Défense de l'Animal

What Défense de l'Animal does

Défense de l'Animal (Confédération Nationale Défense de l'Animal, CNDA) is a French nonprofit federation headquartered in Lyon, founded in 1928 and recognized as a public utility association since 1990. Its functional role is to federate an independent network of 270-280 member animal protection associations across 97 of France's departments, providing them with shared infrastructure, accreditation, training, and a unified public voice on animal welfare policy. The federation reports responsibility for over 200,000 animals handled annually and operates through a small central headquarters staff (~10 people) supported by approximately 1,200 staff and 3,000 volunteers across member associations. Governance is led by President Sabine Fghoul.

The core "products" are shared services for member shelters and donor/public engagement assets: a centralized logistics warehouse in Touraine, an online learning platform (Académie) launched April 2024, a member portal launched late 2023, a thematic webradio and specialized magazine launched December 2023, a national animal protection hotline (3677) launched June 2024, and SMS-based donations launched May 2024. Underlying technology is conventional web and telephony infrastructure rather than proprietary systems. The organization also engages directly in regulatory advocacy, notably supporting the Loi du 30 novembre 2021 strengthening animal cruelty penalties, and participates in the French government's animal welfare roadmap.

The business model is a diversified nonprofit revenue stack: membership dues from associations, individual donations (including legacies/bequests), corporate partnerships (with named partners including Maxi Zoo, Zoomalia, Animeo, and Pokki Travels), magazine subscriptions, SMS micro-donations, and public grants including France Relance funding that supported 100+ shelters between 2021 and 2023. Go-to-market is omnichannel across direct mail, web, magazine, radio, and SMS.

Name

Défense de l'Animal

Legal name

Confédération Nationale Défense de l'animal

Website

https://defensedelanimal.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1928

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Défense de l'Animal is a Lyon-based French nonprofit federation founded in 1928 that unites 270-280 independent animal protection associations across 97 departments, providing shared infrastructure, training, and a unified advocacy voice on animal welfare.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Welfare Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Welfare & Advocacy Organizations (AFAEALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Animal Welfare, Handling & Stockmanship Audits/Training (AFACADAL), Animal Welfare Auditing, Compliance & Certification Services (Non-testing Lab) (AFAEALAN)

Keywords

• Animal welfare services
• Shelter network federation
• Animal protection advocacy
• Pet rescue coordination
• Nonprofit animal charity

Headquarters

HQ city

Lyon

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals via website (credit card), SMS (92009), check, or bank transfer. Donations qualify for 66% tax deduction in France up to 20% of taxable income. SMS donations range from 5€ to 20€.
2. Legacies and Life Insurance: Bequests, life insurance policies, and donations transmitted through notarized acts. As a recognized public utility organization, these liberalities are exempt from inheritance taxes and fully dedicated to animal protection actions.
3. Partnership Revenue: Corporate partnerships including product donations, charity operations generating donations, and project-specific funding from companies in pet food, pet care, pet health, and pet tech sectors.
4. Magazine Subscriptions: Revenue from magazine Défendons les Animaux subscriptions distributed to general public and animal protection sector professionals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Défense de l'Animal operates as a confederation coordinating 270 independent animal protection associations and shelters across France. It delivers member services (training through the Académie platform, legal assistance via the Pôle de protection animale, food logistics from the Touraine warehouse, emergency funding, and government representation) and public engagement (donations, magazine, web radio, advice, abuse reporting hotline). Revenue is sourced primarily from individual donations, legacies, corporate partnerships, and magazine subscriptions.

Product overview

Défense de l'Animal (CNDA) is a confederation of 270 animal protection associations and refuges operating the largest animal protection network in France. The organization provides a member portal (portail.defensedelanimal.fr) for its network, supplemented by an online learning platform (Académie), a webradio ('Ici Lyon, les refuges parlent aux refuges'), and a magazine (Défendons les Animaux). The confederation offers various engagement tools including an SMS donation system (92009), a refuge finder directory with interactive map, and a national animal cruelty reporting hotline (3677). The organization has developed thematic publications including the Guide de l'enquêteur and Guide du bénévole. The overall offering is a platform-plus-services architecture supporting France's largest animal protection network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Académie (online learning platform)
• Members Portal (portail.defensedelanimal.fr)
• Webradio "Ici Lyon, les refuges parlent aux refuges"
• Magazine "Défendons les Animaux"
• Guide de l'enquêteur (Investigator's Guide)
• Guide du bénévole (Volunteer's Guide)
• SMS Donation System (92009)
• Refuge Finder (Annuaire des refuges)
• National Animal Cruelty Reporting Hotline (3677)
• Donation Platform
• Pôle de protection animale (Legal Support Pole)

Quantifiable outcome

• 200,000 animals welcomed annually by member network
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered notable, flagship, significant, minor and core.

• ZoomalianotableGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 October 2024Pet care retailer provided product donations (nests and several tons of food) to support CNDA's rescue of 70 dalmatians from a squalid breeding facility in Avignon, October 2024.
• Maxi ZooflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 September 2024Major pet retail chain partnered with CNDA on 'Bracelets de l'amitié' (Friendship Bracelets) solidarity operation, selling charity bags and bracelets with proceeds supporting member shelters. Partnership ongoing since 2023 with annual reporting on concrete field operations.
• Animal ProtectsignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with CNDA during the Gironde wildfires 2026 to coordinate rescue of 14 dogs from an abandoned breeding facility. Both organizations worked together to provide emergency care and placement for the rescued animals.
• AnimeonotableGTM or Marketing PartnerDigital platform for pet parents providing free tools to track animal health and wellbeing. Partnered with CNDA to offer services to shelter network and promote responsible pet ownership.
• Pokki TravelsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTravel agency specializing in pet-friendly trips, mentioned as a resource for adopters traveling with newly adopted animals.
• Ministry of Agriculture (France)coreOthersCNDA is a member of the Animal Welfare Expert Committee at the Ministry of Agriculture, participating in development of animal protection policies and regulations. Also received France Relance funding mandate to modernize member shelters (2021-2023).

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves16 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SPA (Société Protectrice des Animaux): France's other major national animal welfare federation operating its own shelters, advocacy, and adoption services. Directly comparable mission, geographic scope, and donor base in France, with overlapping member/donor pools and competitive fundraising positioning.
• Fondation 30 Millions d'Amis: Major French animal welfare foundation funding shelters and advocacy. Comparable nonprofit mission, French-only scope, reliance on donations/legacies, and animal welfare legislative influence.
• Fondation Brigitte Bardot: French animal welfare foundation focused on shelter funding, legislative advocacy, and abuse investigations. Operates with similar donation-based revenue model and high-profile celebrity-driven brand in the same French animal welfare space.

Emerging players

• L214: French animal advocacy organization focused on farmed-animal welfare with strong media and investigative capacity. Comparable advocacy-driven mission and French donor base, though L214 is more concentrated on factory farming rather than companion animals.
• Animal Protect: French animal welfare association that has collaborated directly with CNDA on the 2026 Gironde wildfire rescue. Operates in the same geographic space with overlapping shelter and abuse-rescue activities.

Regional players

• Fourrière de Paris: Municipal stray animal management service for Paris. Comparable animal holding and welfare activities but publicly operated and geographically limited to Paris, contrasting with CNDA's national federation model.

Broad incumbents

• Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA): UK's largest animal welfare charity with inspectorate, shelters, advocacy, and cruelty prosecution roles. Comparable federation-of-services structure and broad welfare mission, though UK-focused.
• ASPCA: US animal welfare organization with shelter, advocacy, and legislative activities. Comparable multi-faceted nonprofit model covering rescue, policy, and public education, though US-focused and structurally different from CNDA's federation model.
• PETA: Global animal rights organization with advocacy, investigations, and corporate campaign focus. Comparable advocacy and public-facing campaign orientation, though PETA operates internationally and leans more rights-focused than welfare-focused.
• Humane Society International: Global animal protection organization with shelter support, advocacy, and policy work. Comparable mission and multi-country coordination scope, though internationally distributed rather than federated at a national level like CNDA.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/user172940612

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Défense de l'Animal