Animal Care Society INC

What Animal Care Society INC does

Animal Care Society (ACS) is a 501c3 non-profit animal welfare organization founded in 1984 and headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, operating as Kentucky's first no-kill brick-and-mortar animal shelter. The organization rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes dogs and cats, and has placed over 17,000 animals into homes since founding. ACS operates without government funding and is entirely supported by community grants, individual donations, and earned revenue streams.

The organization's core services include pet adoption, foster care coordination, surrender intake, and volunteer-driven shelter operations, supplemented by revenue-generating offerings: low-cost vaccine clinics ($5-$25 per service), dog training and behavioral classes ($65-$240 per course), pet surrender fees ($50-$150), a monthly giving program (Pawsitive Impact Partners), and a thrift shop (Re-Tail). Its business model relies on diversified unit-priced transactions, recurring donations, corporate sponsorships, and event-based fundraising (notably the 23-year-old Bark in the Park 5K). Go-to-market is community-led, leveraging social media (80-90k monthly reach), email (41% open rate), farmers markets, restaurant fundraising dinners, and a Business Alliance program.

ACS operates from three Louisville locations: the main shelter at 12207 Westport Road, a Community Outreach Center at Mall St. Matthews for training, and the Re-Tail Thrift Shop at 10519 Watterson Trail. The organization's technology footprint is minimal — no proprietary software, app, API, or AI systems are described — and shelter management is described in standard operational terms. The Fur the Future capital campaign targets a 3.6-acre campus expansion to scale capacity for the organization's no-kill mission.

Name

Animal Care Society INC

Legal name

Animal Care Society

Website

https://animalcaresociety.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Animal Care Society is a 501c3 no-kill animal shelter in Louisville, Kentucky, founded in 1984, that rescues and rehomes dogs and cats and has placed over 17,000 animals, funded entirely by community donations and diversified service revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Welfare Services

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

Foster & Volunteer Network Programs (BPAGAIAF), Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership) (BPAGAIAK), Low-Cost & Community Veterinary Clinics (HLAMAAAE)

Keywords

• Animal shelter services
• Pet adoption services
• No-kill shelter
• Low-cost veterinary clinic
• Animal welfare nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Louisville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Adoption Fees: Fees collected from adopters at time of animal adoption. Fees vary by animal type and age: cats $40-$130, dogs $160-$310. These fees help cover basic care costs but typically do not cover full expenses.
2. Donations and Grants: Charitable donations from individuals and grants from foundations. The organization receives no government funding and is entirely supported by the Louisville community through grants and donations.
3. Monthly Giving (Pawsitive Impact Partners): Recurring monthly donations from dedicated supporters who receive regular updates and exclusive event invitations.
4. Thrift Shop Revenue: The Re-Tail Thrift Shop at 10519 Watterson Trail sells donated goods with proceeds supporting shelter operations.
5. Vaccine Clinic Services: Low-cost veterinary services including rabies vaccines ($10), DHPP ($5), Bordetella ($5), FVRCP ($5), heartworm testing ($25), and microchipping ($25).
6. Training Classes: Revenue from dog training courses including Intro to Obedience ($199), Novice Trick Class ($150), Intermediate Obedience ($240), Canine Good Citizen ($65), and Intro to Scent Detection ($200).
7. Surrender Fees: Admission fees for surrendered pets: $150 if not altered/vaccinated, $50 if altered and up to date on vaccinations.
8. Event Fundraising: Revenue from fundraising events including restaurant dinner partnerships (10% of sales), event sponsorships, vendor fees, and participant registrations (e.g., Bark in the Park 5K).
9. Merchandise Sales: Sales of ACS branded merchandise through the Merch Store and at events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Animal Care Society rescues dogs and cats, provides veterinary care and foster placement, and facilitates adoptions into loving homes. It is Kentucky's first no-kill shelter, operating since 1984, and supplements its rescue mission with low-cost community veterinary services (vaccines, microchipping), obedience and behavioral training classes, and the Re-Tail Thrift Shop to generate operating revenue.

Product overview

Animal Care Society is a non-profit no-kill animal shelter organization offering a portfolio of animal welfare services. The core offerings include pet adoption (rescuing and rehoming dogs and cats), a foster care program for animals needing temporary homes, and volunteer programs. Additional services include training classes, low-cost vaccine clinics, microchipping, and the Re-Tail Thrift Shop for fundraising. The organization also operates sponsorship and business alliance programs for community partners and hosts fundraising events including the annual Bark in the Park 5K.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pet Adoption Services Rescue of companion dogs and cats and facilitation of adoptions into loving homes, including adoption applications, meet-and-greets, ID verification, and home visits. Adoption fees vary by animal type and age (cats $40-$130, dogs $160-$310).
• Foster Care Program Temporary foster care program for kittens, puppies, nursing mothers, and animals needing medical treatment or relief from shelter environment. ACS provides all supplies needed for fostering.
• Training and Behavioral Classes Six-week obedience courses, novice trick classes, intermediate obedience, canine good citizen testing, and intro to scent detection offered at the ACS Community Outreach Center in Mall St. Matthews, Louisville.
• Low-Cost Vaccine Clinic Low-cost vaccine services for community pets including rabies ($10), DHPP ($5), Bordetella ($5), FVRCP ($5), heartworm testing ($25), microchipping ($25), and flea/tick/heartworm preventatives priced by weight.
• Low-Cost Microchipping Public low-cost microchipping using 24 PetWatch microchips at $25 including registration; no appointment needed.
• The Re-Tail Thrift Shop Thrift shop selling donated goods with proceeds supporting ACS shelter operations; open Tuesday – Saturday from 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
• Pet Surrender Services Surrender request processing for pet owners unable to keep their animals; admission fees are $150 if not altered/up to date on vaccinations, $50 if altered and up to date (vet records required).

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 17,000 animals placed into loving homes since 1984
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• A-Derr Heating & CoolingcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness Alliance partner supporting ACS through cause marketing and event sponsorship. Located at 502-906-6041.
• Evergreen Animal HospitalcoreTechnology or IntegrationVeterinary alliance partner providing approved veterinary care for foster animals and shelter pets. Located at (502) 244-2068.
• Goshen Animal CliniccoreTechnology or IntegrationVeterinary alliance partner providing approved veterinary care for foster animals and shelter pets. Located at (502) 228-1827.
• St. Matthews Animal CliniccoreTechnology or IntegrationVeterinary alliance partner providing approved veterinary care for foster animals and shelter pets. Located at (502) 895-8100.
• Pet Suites MiddletownminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBoarding partner for shelter animals. Located at (502) 450-9421.
• Pet Suites Fern CreekminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBoarding partner for shelter animals. Located at (502) 450-9414.
• Apparel 2 DaycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBusiness Alliance partner providing merchandise and apparel for ACS. Located at (502) 767-0263.
• The Village AnchorminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRestaurant hosting fundraising dinners where 10% of evening revenue is donated to ACS. Located at 11507 Park Rd, Louisville, KY 40223.
• Grassa GrammaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRestaurant hosting fundraising dinners where up to 10% of evening revenue is donated to ACS. Located at 2210 Holiday Manor Center, Louisville, KY 40222.
• Le MoominorGTM or Marketing PartnerRestaurant hosting fundraising dinners where up to 10% of evening revenue is donated to ACS. Located at 2300 Lexington Rd, Louisville, KY 40206.
• Froggys PopcornminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness Alliance partner. Located at (502) 403-9130.
• Marshies Roar Pet PhotographyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness Alliance partner. Located at (614) 940-6763.
• Thomas Law OfficesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness Alliance partner. Located at (502) 309-2656.
• Atlas Brown Family Wealth ManagementminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness Alliance partner. Located at (502) 271-2900.
• Crowler CateringminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness Alliance partner. Located at (502) 541-8348.
• HB ProductionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness Alliance partner.
• Pet Station Country ClubcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor for Bark in the Park event.
• River City RacescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTiming sponsor for Bark in the Park 5K event.
• Ken Combs Running StorecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAwards sponsor for Bark in the Park event.
• StrollminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting sponsor for Bark in the Park event.
• Bark Bus by EternaTurffminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting sponsor for Bark in the Park event.
• Bluegrass Harley-DavidsoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-presenter of first annual Ride for Rescues event.
• Louisville Metro Animal ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary resource for lost and found animal reports in the Louisville area. ACS refers people with stray or found animals to report with LMAS.
• The Parklands of Floyds ForkcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner for Bark in the Park annual event at Beckley Creek Park, 1411 Beckley Creek Parkway.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Charleston Animal Society: No-kill animal shelter operating in the Charleston, SC metro with adoption, low-cost veterinary, training, and thrift-store fundraising arms - a close structural analog to ACS at regional scale.
• Animal Rescue League of Boston: Long-standing regional no-kill shelter providing adoption, veterinary, and behavioral services in Greater Boston. Comparable as a historic, donor-funded animal welfare nonprofit with a similar service portfolio.
• San Diego Humane Society: Large regional no-kill shelter with adoption, veterinary, and wildlife services in San Diego. Comparable as a donation-led, multi-service animal welfare nonprofit with a similar programmatic footprint.
• Arizona Humane Society: Regional no-kill shelter in Phoenix offering adoption, low-cost clinic, training, and emergency services. Comparable as a community-funded, multi-service animal welfare nonprofit in a single metro.
• SPCA of Texas: Regional no-kill shelter and rescue organization serving North Texas with adoption, clinic, and community services. Comparable as a regional-scale, donation-funded animal welfare operator.

Broad incumbents

• PetSmart Charities: National nonprofit arm of PetSmart funding adoptions, veterinary care, and disaster relief. Comparable as a grant-making and adoption-driving animal welfare nonprofit.
• Best Friends Animal Society: National no-kill advocacy and shelter operator. Comparable as a larger-scale no-kill philosophy peer with national fundraising and adoption infrastructure, though operating at vastly greater scale.
• ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals): The largest U.S. animal welfare nonprofit, running shelter, adoption, veterinary, and grant programs nationally. Broader scope and budget than ACS but directly comparable in core mission and program types.
• The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS): National animal welfare and advocacy organization funding and supporting shelters across the U.S. Comparable as a donation-driven animal welfare nonprofit operating at national scale.

Direct peers

• Kentucky Humane Society: The other major animal welfare nonprofit in Louisville, offering adoption, foster, veterinary, and training services to the same metro market. Operates a much larger facility and serves as the most direct comparable given shared geography, mission, and service mix.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/animal-care-society-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Animal Care Society INC