surgical sterilization to control the local pet population; appointments and prepayment required.
• Microchipping Service Secure identification microchips for dogs and cats that increase the likelihood of lost pets being returned to their owners.
• Barn Cat Program Placement program for healthy, spayed/neutered, microchipped, and fully vaccinated cats into safe outdoor working environments such as barns, shops, or outbuildings for property owners seeking rodent control.
• Lost Pet Services Lost pet reporting and reunification assistance for the community, including a 3-day legal stray hold for dogs and no time limit for cats.
• Fostering Program Program recruiting volunteers to provide in-home care for nursing mothers with puppies or kittens, or for pets recovering from surgery or other health issues.

Quantifiable outcome

• Miss Tess, the Canine Ambassador, attended 411 community events over 3.5 years, demonstrating deep community outreach impact.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered notable, core and minor.

• PurinanotableGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the 10th Annual Yappy Hour event, contributing to one of the shelter's flagship annual fundraising events.
• We Luv PetsnotableGTM or Marketing PartnerZanesville pet supply retailer that hosts adoption events, including during their 24th Anniversary Sale weekend, providing a venue for off-site cat adoptions.
• Green Valley Golf ClubcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual venue for the Putt for Paws Golf Outing fundraiser, hosting the shelter's largest annual fundraising golf tournament.
• Applebee'scoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRestaurant chain location in Zanesville (3181 Maple Avenue) hosts periodic fundraisers donating 25% of sales to the shelter on specified dates.
• Raising Cane'snotableGTM or Marketing PartnerZanesville restaurant (3572 Maple Avenue) hosts week-long fundraisers donating 15% of sales to the shelter.
• Y-Bridge Brewing CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal brewery that provides beverages at shelter events such as Music for Mutts and Yappy Hour.
• Tiny Tap TavernnotableGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal restaurant venue that hosts the Feral Felines Sing-Along Brunch events, providing a recurring event space for the shelter's signature community fundraising brunches.
• North Valley BanknotableGTM or Marketing PartnerHosts the annual Shred Day event and serves as a collection spot for shelter supply donations alongside the event, supporting both community document destruction and shelter supply drives.
• Linden PubGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal venue for the Rockin' 4 Paws and Claws event featuring food from Randy's Backyard BBQ.
• Lind ArenaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue for the Disco InFURno event, a family skating event sponsored by Park National Bank.
• Zanesville Country ClubcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue for the annual Yappy Hour flagship fundraiser, hosting the shelter's largest annual fundraising gala.
• Zane Grey 'Ole' Auto ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal car club that co-hosts the Wheels for Whiskers Cruise-In car show, with 50% of proceeds donated to the shelter.
• KrogercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEnrolled in Kroger Community Rewards program (account number LH612). Community members link their Kroger loyalty account to the shelter, and the organization receives a percentage of qualifying purchases at no cost to the shopper.
• AmazonnotableGTM or Marketing PartnerAmazon Wish List enables community members to purchase and ship needed supplies directly to the shelter.
• WalmartnotableGTM or Marketing PartnerWalmart Registry provides a wish list for community members to purchase and ship needed supplies directly to the shelter.
• Cedar Hill Care CenternotableGTM or Marketing PartnerSkilled nursing facility that participates in the shelter's animal therapy visits, with shelter animals visiting residents for emotional support and companionship.
• The Carr CenternotableGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity organization that partnered with the shelter for the 2025 Cake Auction, donating baked goods and sponsoring shelter services as auction items.
• The OaksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCare facility that participates in animal therapy visits with shelter animals, providing residents with companionship opportunities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Shelterluv: The adoption management SaaS platform used by The Animal Shelter Society to process adoption applications, foster workflows, and animal listings. A technology enabler/ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor, but central to the shelter's adoption operations.
• PetSmart Charities: A major funder of US animal welfare, providing grants to adoption and spay/neuter programs at shelters like The Animal Shelter Society. Operates as an adjacent grant-making partner within the same funding ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• The Humane Society of the United States: The largest national animal protection organization in the US, providing shelter and rescue support to local affiliates. Overlaps with The Animal Shelter Society in core mission of animal welfare and shelter support, though operating at vastly greater scale and with a broader advocacy mandate.
• Best Friends Animal Society: A leading national no-kill animal welfare organization running sanctuary operations, adoption programs, and spay/neuter initiatives. Operates a similar no-kill, adoption-focused mission with integrated veterinary services.
• ASPCA: A national animal welfare leader offering adoption, spay/neuter, veterinary care, and cruelty prevention. While much larger and nationally focused, ASPCA's shelter and veterinary service offerings overlap directly with The Animal Shelter Society's integrated service model.

Direct peers

• Capital Area Humane Society: Regional animal welfare organization serving the Columbus, Ohio area with adoption, low-cost veterinary services, and surrender prevention. Comparable business model combining shelter operations with an on-site wellness clinic, similar to The Animal Shelter Society's integrated approach.
• Licking County Humane Society: A county-level no-kill animal shelter serving Newark and Licking County, Ohio. Highly comparable in scale (community-based shelter with low-cost clinic services) and mission (adoption, spay/neuter, community education) to The Animal Shelter Society's Muskingum County operations.
• Guernsey County Animal Shelter: A neighboring east-central Ohio county animal shelter offering adoption, low-cost spay/neuter, and volunteer-driven programs. Operates at a similar scale and community-funding model to The Animal Shelter Society.
• Fairfield County Humane Society: A central Ohio no-kill animal shelter with adoption, surrender, and low-cost veterinary services. Comparable community-embedded nonprofit model with similar reliance on events and donations.
• Coshocton County Humane Society: A small-county Ohio animal shelter with adoption and spay/neuter services. Closely comparable scale, rural community footprint, and reliance on donations and events for operating revenue.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheAnimalShelterSocietyInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-animal-shelter-society-inc.

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 The Animal Shelter Society