Victoria Humane Society

What Victoria Humane Society does

Victoria Humane Society is a registered Canadian charity (Charity #847143179RR0001) founded in 2013 that operates a foster-based animal rescue model in Victoria, British Columbia. The organization has no dedicated shelter facility and instead places animals in a network of more than 50 volunteer foster families who provide temporary care, behavioral assessment, and rehabilitation. VHS rescues dogs and cats — including abandoned, neglected, surrendered, and special-needs animals rejected by other rescues — from Greater Victoria, Vancouver Island, and remote Northern British Columbia communities, with the latter supported by a logistics partnership with Pacific Coastal Airlines and a transfer van provided by Bosleys PetValu.

Revenue is generated through a diversified set of streams including adoption fees ($350–$700+PST per animal), monthly sustaining and one-time donations processed via CanadaHelps and PayPal, a recurring monthly 50/50 raffle, bottle drives at GFL Bottle Depot, corporate sponsorships, legacy gifts (wills, securities, life insurance, charitable remainder trusts), and grants from foundations such as the Victoria Foundation and Vancouver Foundation. The organization receives no government funding. Distribution combines online dog adoption applications reviewed by volunteers with in-person cat and kitten adoptions via satellite locations at Bosley's Royal Oak, PetSmart Langford, and Pets West Broadmead.

The organization is currently raising $3 million for a new permanent Rescue & Adoption Centre on 39 acres of donated land, with the campaign branded "Building Love." VHS runs a specialized sled dog rescue program (22 sled dogs placed in 2021; 75+ on waitlist), performs outreach spay/neuter clinics in remote communities (200+ surgeries in late 2021), maintains a Critical Care Fund for emergency medical treatment, and operates an 11–50 person staff supported by a broader volunteer and foster network.

Name

Victoria Humane Society

Legal name

Victoria Humane Society

Website

https://victoriahumanesociety.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Victoria Humane Society is a foster-based nonprofit animal rescue founded in 2013 in Victoria, British Columbia, rescuing dogs and cats through a network of 50+ foster families and retail satellite adoption centers, with no government funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Rescue Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), 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

Foster & Volunteer Network Programs (BPAGAIAF), Spay/Neuter & Population Control Programs (BPAGAIAE), Animal Shelters & Rescue Operations (AFAEALAB)

Keywords

• Animal rescue services
• Pet adoption programs
• Animal welfare
• Foster care networks
• Veterinary rehabilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Victoria

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations: Primary revenue source including monthly sustaining donations and one-time individual gifts. Both monthly and individual donations processed online through CanadaHelps. E-transfers also accepted.
2. Adoption Fees: Fees charged for adopted animals: Puppies $700+PST, Adult Dogs $500+PST, Kittens $500+PST, Adult Cats $350+PST. Fees are all-inclusive covering veterinary exam, first vaccinations, spay/neuter, and other necessary medical treatment.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Local businesses and corporations provide sponsorship for fundraising events and corporate donations.
4. Legacy Gifts: Wills, publicly traded securities, life insurance, and charitable remainder trusts for planned giving.
5. 50/50 Raffle: Monthly 50/50 raffle with tickets starting at $10, prizes often hitting $10,000. Proceeds fund lifesaving medical care.
6. Bottle Drives: Monthly bottle drives at GFL Bottle Depot, Victoria, with volunteers to unload donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Victoria Humane Society is a foster-based animal rescue organization that rescues, rehabilitates, and re-homes abandoned, neglected, and surrendered animals (primarily dogs and cats) across Vancouver Island and remote BC communities. Its core offerings include animal adoption, foster care placement, rehabilitation services, emergency medical treatment, and outreach clinics such as spay/neuter programs. The organization receives no government funding and operates entirely through donations, adoption fees, and community fundraising.

Product overview

Victoria Humane Society operates as a foster-based animal rescue organization without a dedicated shelter facility. Their primary services include animal adoption, foster care placement, surrender intake, volunteer coordination, and fundraising/donation collection. The organization manages adoptable animals through a network of private foster homes and satellite adoption centers (Bosley's Royal Oak and PetSmart Langford), offering animals for adoption after veterinary assessment, spay/neuter, and behavioral evaluation. Adoption applications are processed online, with adoptable pets posted on the organization's website. Supporting programs include a Critical Care Fund for emergency medical treatment, a 50/50 monthly raffle, bottle drives, and educational resources on pet care, training, and responsible pet ownership. The organization also provides surrender request processing and community outreach through partnerships with remote British Columbia communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dog Adoption Program Adoption placement for rescued dogs including puppies ($700+PST) and adult dogs ($500+PST). All-inclusive fees cover veterinary exam, first vaccinations, spay/neuter, and any necessary medical treatment. Adoption applications submitted online with meet-and-greets conducted at the facility or with foster families.
• Cat Adoption Program Adoption placement for rescued cats including kittens ($500+PST) and adult cats ($350+PST). All-inclusive fees cover veterinary exam, first vaccinations, spay/neuter, and any necessary medical treatment. Cats and kittens available at satellite adoption centers in Bosley's Royal Oak, PetSmart Langford and Duncan, and Pets West Broadmead.
• Small Animal Adoption Adoption placement for small rescued animals. Prices vary; all-inclusive fees cover veterinary exam, vaccinations, spay/neuter, and medical treatment.
• Foster Care Program Volunteer-based foster care placement for rescued animals needing temporary homes, including those with medical needs, behavioral challenges, or socialization requirements. Foster families provide in-home care, behavioral assessment, and rehabilitation support until permanent adoption.
• Emergency Medical Treatment Lifesaving medical treatment for rescued animals in need of urgent care. Funded by the Critical Care Fund, this service ensures animals with excellent chance of recovery receive necessary veterinary intervention.
• Animal Rehabilitation Services Behavioral and medical rehabilitation for rescued animals, particularly those with trauma, behavioral challenges, or socialization needs. Conducted through the foster network and dedicated rehabilitation programs.
• Outreach Clinics Spay/neuter and veterinary outreach services in remote BC communities, including sled dog rescue operations and northern villages. Conducted in partnership with Pacific Coastal Airlines for animal transport.
• Sled Dog Rescue Program Specialized rescue program for sled dogs from remote BC communities, including transport via Pacific Coastal Airlines and placement in experienced homes with appropriate fenced yards and confident handlers.
• Animal Surrender Processing Processing of owner-surrender requests for dogs and cats through dedicated surrender forms, with guidance on alternatives to surrender where possible.
• 50/50 Monthly Raffle Monthly fundraising raffle with tickets starting at $10 and prizes often hitting $10,000+. Proceeds fund lifesaving medical care for animals in need. Operated through RaffleBox platform.
• Monthly Bottle Drives Monthly bottle drives at GFL Bottle Depot in Victoria where volunteers are present to unload donations from community supporters, with proceeds supporting VHS operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,300+ animals rescued and adopted in 2021 alone
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Pacific Coastal AirlinescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Innovative partnership with Pacific Coastal Airlines to arrange safe passage of dogs from remote BC communities, giving many animals a second chance at life. Essential for the organization's sled dog rescue program.
• Bosleys PetValucoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvided a transfer van for transporting animals from remote communities. Hosts adoption events and satellite adoption centers at Bosley's Royal Oak location.
• PetSmart LangfordcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSatellite adoption center for cats and kittens. Allows in-person adoption applications for feline companions.
• Bosley's Royal OakcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSatellite adoption center for cats and kittens. Allows in-person adoption applications for feline companions.
• Pets West BroadmeadsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSatellite adoption center for cats requiring in-person adoption applications.
• CanadaHelpscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTrusted online donation partner processing both monthly sustaining donations and one-time gifts. Provides secure donation platform for supporters.
• GFL Bottle DepotsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHost location for monthly VHS bottle drives. Volunteers present to unload donations from supporters.
• Baby Dog/Tomey K9supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecommended force-free dog trainer for VHS adopters and foster families. VHS-only discount available.
• Smart DogsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecommended force-free dog trainer for VHS adopters and foster families.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• BC SPCA: Provincial umbrella for animal welfare in British Columbia, with multiple shelter locations, enforcement powers, and broad donor base. VHS is explicitly affiliated with BC SPCA but operates as a foster-based rescue without a physical shelter, making it a narrower, community-focused complement to BC SPCA's broader institutional model.
• ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals): National-scale US animal welfare organization with advocacy, rescue, and grantmaking functions. VHS shares the same nonprofit animal welfare mission but operates at a fraction of ASPCA's scale and with a locally focused model.

Direct peers

• Calgary Humane Society: Non-profit animal welfare organization offering adoption, spay/neuter, and education programs with a shelter facility. Directly comparable in mission, services, and revenue model (donations, adoption fees, fundraising events), though at a larger scale and operating in a different Canadian city.
• Toronto Humane Society: Long-standing Canadian non-profit animal rescue and adoption organization offering veterinary services, adoption, and surrender intake. Same nonprofit, donation-driven operating model and adoption-centric value proposition as VHS.
• Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society (AARCS): Foster-based animal rescue organization in Alberta with a similar volunteer-driven, no-government-funding model, large foster network, and adoption-focused operations. Strongly comparable in operating philosophy and structure to VHS.
• San Francisco SPCA: Established North American animal rescue non-profit offering adoption, veterinary care, and behavior programs. Comparable in mission and nonprofit funding model, though with a much larger operating budget and facility footprint.

Regional players

• Vancouver Humane Society: British Columbia-based animal welfare non-profit focused on advocacy, adoption, and education. Operates in the same Canadian province with overlapping donor base and donor mission, though more advocacy-oriented than VHS's hands-on rescue model.

Others

• PetSmart Charities of Canada: Major institutional funder of animal welfare in North America that grants funds to rescue organizations and partners on adoption programs. VHS is both a grant recipient and a satellite adoption partner with PetSmart, making PetSmart Charities a comparable ecosystem participant.
• Humane Canada (Canadian Federation of Humane Societies): National umbrella organization for Canadian humane societies and SPCAs, providing advocacy, training, and standards. VHS is part of the broader Canadian animal welfare ecosystem that Humane Canada represents and supports.
• Victoria Animal Control Services: Municipal animal control function for the City of Victoria that handles stray and surrendered animals in the same geography as VHS. Indirect peer in the local animal welfare infrastructure, with VHS taking overflow and difficult cases.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/VHSanimalrescue
• Facebookfacebook.com/victoriahumanesociety
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/victoria-humane-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Victoria Humane Society