Waggytail Rescue
Waggytail Rescue is a 501(c)(3) volunteer-run animal rescue in NYC that rehabs and rehomes small dogs and cats through a foster network, sourcing from high-risk shelters across six U.S. states and Tijuana. It serves NYC-area adopters, foster families, flight chaperones, and individual donors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersWest New York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Waggytail Rescue does
Waggytail Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal welfare organization founded in 2004 by Holly DeRito and headquartered in New York City. It operates a foster-based rescue and adoption program focused on small dogs and cats, with no physical shelter — animals are cared for by volunteer foster families throughout the NYC area while awaiting adoption. The organization sources animals from high-risk shelters across Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, San Diego, Florida, and Tijuana through an integrated transport network that includes flight chaperones carrying dogs in-cabin on commercial flights and an annual van transport from the West Coast via a partnership with Born Again Animal Rescue.
Revenue is generated through a mix of one-time adoption fees ($175 for single cats to $550 for puppies under one year), a tiered monthly recurring donation program (WaggyPal, $10–$500/month), merchandise sales, and peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns. Adoption applications and foster matching are managed through the third-party Petstablished platform, while donations, merchandise, and event fundraising run through Zeffy; the public website is hosted on Wix. There is no proprietary technology, no AI/ML capability, and no disclosed API or integration layer.
The customer base consists entirely of individual pet adopters in the NYC metro, volunteer foster families, volunteer flight chaperones traveling from West Coast and Texas origins, and individual donors. The organization has formalized ecosystem partnerships with Best Friends Animal Society and Petco Love, and reports since-2015 cumulative impact of 4,465 adoptions, 3,676 dogs rescued, 1,060 cats rescued, and 190+ transports. The operation is entirely volunteer-run with no paid staff and no external equity or institutional funding.
Waggytail Rescue firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Waggytail Rescue
- Legal name
- Waggytail Rescue
- Website
- https://waggytailrescue.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Waggytail Rescue is a 501(c)(3) volunteer-run animal rescue in NYC that rehabs and rehomes small dogs and cats through a foster network, sourcing from high-risk shelters across six U.S. states and Tijuana. It serves NYC-area adopters, foster families, flight chaperones, and individual donors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Waggytail Rescue industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Animal Rescue Services
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Rescue, Transport & Emergency Animal Response (BPAGAIAB), Foster & Volunteer Network Programs (BPAGAIAF)
Keywords
Where Waggytail Rescue is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- West New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Waggytail Rescue business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individual supporters, including one-time and monthly recurring gifts through the WaggyPal program. The organization relies on generous donations to rescue and rehabilitate animals.
- Adoption Fees: Fees charged for dog and cat adoptions ranging from $175 for single cats to $550 for puppies under 1 year.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise through Zeffy platform.
- Event Fundraising: Annual peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns including the West Coast Mission transport fundraising with a $25,000 goal.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Puppy adoption (under 1 year): $550 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Adult dog adoption (1-8 years): $450 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Senior dog adoption (9+ years): $325 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Kitten pair adoption: $300 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Single cat adoption: $175 |
| Subscription | Monthly | WaggyPal Monthly Donation Program |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Waggytail Rescue product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Waggytail Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes small dogs and cats pulled from high-risk shelters in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, San Diego, Florida, and Tijuana. The organization operates without a physical shelter, relying on a network of NYC foster volunteers to provide temporary care, veterinary services (microchipping, vaccinations, spay/neuter), and behavioral assessment before adoption. It further bridges geographic gaps between oversupplied shelter regions and high-demand NYC adopters through flight chaperone and annual West Coast van transport programs.
Product overview
Waggytail Rescue operates as a single, unified animal rescue service centered on the rehabilitation and rehoming of small dogs and other animals. The core offering consists of animal rescue and adoption services, supported by an integrated network of programs including a Foster Program for temporary animal care, a Foster-to-Adopt Program for trial adoptions with first-priority commitment, a Flight Chaperone Program enabling volunteer air transport of rescue animals, and an annual West Coast Mission conducting long-distance ground and air transports. Additional revenue-generating programs include the WaggyPal monthly giving program and general donation/wishlist services for supply support. The organization is entirely volunteer-run and does not maintain a physical shelter.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Primary service involving the rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming of small dogs and cats, sourced from high-risk shelters in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, San Diego, Florida, and Tijuana. Operates without a physical shelter, relying on a NYC foster volunteer network for veterinary care, behavioral assessment, and socialization.
- Adoption Services Facilitates adoption of rescued dogs and cats to NYC-area adopters through an online application, review, meet-and-greet, and transfer agreement. Adoption fees range from $175 for a single cat to $550 for a puppy under 1 year, and include microchip registration, age-appropriate vaccines, and spay/neuter.
- Foster Program Volunteer-based foster program where approved NYC fosters provide temporary homes for rescued animals during rehabilitation and adoption transition, typically lasting 2 weeks to a month. Foster parents receive training, supplies, and community support, and handle feeding, exercise, socialization, medication, and basic training.
- Foster-to-Adopt Program Allows potential adopters to foster an animal directly from transport or shelter with first priority to adopt, with a 7-10 day decision period after the 3-day decompression period for the adopter to confirm commitment.
- Flight Chaperone Program Volunteer program enabling individuals flying from Los Angeles, Dallas, or San Diego to NYC to transport rescue dogs in-cabin using airline-approved carriers provided by Waggytail Rescue, with a minimum 3 days advance notice requirement.
- West Coast Mission Annual transport mission bringing dogs from the West Coast (through Born Again Animal Rescue in San Diego) to NYC foster homes and adopters, paired with peer-to-peer fundraising via Zeffy to cover transport and medical costs.
- WaggyPal Monthly Giving Program Monthly donor program providing ongoing financial support for rescued animals, with donation tiers ranging from $10 to $500 that fund specific supplies, medical care, and transport costs (e.g., $10 martingale collar, $25 preventatives, $75 core vaccinations, $150 vet visit or freedom ride, $500 dental or echocardiogram).
- Donation and Wishlist Services Accepts tax-deductible monetary donations through Zeffy, Venmo, and PayPal, along with in-kind supply donations via Amazon and Chewy wishlists to support foster animals with food, supplies, and medical care. Also includes branded merchandise sales through Zeffy.
Quantifiable outcome
- 3,676 dogs rescued since 2015
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Waggytail Rescue
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Waggytail Rescue technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Waggytail Rescue partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Best Friends Animal SocietycoreWaggytail Rescue is recognized as a Network Partner through Best Friends Animal Society's NYC lifesaving partnerships program, connecting with the broader animal welfare community.
- Petco LovecorePartner organization supported by Petco Love for animal welfare and rescue initiatives.
- Born Again Animal RescuecoreSan Diego-based rescue organization and primary partner for Waggytail's annual West Coast transport missions. Waggytail rescues animals from Born Again to transport to NYC.
- Animal Care Center of New York City (ACC)coreNYC's municipal shelter where founder Holly DeRito began her rescue journey in 2004. The organization's origin point for building the rescue network.
- Texas Rescue NetworkminorRescue partners in Texas who facilitate transport of dogs to Waggytail, including animals rescued following Hurricane Harvey.
- Louisiana Rescue PartnersminorRegional rescue network partners in Louisiana supporting animal transfers to Waggytail Rescue.
- Alabama Rescue PartnersminorRegional rescue network partners in Alabama supporting animal transfers to Waggytail Rescue.
- Florida Rescue PartnersminorRegional rescue network partners in Florida supporting animal transfers to Waggytail Rescue.
- Tijuana Rescue NetworkminorInternational rescue network partners in Tijuana supporting animal transfers to Waggytail Rescue.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Waggytail Rescue competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Austin Pets Alive!: Texas-based foster- and adoption-driven rescue whose southern pipeline model parallels Waggytail's TX sourcing; relevant as a comparable operating playbook for high-volume, foster-led urban rescues.
- Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC): Municipal open-intake shelter serving NYC where Waggytail's founder began her rescue work; directly comparable as the primary NYC dog/cat intake source feeding Waggytail's pipeline.
- Second Chance Rescue NYC: NYC dog rescue also importing from southern and southwestern shelters for local adoption; closely comparable foster/transport hybrid model targeting the same NYC adopter base.
- Muddy Paws Rescue: NYC-based foster-driven dog rescue that pulls from high-kill shelters in the South and adopts out locally; closest direct peer given shared foster model, NYC adoption market, and small-dog focus.
- Born Again Animal Rescue: San Diego-based rescue that is Waggytail's primary West Coast source partner; directly comparable as an upstream rescue supplying Waggytail's annual West Coast transport mission.
Broad incumbents
- Best Friends Animal Society: National no-kill leader that recognizes Waggytail as a Network Partner; operates the NYC lifesaving coalition that channels funding, animals, and brand reach to smaller rescues like Waggytail.
- Humane Society of the United States: Largest US animal welfare organization with nationwide rescue, advocacy, and shelter programs; sets policy and donor landscape that influences every independent rescue including Waggytail.
- Bideawee: Legacy NYC animal welfare nonprofit offering adoption, veterinary, and humane education services; comparable as an established NYC rescue/adoption operator but with brick-and-mortar facilities and paid staff.
- Petco Love: National pet welfare foundation that funds and partners with rescues including Waggytail; comparable as a funder/fiscal sponsor across the rescue ecosystem Waggytail operates within.
- ASPCA: Headquartered in NYC and historically the dominant animal welfare organization in the US; competes for NYC adopters, donors, and media attention with all local rescues including Waggytail.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Waggytail Rescue social profiles
Digital presenceWaggytail Rescue financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Waggytail Rescue leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Waggytail Rescue funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Waggytail Rescue M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Waggytail Rescue
What does Waggytail Rescue do?
Waggytail Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes small dogs and cats pulled from high-risk shelters in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, San Diego, Florida, and Tijuana. The organization operates without a physical shelter, relying on a network of NYC foster volunteers to provide temporary care, veterinary services (microchipping, vaccinations, spay/neuter), and behavioral assessment before adoption. It further bridges geographic gaps between oversupplied shelter regions and high-demand NYC adopters through flight chaperone and annual West Coast van transport programs.
Is Waggytail Rescue a public or private company?
Waggytail Rescue is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Waggytail Rescue founded?
Waggytail Rescue was founded in 2004. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Waggytail Rescue based?
Waggytail Rescue is headquartered in West New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Waggytail Rescue make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations are the primary driver. The others are adoption Fees, merchandise Sales and event Fundraising.
Who are Waggytail Rescue's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Austin Pets Alive!, Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC), Second Chance Rescue NYC, Muddy Paws Rescue and Born Again Animal Rescue. Broad incumbents are Best Friends Animal Society, Humane Society of the United States, Bideawee, Petco Love and ASPCA.
Does Waggytail Rescue have an API?
No public API is recorded for Waggytail Rescue.
What industry is Waggytail Rescue in?
Waggytail Rescue's product category is Animal Rescue Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAIAA, Animal Shelters & Adoption Services, with a secondary code of BPAGAIAB, Rescue, Transport & Emergency Animal Response. Its SIC code is 8300.