What Valley Humane Society does

Valley Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal welfare organization founded in 1987 and headquartered in Pleasanton, California. It serves the Tri-Valley region — Pleasanton, Livermore, Dublin, and surrounding communities — operating an integrated portfolio of programs centered on companion animal welfare. Core services include pet adoption from its Pleasanton adoption center, low-cost spay/neuter surgeries at the Phil Scholz Veterinary Surgery Center (capacity up to 140 surgeries per week), affordable vaccinations and microchipping, the AniMeals pet food pantry for low-income guardians, volunteer pet-assisted therapy teams (Canine Comfort), the Home to Home direct-to-guardian rehoming portal, and Humane Education programming for youth. Sub-brands include Phil Scholz Veterinary Surgery Center, AniMeals, Canine Comfort Pet-Assisted Therapy, and Home to Home.

The organization is funded entirely by private donations — including one-time gifts, monthly giving (GEMs), tribute gifts, planned giving, vehicle donations, and workplace/corporate giving — and explicitly receives no government funds or support from national humane organizations such as the ASPCA or HSUS. Earned revenue comes from adoption fees (Adult Dogs $200, Puppies $250, Adult Cats $100, Kittens $125, with a 50% senior discount on pets 7+ years) and veterinary service fees (cat neuter $198, cat spay $258, dog neuter $340–$490, dog spay $365–$590, community cat TNR $100, vaccines $30, microchip $25). Corporate revenue supplements via event sponsorships (Tails at Twilight gala), corporate giving programs, and Canine Comfort visits to enterprise hosts.

The organization employs approximately 49 staff and is led by President & CEO Melanie Sadek. It holds a Charity Navigator 4-star rating, a Candid (formerly Guidestar) Platinum Seal of Transparency, and a 2016 Tri-Valley Hero Award for Community Spirit. Named programmatic partners include Maddie's Fund, Bissell Pet Foundation, and the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association; corporate matching and Canine Comfort hosts include Chevron, Abbott, Sandia, PG&E, Apple, Microsoft, Google, and several Bay Area hospitals and senior living facilities.

Name

Valley Humane Society

Legal name

Valley Humane Society

Website

https://valleyhumane.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Valley Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal welfare organization founded in 1987, serving the Tri-Valley region with pet adoption, low-cost spay/neuter surgery, vaccine services, pet food assistance, therapy dog visits, and humane education programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Welfare Services

NAICS

Veterinary Services (541940), Veterinary Services (54194)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

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 services
• Veterinary surgery services
• Animal welfare programs
• Community pet care

Headquarters

HQ city

Pleasanton

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Valley Humane is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded entirely by private donors, not government funds, tax dollars, or national humane organizations. Receives donations through one-time gifts, monthly giving (GEMs program), tribute gifts, planned giving, vehicle donations, and workplace giving.
2. Adoption Fees: Fees charged for pet adoptions: Adult Dogs $200, Puppies $250, Adult Cats $100, Kittens $125, with 50% discount for seniors 65+ on pets 7+ years.
3. Veterinary Surgery Services: Spay/neuter surgeries and vaccine/microchip services at Phil Scholz Veterinary Surgery Center. Dog spay ranges $365-$590, dog neuter $340-$490, cat spay $258, cat neuter $198, based on weight. Community cat TNR $100. Additional fees for vaccines ($30) and microchipping ($25).
4. Sponsorships and Corporate Partnerships: Corporate sponsorships for programs (Canine Comfort, AniMeals, Humane Education), event sponsorships (Tails at Twilight gala), and corporate giving programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Valley Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal welfare organization that rescues, shelters, and rehomes cats and dogs through its Pleasanton adoption center, and operates the Phil Scholz Veterinary Surgery Center providing affordable spay/neuter (capacity up to 140 surgeries/week), vaccines, microchipping, and community cat TNR services. It supplements these core services with the AniMeals pet food pantry for low-income families, Canine Comfort pet-assisted therapy visits, Home to Home guardian-direct rehoming, and Humane Education programs for youth.

Product overview

Valley Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal welfare organization founded in 1987, providing a portfolio of community programs centered on companion animal rescue and welfare. Its core service portfolio includes Pet Adoption services at its Pleasanton adoption center, the Phil Scholz Veterinary Surgery Center offering spay/neuter and community TNR services, a Vaccine Clinic providing affordable vaccinations and microchipping, and AniMeals, a pet food pantry for low-income families. Supporting programs include Canine Comfort Pet-Assisted Therapy (volunteer therapy dog teams), Home to Home rehoming portal, Humane Education youth programs, and Foster Care. The organization also operates donation programs including Medical Assistance Fund, Seniors for Seniors discounts, and various planned giving options. The portfolio is funded entirely by private donations without government or national organization support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Phil Scholz Veterinary Surgery Center: A veterinary surgery center providing spay/neuter services and affordable veterinary care to the public and shelter/rescue partners.
• AniMeals
• Canine Comfort Pet-Assisted Therapy
• Home to Home

Products and services

• Pet Adoption Pet adoption services connecting cats and dogs with families at the Pleasanton adoption center. All adopted animals are spayed/neutered, microchipped, vaccinated, and vet-checked before going home. Adoption fees: Adult Dogs $200, Puppies $250, Adult Cats $100, Kittens $125, with a 50% discount for seniors 65+ adopting pets 7+ years.
• Phil Scholz Veterinary Surgery Center (Spay/Neuter Services) Spay and neuter surgery services for cats and dogs, plus community cat TNR (trap, neuter, return) for feral cats, with capacity for up to 140 surgeries per week. Dog spay $365-$590, dog neuter $340-$490, cat spay $258, cat neuter $198, community cat TNR $100 based on weight category. Capable of accommodating brachycephalic breeds.
• Vaccine Clinic Affordable pet vaccination services (DAPP, Bordetella, Rabies for dogs; FVRCP, Rabies for cats) and microchipping services at the Phil Scholz Veterinary Surgery Center. Vaccines $30 each, microchipping $25. Booked online via ClinicHQ; not for sick pets or general exams.
• AniMeals Pet Food Pantry Pet food pantry program assisting low-income pet guardians to keep their animals at home by providing free dog and cat food. Distribution in Pleasanton on the first Thursday monthly and in Livermore on the first and third Wednesday monthly.
• Canine Comfort Pet-Assisted Therapy Volunteer therapy dog teams visiting hospitals, schools, libraries, retirement homes, and corporate offices throughout the Bay Area, including partners such as Palo Alto VA Medical Center, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Kaiser, Alameda Hospital, Stanford Children's Health, Highland Hospital, San Leandro Hospital, Chevron, Abbott, Sandia, and PG&E.
• Home to Home Pet Rehoming Direct-to-guardian portal helping pet owners rehome animals without going through a shelter, free for both guardians and adopters. Operated in partnership at home-home.org/shelters/vhs.
• Humane Education Program Youth education programs including school visits, scouts workshops, field trips, and youth project ideas teaching respect for animals and responsible pet ownership.
• Foster Care Program Temporary foster home program expanding shelter capacity for animals awaiting adoption, providing in-home care for animals not yet ready for the adoption floor.
• Medical Assistance Fund Fund providing financial assistance for veterinary care for shelter animals and community pets of seniors and low-income individuals facing financial hardship.
• Seniors for Seniors Program Adoption program offering 50% off adoption fees for pets 7 years and older to seniors 65 and older, supporting senior companionship and senior pet adoptions.
• Donation Programs (Gem Monthly Giving, Tribute, Vehicle, Planned, Workplace) Multiple giving options including tribute gifts, vehicle donation, monthly giving (Valley Humane GEMs), planned giving, workplace giving, and corporate sponsorships. Corporate matching programs available through Apple, Microsoft, Google, Chevron, and United Way (#765180).
• Sponsor a Pet Program Program allowing donors to sponsor the care of adoptable pets awaiting homes and listed on Petfinder's sponsorship portal.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 140 surgeries per week capacity
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Pet Food ExpresscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFriends by Pet Food Express program donates 4% of sales back to Valley Humane Society when customers shop online using Valley Humane's special link.
• BarkBoxminorGTM or Marketing Partner$5 off any BarkBox subscription using Valley Humane's link, and BarkBox donates $15 to Valley Humane Society.
• Catio SpacesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCatio Spaces offers DIY catio plans with 10% donated to an animal welfare organization. Use promo code VHS.
• eScrip/GiveX Community RewardsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipating merchants including Draeger's, Lunardi's, and Mar-Val Food Stores donate a percentage when customers designate Valley Humane Society as their charity.
• Hale Pet DoorsminorGTM or Marketing Partner10% discount for pet adopters (from any shelter) plus matching donation to Valley Humane through Rescue Rewards program.
• Gene's Fine FoodsminorGTM or Marketing PartnereScrip Community Card program where customers can earn up to 5% of purchase designated to Valley Humane Society.
• Darcie Kent VineyardscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership on DogDay wine label; active participation in Wine & Wags and Yappy Hour community events.
• Ruby Hill WinerycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership on Cuvee Dray wine label; participation in community events.
• Maddie's FundcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting business partner providing significant support for animal welfare programs.
• Bissell Pet FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting business partner for animal welfare initiatives.
• The Clorox CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting business partner for organizational support.
• Livermore Valley Winegrowers AssociationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides list of dog-friendly wineries and supports community events like Wine & Wags.
• PetfinderminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPet sponsorship portal for Valley Humane's adoptable animals.
• ClinicHQcoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline booking system for vaccine clinic and spay/neuter surgery appointments.
• Home to HomecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect-to-guardian rehoming platform partner, helping pets stay out of shelters. Valley Humane participates in the platform at home-home.org/shelters/vhs.
• CARS (Car Donation Processor)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerHandles vehicle donation arrangements at no cost; VHS receives portion of resale proceeds.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA: Regional shelter serving the San Francisco Peninsula with adoption, spay/neuter, veterinary care, and community education programs, comparable to Valley Humane's Tri-Valley service mix.
• Berkeley Humane: East Bay regional animal shelter and spay/neuter clinic offering adoption and community programs with a similar nonprofit, donation-funded model to Valley Humane.
• East Bay SPCA: Regional 501(c)(3) animal shelter in the San Francisco Bay Area offering adoption, spay/neuter, and veterinary services, serving a similar donor and adopter demographic as Valley Humane. Several Valley Humane staff have worked at East Bay SPCA, reflecting direct operational comparability.
• Humane Society Silicon Valley: Large Silicon Valley animal welfare nonprofit operating an adoption center, veterinary clinic, and community programs comparable in mission and service mix to Valley Humane.
• Pets in Need: Bay Area no-kill shelter and adoption organization operating with a similar community-focused, donation-funded model in adjacent California counties.
• San Francisco SPCA: Major Bay Area animal welfare nonprofit offering adoption, veterinary care, spay/neuter, and humane education within a similar metropolitan service area. Comparable program portfolio and donor-base composition.
• Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation (Joybound): Contra Costa County-based animal rescue and adoption nonprofit; Valley Humane's Communication Specialist previously worked there, indicating operational and regional overlap.

Others

• Maddie's Fund: National animal welfare foundation providing significant grant funding to community animal welfare organizations including Valley Humane, functioning as a key ecosystem supporter rather than a direct service competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ValleyHumaneSociety
• Facebookfacebook.com/valleyhumanesociety
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/valley-humane-society
• Instagraminstagram.com/valleyhumanesociety/?hl=en

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 Valley Humane Society