Schronisko dla Bezdomnych Zwierząt "Sopotkowo"

What Schronisko dla Bezdomnych Zwierząt "Sopotkowo" does

Sopotkowo is a municipal animal shelter located in Sopot, Poland (ul. Malczewskiego 38), founded in 1959/1960 through community fundraising and rebranded under its current name on August 15, 2018. It is owned and operated by Gmina Miasta Sopotu (City of Sopot) through Zarząd Dróg i Zieleni w Sopocie (ZDiZ), a municipal roads and greenery authority that handles HR, finance, and facility operations. The shelter houses approximately 100 dogs and cats at any given time and accepts found animals from the Sopot municipality 24/7.

Core services include dog and cat adoption through a structured multi-step process (online questionnaire via the third-party ForPet portal, 3-5 pre-adoption meetings, home visit, and adoption contract with a symbolic fee), found animal intake, twice-yearly volunteer recruitment (adults 18+ with training and a two-month trial), scheduled shelter tours on Thursdays, and recurring community events (Dni Otwarte / open days, MIAU FEST, Doggy Day at ERGO ARENA). The shelter operates no proprietary technology platform; its digital footprint is a content website and a Facebook page, with adoption questionnaires routed externally through portal.forpet.biz.

The revenue model is non-commercial and diversified across four streams: a targeted municipal subsidy (dotacja celowa) from the City of Sopot as the primary operational funding source; individual monetary and in-kind donations routed through two partner foundations (Stowarzyszenie 'Łapy Pełne Miłości' and Pomorska Fundacja Bracia Mniejsi, the latter handling 1.5% personal income tax designations via KRS 0000705942); charitable merchandise sales (annual Sopotkowe calendars, T-shirts, mugs, bags); and public fundraising collections. With approximately 30 employees and no disclosed revenue, the organization is structured as a community-funded municipal welfare service rather than a commercial enterprise.

Name

Schronisko dla Bezdomnych Zwierząt "Sopotkowo"

Legal name

Schronisko dla Bezdomnych Zwierząt w Sopocie "Sopotkowo"

Website

https://schronisko.sopot.pl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sopotkowo is a municipal animal shelter in Sopot, Poland, operated by the City of Sopot through ZDiZ, housing approximately 100 dogs and cats. It facilitates structured adoptions, found animal intake, and volunteer programs for the Tri-City region, funded by municipal subsidy, donations, and merchandise sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Shelter Services

NAICS

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Support Activities for Animal Production (115210)

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)

SECONDARYBPAGAIAL

Lost & Found, Reunification & Microchipping Programs

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Animal Welfare & Wildlife Rescue

SECONDARYBPAGAIAK

Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Animal Welfare & Wildlife Rescue

Keywords

• Animal shelter services
• Pet adoption services
• Animal welfare care
• Stray animal rescue
• Volunteer animal care

Headquarters

HQ city

Sopot

HQ country

Poland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Municipal subsidy (dotacja celowa): The shelter receives targeted funding from the Municipality of Sopot as its primary operational subsidy.
2. Donations from individuals (darowizny): The shelter receives donations from individuals, including one-time monetary contributions and in-kind donations such as blankets, food, and other supplies. Donations are accepted via bank transfer to Stowarzyszenie 'Łapy Pełne Miłości' and Pomorska Fundacja Bracia Mniejsi.
3. 1.5% personal income tax allocation (1.5% podatku): Polish taxpayers can designate 1.5% of their income tax to the shelter via KRS number 0000705942, routing through Pomorska Fundacja Bracia Mniejsi. This is a recurring public fundraising mechanism.
4. Charitable merchandise sales: The shelter sells calendars (annual Sopotkowe kalendarze featuring shelter animals), merchandise such as T-shirts, mugs, and bags. Proceeds support shelter operations.
5. Public collections and fundraising campaigns: Volunteers and friends of the shelter organize public fundraising collections at events and online.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sopotkowo is a municipal animal shelter that rescues, shelters, and rehomes stray dogs and cats in the Sopot municipality. Its core offering is a structured dog and cat adoption service supported by veterinary care, volunteer socialization, and pre-adoption counseling (questionnaire, introductory meetings, home visits). It is funded by the City of Sopot, public donations, and 1.5% personal income tax designations, and operates as a community-facing animal welfare service for the Tri-City region.

Product overview

Sopotkowo is a municipal animal shelter operated by the City of Sopot that provides animal welfare services centered on rescue, care, and rehoming. The core offering is dog and cat adoption facilitated through a structured multi-step process involving an online questionnaire (via forpet.biz portal), pre-adoption meetings, and home visits. The shelter is supported by volunteer programs, monetary donations (via two partner foundations), and merchandise sales including annual charity calendars featuring shelter residents. Additional services include shelter tours, found animal intake, and community events such as open days, MIAU FEST, and Doggy Day participation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adopcja psów (Dog Adoption) The shelter's core service of rehoming dogs through a structured adoption procedure that includes virtual browsing of dog profiles, an online adoption questionnaire, 3–5 pre-adoption meetings, a home visit, and a signed adoption contract with a symbolic fee. Dogs listed include various breeds, ages, and temperaments from senior dogs to puppies.
• Adopcja kotów (Cat Adoption) The shelter's cat rehoming service using the same structured adoption process as for dogs. Available cats range from kittens to senior cats, including special-needs cats such as blind cats.
• Darowizny (Monetary Donations) A donation program supporting the shelter's operating costs, accepting bank transfers routed through two partner foundations and enabling Polish taxpayers to assign 1.5% of their personal income tax to the shelter.
• Wolontariat (Volunteer Program) A structured volunteer program recruiting adults aged 18+ twice yearly. Volunteers undergo training and a two-month trial period before contributing to animal care, dog walking, grooming, event support, and adoption promotion.
• Ankieta adopcyjna (Online Adoption Questionnaire Portal) An online adoption questionnaire hosted on the third-party forpet.biz portal (portal.forpet.biz) that initiates the structured adoption process. Submissions are reviewed by the shelter and used to schedule pre-adoption meetings.
• Sopotkowe kalendarze (Charity Calendars) Annual wall calendars featuring photographs of shelter residents, produced in collaboration with photographer Jacek Stańczak and graphic designer Ania Pociejewska. Sold at the shelter office and during events; proceeds support shelter operations.
• Zwiedzanie schroniska (Shelter Tours) Guided tours of the shelter facility offered on Thursdays (14:00–16:30) and during announced open days, allowing visitors to meet adoptable animals and learn about shelter operations.
• Przyjmowanie znalezionych zwierząt (Found Animal Intake) 24/7 intake service for found animals within the Sopot municipality. Staff scan for microchips and attempt to contact owners; animals without chips are held for a recovery period before becoming available for adoption. Straż Miejska also delivers found animals.

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

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• CS Centrum StomatologiczneminorOthersDental clinic listed as a Friend of Sopotkowo, providing dental/oral care support for shelter animals.
• Trójmiejska Klinika Weterynaryjna (Pruszcz Gdański)coreOthersA full-service veterinary clinic serving the Tri-City area. Provides veterinary lectures and guidance at shelter events. Collaborates on educational content about animal care, including cat care workshops and lectures at MIAU FEST and open days.
• Joker - Zoopsycholog / Behawiorysta / Trener PsówcoreOthersZoopsychologist, behaviorist, and dog trainer who provides lectures on dog behavior and pre-adoption guidance at shelter open days and events, including presentations on 'Before you decide on a dog.'
• Black Cat - Zoopsycholog KotówminorOthersCat behavior specialist who conducted educational lectures and workshops at shelter events such as Weekend z Kotem and MIAU FEST on topics including cat space design and feeding.
• CatNatureminorOthersSpecialist in cat environment and space design. Provided educational content at MIAU FEST on how to properly arrange cat living spaces.
• VISION XminorOthersCompany that supported the shelter through virtual adoption of Przemka, an older dog, demonstrating corporate sponsorship model.
• SII PolskaminorOthersIT services company listed as a Friend of Sopotkowo.
• Sofitel Grand SopotminorOthersLuxury hotel that has traditionally supported Sopotkowo by purchasing specialized food and dietary supplements for shelter animals and encouraging others to help.
• Porsche Centrum Sopot / Automobilklub OrskiminorOthersPorsche Centrum Sopot and Automobilklub Orski organized Porsche Dog Day and Grand Prix Sopot-Gdynia events, hosting the shelter and providing donations of supplies to shelter animals.
• Paka dla ZwierzakaminorOthersOrganizer facilitating Sopotkowo's participation in Doggy Day events at ERGO ARENA.
• 3siostry (club-café)minorOthersClub-café that hosted calendar promotion events for Sopotkowo, selling shelter calendars in exchange for donations.
• Na Psi Urok (grooming)minorOthersProfessional pet groomer who provided grooming services to shelter animals (e.g., the dog Lady) at no cost.
• Juwel Fotografia (Jacek Stańczak)coreOthersProfessional photographer who donates photography services for shelter animal portraits featured in annual Sopotkowe calendars and shelter marketing materials.
• Zarząd Dróg i Zieleni w Sopocie (ZDiZ)coreOthersThe municipal roads and greenery authority that manages the shelter. Handles HR recruitment, financial administration, and facility operations. Operates the shelter on behalf of the City of Sopot.
• Stowarzyszenie 'Łapy Pełne Miłości'coreOthersAssociation that manages donation accounts for Sopotkowo. Accepts bank transfers for the shelter's benefit. Donors must include 'Darowizna Sopotkowo' in transfer descriptions.
• Pomorska Fundacja Bracia MniejsicoreOthersFoundation that processes the 1.5% personal income tax designation (KRS 0000705942) for the shelter and manages additional donation accounts. Acts as the primary financial partner for tax-based fundraising.
• Rossmann (program 'Pomagamy jak umiemy')minorOthersDrogerie Rossmann ran a community support program in which Sopotkowo was selected as a beneficiary. Customers could designate the shelter as their charitable organization when shopping at Rossmann.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fundacja Azyl: Polish animal welfare foundation operating shelter and rescue services. Comparable non-profit animal welfare operator competing for individual donations and volunteer support in Poland.
• Pomorska Fundacja Bracia Mniejsi: Pomeranian animal welfare foundation that serves as Sopotkowo's financial intermediary for the 1.5% tax designation and donation accounts. Closely intertwined with Sopotkowo's fundraising operations and supports other shelters in the region.

Broad incumbents

• ASPCA: US-based national animal welfare organization operating shelters, advocacy, and rescue. Comparable as a large-scale municipal/nonprofit animal welfare entity, though operating under a different legal and funding model.
• Best Friends Animal Society: Large US animal welfare nonprofit running sanctuary operations and adoption programs. Comparable as a national-scale animal welfare organization with structured adoption and community engagement models.
• Towarzystwo Opieki nad Zwierzętami (TOZ): Polish Society for the Protection of Animals — historically operated the Sopotkowo shelter from 1963 onward and remains a national animal welfare umbrella organization. Directly comparable as an animal welfare operator in Poland.
• Fundacja VIVA!: Major Polish animal rights/welfare organization running shelters and advocacy nationwide. Comparable as a large-scale Polish animal welfare nonprofit competing for donor mindshare.
• Schronisko na Paluchu (Paluch Shelter): Warsaw's municipal animal shelter and the largest in Poland, operating under the City of Warsaw. Directly comparable as a municipal animal shelter, but at significantly greater scale (thousands of animals, much larger staff and budget).

Regional players

• Schronisko dla Bezdomnych Zwierząt w Gdyni (Ciapkowo): Municipal animal shelter in Gdynia (the third Tri-City municipality), operating under the same regionalization framework. Closest geographic peer to Sopotkowo with an overlapping adopter pool.
• Schronisko dla Bezdomnych Zwierząt w Gdańsku: Municipal animal shelter in Gdańsk, part of the same Tri-City (Trójmiasto) metropolitan area as Sopotkowo. Highly comparable municipal shelter model serving the immediate regional neighbor.

Emerging players

• Przystanek Kot (Cat Shelter Network): Polish network of cat-focused shelters and fosters. Comparable as a Polish animal welfare organization focused on rehoming, with a narrower species focus (cats only) than Sopotkowo's dog-and-cat scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SchroniskoSopotkowo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schronisko-dla-bezdomnych-zwierz%C4%85t-sopotkowo-toz-w-polsce-oddzia%C5%82-w-sopocie

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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