Regional Animal Protection Society

What Regional Animal Protection Society does

Regional Animal Protection Society (RAPS) is a registered Canadian charity (Charity # 890733777RR0001) headquartered in Richmond, British Columbia, operating a multi-department animal welfare ecosystem under a no-kill philosophy. The organization runs Canada's largest cat sanctuary providing lifelong care to 500+ mostly unadoptable cats, a community-owned non-profit veterinary hospital opened in 2018 that is the only rescue-operated vet hospital in Canada and houses the country's only veterinary hyperbaric oxygen therapy facility, an Adoption & Education Centre with an active foster network, three thrift-store social enterprises on Francis Road, Granville Avenue, and Burnaby, and an award-winning Pets & Pickers TV show. Service delivery spans surgery, dentistry, wellness, diagnostics, and advanced modalities such as Class 4 laser light therapy and HBOT, plus subsidized and interest-free-payment veterinary care, a pet food bank, and community assistance programs for low-income households. Operations are powered by a small staff team (11–50 employees) and roughly 200 dedicated volunteers at the sanctuary alone.

The business model is a hybrid non-profit revenue stack: veterinary service fees from the public-facing animal hospital, thrift-store retail sales of donated goods, individual and corporate donations (including tribute cards, $25/month cat sponsorships, corporate sponsorships, legacy giving, securities gifting, matching gifts, DIY fundraisers, and 50/50 lotteries), and grants from foundations such as PetSmart Charities of Canada, Aviva Community Fund, and the Richmond and Gordon/Patricia Gray foundations. In-kind donations come from pet retailers (multiple Bosley's locations, Companion Pet Foods), automotive groups (Applewood, Cowell Auto), and Tourism Richmond. Every dollar of hospital revenue is reinvested into programs. Distribution is direct-to-consumer across physical locations in Richmond, Burnaby, and outreach nodes in Prince George and Lantzville (Vancouver Island), supplemented by digital channels (Keela online fundraising, blog, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, X/Twitter, email newsletter) and an international volunteer pipeline via Global Work & Travel. RAPS also contracted to operate the Richmond City Shelter as a no-kill facility and successfully advocated for Richmond by-laws banning retail puppy sales and mandating spay/neuter.

Name

Regional Animal Protection Society

Legal name

Regional Animal Protection Society

Website

https://rapsbc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Regional Animal Protection Society is a Richmond, BC–based registered charity operating Canada's largest cat sanctuary, a community-owned non-profit veterinary hospital with the country's only veterinary HBOT facility, an adoption centre, and three thrift-store social enterprises, serving general-public and low-income pet owners, donors, and partner rescue organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Welfare and Veterinary Services

NAICS

Veterinary Services (541940), Veterinary Services (54194)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Low-Cost & Community Veterinary Clinics (HLAMAAAE), Companion Animal Veterinary Clinics & Hospitals (AFAEANAA), Sanctuaries & Long-Term Care (Farm, Equine, Exotic) (BPAGAIAH), Animal Shelters & Rescue Operations (AFAEALAB), Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership) (BPAGAIAK)

Keywords

• Animal rescue services
• Companion animal adoption
• Veterinary care services
• No-kill cat sanctuary
• Thrift store retail

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Veterinary Service Fees: Revenue from RAPS Animal Hospital services including wellness exams, surgeries, dental care, and emergency services. All revenues reinvested into programs and services.
2. Thrift Store Sales: Three thrift stores selling donated items, with proceeds funding RAPS initiatives. One store on Francis Road, one on Granville Avenue.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, tribute cards, corporate sponsorships, legacy giving, securities gifting, matching gifts, DIY fundraisers, and 50/50 lotteries.
4. Cat Sponsorship: Monthly sponsorship program for cats at the sanctuary at $25 per month.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Regional Animal Protection Society operates companion-animal rescue, adoption, lifelong sanctuary, community-owned non-profit veterinary care, and community-assistance programs. It also operates three thrift stores whose sales, together with donations, grants, sponsorships, memberships, and service fees, fund its animal-welfare activities.

Product overview

Regional Animal Protection Society (RAPS) operates a multi-faceted animal welfare ecosystem comprising the RAPS Cat Sanctuary (Canada's largest, providing lifelong care to unadoptable cats), the RAPS Animal Hospital (a community-owned non-profit veterinary hospital offering full-spectrum medical services including Canada's only hyperbaric oxygen therapy), the RAPS Adoption & Education Centre (facilitating animal adoptions and providing education), RAPS Thrift Stores (three social enterprise retail locations funding operations), and the Pets & Pickers TV show (award-winning media program). Additional programs include fostering networks, wellness payment plans, VIP membership, and community assistance programs providing pet food and medical supplies to those in need. All services operate under a no-kill philosophy with revenues reinvested directly into animal care programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RAPS Model: Sustainable, community-supported, no-kill animal care approach incorporating shelters, sanctuaries, non-profit vet care, education, advocacy and social enterprise.
• No-Kill Promise
• RAPS No-Kill Promise

Products and services

• RAPS Animal Hospital Community-owned, non-profit veterinary hospital providing affordable companion-animal care, including wellness exams, surgery, dental care, diagnostics, emergency services, Class 4 laser light therapy, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
• RAPS Adoption & Education Centre Adoption service that brings homeless companion animals together with individuals and families seeking to provide permanent homes.
• RAPS Thrift Stores Retail operation with three thrift stores selling donated clothing, gifts, furniture, and home-decor items, with proceeds funding RAPS animal-welfare programs.
• Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) Advanced, non-invasive veterinary treatment offered at RAPS Animal Hospital through Canada’s only veterinary hyperbaric oxygen therapy facility, supporting recovery and outcomes for multiple conditions.
• Cat Sponsorship Monthly sponsorship program through which individuals support cats residing at the RAPS Cat Sanctuary for $25 per month.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500+ cats provided lifelong sanctuary
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Applewood Auto GroupcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 January 2024Community partner providing vehicle donations for 'Win A Car' fundraiser and ongoing support for rescue efforts and community events.
• Cowell Auto GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerExceptional volunteers devoting hours every month to support RAPS animals through regular volunteer engagement.
• Bosley's YaletownminorOthersPet food donations to RAPS Pet Food Bank for community assistance programs.
• Bosley's StevestonminorOthersPet food donations to RAPS Pet Food Bank for community assistance programs.
• Bosley's IronwoodminorOthersPet food donations to RAPS Pet Food Bank for community assistance programs.
• Companion Pet Foods & SuppliesminorOthersPet food donations supporting RAPS Pet Food Bank operations.
• Tourism RichmondminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory support for visitor experience improvements and interpretive signage at Cat Sanctuary.
• Kootenay Animal AssistanceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization rescuing cats from Kootenay region, with RAPS providing support and assistance.
• Global Work & TravelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConnects volunteers with animal welfare sanctuaries worldwide; profits reinvested into programs.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• ASPCA: Major US animal welfare organization combining shelter/rescue support, advocacy, veterinary, and grant-making. Comparable to RAPS in integrated welfare services model, though ASPCA is vastly larger and operates nationally in the US.
• Best Friends Animal Society: Largest US no-kill animal welfare organization operating sanctuaries, adoption, and community programs. Comparable to RAPS in no-kill philosophy and sanctuary-plus-adoption model, but at significantly larger US-based scale.
• Humane Canada: National federation representing Canadian animal welfare organizations. Comparable as the umbrella body connecting SPCAs/humane societies including those comparable to RAPS — an industry-level incumbent rather than direct operator.
• VCA Animal Hospitals: Largest North American network of companion animal veterinary hospitals. Comparable to RAPS Animal Hospital as veterinary clinical service providers serving the same pet-owner segment, though for-profit and at much broader scale.

Others

• PetSmart Charities of Canada: Major Canadian animal welfare grant-maker and RAPS's largest recent capital partner. Comparable as a funder/economic counterpart that shapes RAPS's growth trajectory (accelerator grant), though not an operating peer.

Direct peers

• BC SPCA: British Columbia's primary provincial animal welfare charity, operating shelters, enforcement, and low-cost spay/neuter across BC. Directly comparable to RAPS in mission, geography, and operating model, though BC SPCA has broader scale and municipal contracts.
• Calgary Humane Society: Alberta-based animal welfare charity providing rehoming, sheltering, and pet support services. Directly comparable to RAPS in operating structure (nonprofit, donations, shelter plus community programs) though operating in a different region.
• Vancouver Humane Society: Metro Vancouver animal advocacy and welfare organization focused on education and shelter support. Comparable to RAPS in geography and advocacy mission, though operating with a different service mix (no hospital or thrift stores).
• Edmonton Humane Society: Animal welfare nonprofit offering shelter, adoption, and community programs in Alberta. Comparable as a Canadian no-kill-aligned shelter and adoption nonprofit with similar revenue mix (donations, fees, retail).
• Toronto Humane Society: Large Canadian animal welfare charity operating shelter, adoption, and veterinary services. Comparable to RAPS as a multi-service, donation-funded animal welfare nonprofit — though THS operates in a much larger urban market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/RAPSociety
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@regionalanimalprotectionso2689
• Facebookfacebook.com/RegionalAnimalProtectionSociety
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/richmond-animal-protection-society-raps-
• Instagraminstagram.com/rapsociety

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Regional Animal Protection Society