What Utah Humane Society does

Utah Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal welfare organization founded in 1960 and headquartered in Murray, Utah, with a secondary clinic in St. George. It operates the largest private animal welfare facility in Utah and serves the Salt Lake City metropolitan area plus southern Utah. The organization has maintained a no-kill commitment since 2015 and reports a 90%+ placement rate, helping more than 11,000 animals annually through adoption, veterinary services, and community programs. In 2024 the organization facilitated 6,363 pet adoptions, 77,476 clinic visits, 10,011 Pet Retention Program assists, and 12,752 youth education contacts, while mobilizing 26,850 volunteer hours.

Its core services include pet adoption, low-cost veterinary care (including spay/neuter and vaccinations), surrender prevention, behavioral training, and humane education. Specialized programs include the Pet Retention Program, Pet Transfer Program (transporting animals from overcrowded shelters across roughly 20,000 miles annually), Community CATNIP (TNR), Last Litter Program, and Slumber Party Weekend overnight boarding. The organization uses Petco Love Lost, a third-party facial recognition platform, for lost pet reunification; otherwise technology stack is conventional nonprofit CRM and clinic management.

The business model relies on diversified revenue streams: individual and major donor contributions including monthly recurring donations, corporate and foundation grants from Petco Love, ASPCA, Maddie's Fund, Best Friends Animal Society, PetSmart Charities, Hill's Food, and Ceva Animal Health, adoption and program service fees, clinic revenue, planned giving/bequests, and in-kind donations. Operational scale is enabled by 78 paid staff supplemented by approximately 800 active volunteers.

Name

Utah Humane Society

Legal name

Humane Society of Utah

Website

https://utahhumane.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Utah Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating the largest private animal welfare facility in Utah, providing adoption, low-cost veterinary care, and community programs to over 11,000 animals annually across Murray and St. George.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Welfare and Shelter Services

NAICS

Veterinary Services (541940), Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership) (BPAGAIAK)

Keywords

• Animal shelter services
• Pet adoption programs
• Low-cost veterinary clinics
• Spay and neuter services
• Humane education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Murray, Utah

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual donors contribute through various giving programs including one-time donations, monthly recurring giving (Faithful Friends Circle at $10-$100/month), major giving (Humane Heroes at $1,000-$10,000), mid-level giving (Compassion Circle at $500+ annually), donor-advised funds, IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions, stock donations, vehicle donations, memorial/honorary bricks, and kennel/cat room sponsorships.
2. Program Service Fees: Fees charged for animal surrender admissions ($30-$100), spay/neuter surgeries ($25-$185), vaccinations ($24-$45), dental services ($250-$850), wellness exams, humane education programs ($25-$375), birthday parties ($250+), and shelter tours ($5/person).
3. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Local and national corporate sponsors support through event sponsorships, program underwriting, adoption events, and Kennel/Cat Room sponsorship ($1,000-$1,500).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Utah Humane Society operates as a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal welfare facility providing pet adoption, low-cost spay/neuter and vaccination clinics at Murray and St. George locations, foster care, pet retention assistance, behavior and training resources, community cat TNR (CATNIP), pet transfer/transport, end-of-life services, and humane education programming for youth. The organization funds these services through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and modest program service fees.

Product overview

Utah Humane Society operates as an animal welfare nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive suite of programs and services organized around animal sheltering, veterinary care, community support, and humane education. The organization functions as a unified service platform rather than a modular product architecture. Core offerings include pet adoption services, spay/neuter and vaccination clinics (in Murray and St. George), the Community CATNIP Program for community cats, Last Litter Program, Behavior and Training Services, Foster Care Program (caring for approximately 2,000 animals annually), Private Pet Rehoming Service, Pet Transfer Program (receiving 1,600+ animals yearly), Lost Pet Services with Petco Love Lost facial recognition integration, and Humane Education Programs reaching thousands of children annually through camps, school visits, and youth programs. Additional services include volunteer coordination, corporate partnerships, and diverse fundraising channels. The organization does not offer a software product, API, or technology platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pet Adoption Services Adoption program placing shelter animals including dogs, cats, rabbits, and small mammals into loving homes; helps over 11,000 animals annually with adoption center hours Sunday-Friday 11am-7pm and Saturday 10am-7pm.
• Pet Retention Program Community resources program keeping pets in their current homes by providing assistance with pet food, supplies, housing, and medical concerns to families in crisis.
• Community CATNIP Program Spay/neuter and vaccination program for unowned, free-roaming outdoor community cats including TNR (trap-neuter-return) services with ear-tipping, trap rental, and $25 flat fee covering surgery, rabies, and distemper vaccinations.
• Last Litter Program Program for pet cats and dogs with litters where HSU intakes kittens/puppies for adoption while vaccinating, spaying, and returning mama animals to guardians on the same day; $100 intake fee plus $50 deposit.
• Behavior and Training Services Behavioral information, positive reinforcement training resources, and connections with certified local trainers including group dog training classes, in-home consultations, and virtual training options.
• Foster Care Program Temporary foster homes for underage puppies/kittens, nursing mothers, animals recovering from illness or injury, and animals with behavioral needs; approximately 2,000 animals fostered annually.
• Spay/Neuter and Vaccination Clinics Low-cost veterinary clinics in Murray and St. George offering spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations, wellness exams, dental cleaning, and microchipping services for cats and dogs; 77,476 clinic visits in 2024.
• Private Pet Rehoming Service Free courtesy listing service allowing owners to rehome pets directly from their homes without entering the shelter system including profile creation, screening guidance, and meet-and-greet recommendations.
• Lost Pet Services Partnership with Petco Love Lost using facial recognition technology to search a national database for reuniting lost pets with owners, including microchipping services and local animal control referrals.
• End-of-Life Euthanasia Services Humane euthanasia services using sodium pentobarbital injection for guardians and pets without access to other veterinary services including private cremation and communal interment options.
• Pet Transfer Program Transport and relocation program moving animals from overcrowded shelters to HSU; receives over 1,600 cats and dogs annually from rescue partners with transport vehicles traveling 20,000 miles per year.
• Humane Education Programs Educational programs including Kind Kids (ages 7-11), Kitty Book Club, Pet Care Course, school presentations, scout tours, youth tours, and HERO Kids Camps reaching 12,752 children in 2024.
• Birthday Party Program On-site birthday parties for young animal lovers ages 6-14 featuring animal interactions, themed decorations, and party activities at the shelter facility; base price $250.
• Slumber Party Weekend Short-term weekend foster program for pets awaiting surgery where foster parents take pets home for the weekend.
• Volunteer Program Volunteer opportunities starting at age 12 including animal care, events, office work, and court-ordered community service; volunteers contribute over 26,850 hours annually.
• Donation and Fundraising Programs Multiple giving options including one-time/monthly donations, Humane Heroes (major giving $1,000-$10,000), Compassion Circle (mid-level $500+ annually), Faithful Friends ($10-$100/month recurring), kennel sponsorship, memorial bricks, donor-advised funds, planned giving, and vehicle donations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90%+ of animals in care placed in homes, reunited with owners, or released to other animal welfare organizations
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered major, supporting and minor.

• Mountain America Credit UnionmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal credit union partnered with HSU to spread awareness and help find homes for adoptable animals. Provides kennel sponsorship and corporate volunteer opportunities.
• Mountain West Veterinary SpecialistssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeterinary specialty hospital in Layton, Utah offering board-certified specialists in surgery, internal medicine, and critical care with 24/7 emergency services. Supports HSU with medical expertise referrals.
• Wasatch Front Subaru RetailerssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSubaru's Love Promise program dedicated to ensuring health and well-being of community pets. Supports adoption events and awareness campaigns.
• YESCOminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOutdoor media company providing billboard advertising. Creative outdoor displays build brand recognition and drive customer traffic for HSU.
• Utah Pet RehabsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPet rehabilitation, acupuncture, and conditioning services. Provides medical help and rehabilitation for pets in HSU's program who need specialized care.
• Fetch Pet InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPet wellness and insurance company offering free quotes for adopted pets. Partners to ensure pets are happy and healthy in their new homes.
• Supreme SourcesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerAmerican-made, family-owned pet food company based in Layton, Utah. Proud partner working toward a future with no homeless pets.
• CARS (Charitable Adult Rides & Services)supportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVehicle donation processing service that provides free nationwide pickup for donated vehicles. Handles all paperwork and provides tax receipts.
• Clementine Dog TrainingsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerForce-free dog training in Riverton, Utah. Offers free puppy socialization classes. Referred to pet owners for behavioral support.
• Petco Love LostsupportingTechnology or IntegrationLost pet reunification platform using facial recognition technology to search a national database. HSU partners to make reuniting lost pets easier and free.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Best Friends Animal Society: Larger national no-kill animal welfare organization headquartered in Utah that runs the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary and supports a national network of shelters. Directly comparable mission and overlapping Utah footprint, with broader national programming.
• ASPCA: National animal welfare organization that provides direct grants to HSU and runs shelter, spay/neuter, and mobile veterinary programs in select regions. Direct operational and funding overlap with HSU.
• Humane Society of the United States (HSUS): National animal welfare advocacy and grantmaking organization that funds local shelters like HSU and operates national programs. Broad incumbent whose mission overlaps with HSU but operates at a national advocacy rather than direct-shelter level.

Direct peers

• Oregon Humane Society: Portland-based private nonprofit animal welfare organization with shelter, adoption, low-cost veterinary clinic, and education programming. Strong adoption volume and clinic footprint make it a directly comparable regional peer.
• Denver Dumb Friends League: Large private nonprofit animal shelter and veterinary services operator in the Denver metro area. Operates an integrated shelter, low-cost clinic, behavior, and adoption model directly analogous to HSU's Murray operation.
• San Diego Humane Society: Large private nonprofit operating multiple shelter and clinic locations across San Diego County. Comparable integrated shelter-clinic-education model with no-kill positioning and similar service breadth.
• Austin Pets Alive!: Texas-based no-kill animal welfare nonprofit focused on lifesaving programs for at-risk animals. Operates adoption, clinic, and pet retention programming with comparable mission-driven operating model.
• Arizona Humane Society: Regional private 501(c)(3) animal welfare organization in Phoenix offering adoption, low-cost veterinary clinics, behavior training, and pet retention programming. Closely comparable operating model, headcount, and service mix to HSU.

Others

• PetSmart Charities: National animal welfare grantmaking arm of PetSmart that funds adoption, spay/neuter, and pet retention programs across the U.S. Operates as a funding ecosystem participant for shelters like HSU rather than a direct competitor.
• Maddie's Fund: National family foundation focused on achieving a no-kill nation through grants to shelters and veterinary programs. Acts as a programmatic funder in the same ecosystem rather than direct shelter operator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks3 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtiktok.com/@utahhumane
• YouTubeyoutube.com/utahhumane
• Facebookfacebook.com/utahhumane
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/humane-society-of-utah
• Instagraminstagram.com/utahhumane
• TikToktiktok.com/@utahhumane

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 Utah Humane Society