SHELTER FROM THE STORM ANIMAL RESCUE INC

What SHELTER FROM THE STORM ANIMAL RESCUE INC does

Shelter From the Storm Animal Rescue Inc (SFTS) is a Madison, Wisconsin-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal rescue organization that rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes companion animals with a stated 97% save rate and a no-euthanasia-for-space policy. The organization operates a primary shelter at 1602 Blossom Lane and a co-located veterinary facility with the Wisconsin Community Veterinary Center at 4475 Robertson Road, supplemented by a foster home network across the region. Its program portfolio includes Road to Recovery for animals with extraordinary medical needs, the Behavior & Enrichment (Homeward Hound) program for traumatized animals, a Senior Dog Support program funded in part by a Grey Muzzle Organization grant, Rehoming Resources including a $50 surrender donation (waivable for low-income owners), and Lost/Found Pet Resources that refer to Petco Love Lost's facial recognition platform.

SFTS generates revenue through a diversified nonprofit model rather than traditional product pricing: individual and recurring monetary donations (primary), branded merchandise sold via an Etsy storefront, annual fundraising events such as Bark, Scoot & Boogie and monthly adoption fairs, grant funding from organizations like The Grey Muzzle Organization, and a $50 surrender donation. The go-to-market motion is event- and community-driven, anchored by adoption fairs, volunteer recruitment, foster program enrollment, and digital fundraising appeals across website, Facebook, Instagram, email newsletter (Mailchimp), and local news coverage (WKOW 27, WMTV 15).

The customer base is split between individual pet adopters, volunteer foster families, partner organizations (notably the Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission and the Wisconsin Community Veterinary Center), law enforcement partners responding to cruelty and neglect cases (such as the Juneau County Sheriff's Department), and pet owners in crisis seeking surrender alternatives. SFTS has no proprietary technology stack and discloses no AI/ML capabilities beyond third-party referrals; its core differentiation rests on comprehensive medical and behavioral rehabilitation capacity, a managed-intake approach prioritizing puppy mill, breeder, and overcrowded shelter transfers, and an integrated veterinary partnership that enables it to accept complex cases beyond typical municipal shelter capability.

Name

SHELTER FROM THE STORM ANIMAL RESCUE INC

Legal name

Shelter From the Storm Animal Rescue Inc

Website

https://sftsrescue.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SFTS is a Madison, Wisconsin-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal rescue that rescues, medically and behaviorally rehabilitates, and rehomes dogs, cats, and small animals, serving individual adopters, foster families, and partner shelters across Wisconsin with a 97% save rate.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Rescue and Welfare Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Lost & Found, Reunification & Microchipping Programs (BPAGAIAL), Foster & Volunteer Network Programs (BPAGAIAF), Veterinary Charity Clinics & Medical Aid (BPAGAIAD)

Keywords

• Animal rescue services
• Animal adoption placement
• Veterinary rehabilitation services
• Animal foster care
• Nonprofit animal welfare

Headquarters

HQ city

MADISON, Wisconsin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: The organization relies primarily on monetary donations from individuals and organizations. They accept both one-time and monthly recurring donations. Donations are used for emergency medical care, animal transport, behavioral rehabilitation, and general shelter operations.
2. Merchandise Sales: SFTS sells branded merchandise including apparel through their website and an Etsy shop (SFTSRescueApparel). All proceeds from merchandise sales directly benefit the animals in their care.
3. Fundraising Events: The organization hosts annual fundraising events such as Bark, Scoot & Boogie which feature live music, food, auctions, and games. Proceeds from ticket sales, auctions, and vendor participation support shelter operations and medical care.
4. Grant Funding: SFTS receives grant funding from organizations such as The Grey Muzzle Organization to support specific programs including senior dog care, medical treatment, and surrender prevention initiatives.
5. Surrender Donations: The organization accepts a $50 surrender donation when pet owners relinquish animals to their care, which can be waived for low-income individuals. This helps offset the cost of care and medical services provided.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SFTS rescues companion animals (dogs, cats, small animals) from puppy mills, breeders, overcrowded shelters, and cruelty/neglect cases, and rehomes them through adoption placement, foster care, and rehabilitation programs. It runs dedicated medical and behavioral rehabilitation programs (Road to Recovery, Behavior & Enrichment, Senior Dog Support), rehoming and lost/found pet resources, and operates an annual fundraising event (Bark, Scoot & Boogie). Veterinary care is delivered through its partnership with the Wisconsin Community Veterinary Center (WCVC).

Product overview

Shelter From the Storm Animal Rescue is a nonprofit animal rescue organization offering a unified suite of animal welfare services. The core offering centers on animal rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption, featuring the Road to Recovery medical care program and Behavior & Enrichment rehabilitation program for animals with complex medical and behavioral needs. Additional services include adoption placement, foster care, rehoming resources, and lost pet reunification. The organization partners with Wisconsin Community Veterinary Center for veterinary services and hosts fundraising events like the annual Bark, Scoot & Boogie. Merchandise sales and donor support fund operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Animal Adoption Services Animal adoption service that places rescued dogs, cats, and small animals into permanent homes, featuring online adoptable-animal browsing, an application process, and monthly adoption fairs at the Madison shelter. Intended for community members and families seeking companion pets.
• Road to Recovery Program Medical and behavioral rehabilitation program providing life-saving care for rescued animals with extraordinary medical needs, including emergency surgeries, treatments, and specialized care delivered through the Wisconsin Community Veterinary Center partnership.
• Behavior & Enrichment / Homeward Hound Behavior Program Behavioral rehabilitation program helping fearful and traumatized rescued animals heal through structured training, enrichment activities, and behavior modification plans to prepare them for adoption.
• Senior Dog Support Program Program providing medical and dental care, surrender prevention, hospice care, and adoption incentives for senior dogs, supported by Grey Muzzle Organization grant funding.
• Rehoming Resources Resources helping pet owners make decisions before surrendering, including behavioral training referrals (GoodPup), surrender forms, and financial/housing support information, plus referrals to Dane County Humane Society's pet food pantry and rehome-a-pet program.
• Lost & Found Pet Resources Lost pet reunification service utilizing Petco Love Lost's patented facial recognition technology to help match lost and found pets with their families.
• Foster Program Volunteer foster care program placing animals in temporary homes for recovery, behavioral rehabilitation, and transition to permanent adoption; coordinated through a dedicated Foster Coordinator.
• SFTS Merch Branded merchandise including apparel sold through the SFTSRescueApparel Etsy shop, with all proceeds directly benefiting the animals in SFTS care.
• Bark, Scoot & Boogie Annual Fundraiser Annual fundraising event featuring live music, BBQ, games, bingo, and a live auction to raise funds for the rescue's medical care and operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% save rate
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wisconsin Community Veterinary Center (WCVC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWCVC is SFTS's primary veterinary partner, providing emergency medical care, surgeries, diagnostics, and treatment for rescued animals. The organizations share staff and co-locate at 4475 Robertson Road. WCVC also hosts SFTS events including Pawdicures fundraisers and the Bark Scoot & Boogie event.
• Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission (MADACC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMADACC transfers animals to SFTS for care when municipal shelter capacity is exceeded or animals require specialized medical treatment beyond municipal capabilities. SFTS has received multiple animals from MADACC including severe trauma and medical cases.
• Rocky and Rustys Redemption RescueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner rescue organization that assisted SFTS during the Juneau County hoarding case, helping remove animals from a neglect scene.
• Juneau County Sheriff's DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaw enforcement partner that contacts SFTS for animal rescue responses in cruelty and neglect cases within Juneau County jurisdiction. The Sheriff's Department coordinates legal evidence protocols for rescued animals in criminal neglect cases.
• Dane County Humane SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral partner for rehoming resources, offering pet food pantry services and rehome-a-pet programs as alternatives to shelter surrender.
• GotSneakersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSneaker recycling fundraiser partner allowing supporters to donate used sneakers as a fundraising mechanism for the rescue.
• GoodPupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVirtual dog training service partner providing resources for pet owners considering surrender due to behavioral issues. SFTS provides a referral link offering a complimentary week of training and 10% membership discount.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ASPCA: National animal welfare organization providing rescue, advocacy, and grant funding. Comparable as a broad incumbent that competes for donor dollars and operates mobile/community veterinary programs similar to SFTS's WCVC partnership model.
• Humane Society of the United States: The largest U.S. animal protection organization, providing rescue grants, advocacy, and disaster response. Comparable as a broad incumbent competing for donor share and operating programs that parallel SFTS's shelter and puppy-mill rescue work.
• Best Friends Animal Society: The largest no-kill animal welfare organization in the United States, operating national adoption, sanctuary, and grant programs. Comparable as a no-kill founder and major grantmaker that competes with and funds local rescues like SFTS.

Others

• Petco Love: Non-profit foundation of Petco that funds animal welfare organizations and provides national adoption resources including the Love Lost facial recognition platform SFTS uses. Comparable as a technology and funding partner and a funder-side peer in the same ecosystem.
• Maddie's Fund: Major family foundation funding no-kill animal welfare, community veterinary care, and pet-animal welfare programs. Comparable as a national grantmaker whose funding priorities overlap with SFTS's managed intake and medical rehabilitation model.

Emerging players

• Austin Pets Alive!: Non-profit recognized for innovative medical and behavioral rehabilitation programs for high-risk shelter animals. Directly comparable to SFTS's Road to Recovery approach and a reference model for outcome-focused specialty rescue.
• Central Indiana Rescue & Recovery: Mid-sized non-profit rescue operating managed intake, medical rehabilitation, and behavior programs for high-risk animals. Comparable in size, mission, and program mix to SFTS's Road to Recovery and Behavior & Enrichment offerings.

Direct peers

• Dane County Humane Society: Largest animal welfare organization in the Madison, Wisconsin market. Directly comparable as a non-profit shelter offering adoption, foster, and surrender-prevention services in the same geography, with whom SFTS partners on surrender prevention.
• Wisconsin Humane Society: Regional non-profit animal welfare organization operating across Wisconsin with adoption, veterinary, and behavior programs. Directly comparable in mission, scope, and program structure, operating in the same state.
• Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission (MADACC): Municipal animal control shelter that transfers high-need animals to SFTS. Comparable as a Wisconsin animal welfare intake facility and a key partner that defines SFTS's referral pipeline.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/shelterfromthestormanimalrescue
• Instagraminstagram.com/sfts_animalrescue
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shelter-from-the-storm-animal-rescue-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 SHELTER FROM THE STORM ANIMAL RESCUE INC