TAILS Humane Society

What TAILS Humane Society does

TAILS Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal welfare organization (EIN 36-4334785) founded in 1999 and headquartered at 2250 Barber Greene Road in DeKalb, Illinois. It operates as a managed-admission, no-kill animal shelter serving DeKalb County and Northern Illinois, caring for more than 2,200 displaced pets annually. The organization recorded 2,052 intakes, 1,923 adoptions, and a 95% Live Release Rate in 2025. Its core service portfolio spans animal adoption (dogs, cats, and small critters), a low-cost public-facing Spay/Neuter Clinic, dog training at a 3,500+ sq ft Training Center, microchipping, lost-and-found pet reunification, and pet surrender services. Beyond direct shelter operations, Tails runs a suite of community programs including a long-running Transport Program (1,000+ pets/year from southern shelters via ASPCA and Pedigree partnerships), a Foster Program, a Working Cat Program, a Dog's Day Out program, Safe Pets (boarding for pets of domestic violence victims and the unhoused), and HomeBuddies (pet support for Meals on Wheels clients).

The organization's revenue model is 100% donor- and service-fee-funded, with no institutional investment, private equity, or venture capital backing disclosed. Income is generated from adoption fees (kittens $175, adult cats $75, puppies $450, adult dogs $350, with discounted tiers for seniors and long-term residents), spay/neuter clinic fees ($50–$350 depending on species, gender, and weight), dog training classes ($125, with a $20 alumni coupon), microchipping ($25), and an extensive fundraising apparatus that includes monthly giving (Animal Ally), tiered corporate sponsorships (Platinum/Gold/Silver), planned giving (Smart Giving), kennel sponsorship, wish list drives, and recurring annual events such as Mutt Strut (5K/1-mile walk), Tails on Tap Bar Crawl, and Online Pawction. The organization notes that service fees cover only ~50% of the operating budget, with the remainder covered by donations, grants, and fundraising.

Tails holds a four-star Charity Navigator rating, a Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency (2026), and Socially Conscious Animal Welfare Organization designation, and maintains strategic partnerships with Petco Love, Bissell Pet Foundation, ASPCA, Safe Passage, Hope Haven, and Voluntary Action Center. Governance is provided by a Board of Directors led by President Tia Anderson and Executive Director Michelle Groeper, supported by a small management team covering operations, foster/transport, volunteer/outreach, events/marketing, animal care, and finance.

Name

TAILS Humane Society

Legal name

Tails Humane Society

Website

https://tailshumanesociety.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Short description

TAILS Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) managed-admission, no-kill animal shelter in DeKalb, Illinois that cares for 2,200+ displaced pets annually through adoption, low-cost spay/neuter, dog training, transport, and community support programs, funded entirely by donations and service fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Shelter Services

NAICS

Veterinary Services (54194), Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spay/Neuter & Population Control Programs (BPAGAIAE), Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership) (BPAGAIAK)

Keywords

• Animal shelter services
• Pet adoption programs
• Low-cost spay neuter
• Dog obedience training
• Animal welfare nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Dekalb

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

TAILS Humane Society is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) animal shelter that rehomes dogs and cats through adoption and transport programs. It also operates a low-cost spay/neuter clinic, provides dog obedience training, microchipping services, and runs the P.E.T.S. community support program (financial aid, doghouse building, pet food pantry). The organization is funded 100% by individual donors, corporate sponsors, adoption fees, and service fees, with no government grant funding.

Product overview

Tails Humane Society operates as a managed admission animal shelter offering a portfolio of interconnected animal welfare services. The core service portfolio includes animal adoption, a low-cost Spay/Neuter Clinic, dog training classes, foster and transport programs, working cat placement, and community support programs (Safe Pets, HomeBuddies). The organization is 100% donor and service fee funded, supported by multiple giving programs including monthly giving (Animal Ally), corporate partnerships, sponsorship opportunities, planned giving, and wish list drives. Annual fundraising events include Mutt Strut, Tails on Tap Bar Crawl, and Online Pawction. Volunteer programs provide workforce for shelter operations while community resources support pet owners with housing, veterinary care, and crisis assistance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• P.E.T.S. Community Support Program
• Pet Transport and Rescue Partnership Program
• DeKalb County Animal Control Partnership Services
• Pet Adoption Program Adoption program rehoming dogs and cats from the shelter into approved homes, with adoption fees varying by animal age, species, and length of stay; more than 1,000 animals are adopted annually.
• Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic
• Microchipping Service
• Dog Obedience Training Classes

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,052 total animal intake in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered major, regional, core, event sponsor and event.

• Petco LovemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPetco Love Foundation partnership. Petco Love is a national nonprofit animal welfare organization working to end pet homelessness. Logo displayed on website indicating support.
• Candid (Charity Intelligence)majorOthersCandid Platinum Seal of Transparency 2026 - recognition for charity transparency and accountability.
• Charity NavigatormajorOthersFour-star Charity Navigator rating - indicates strong financial health, accountability, and transparency.
• Bissell Pet FoundationmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerBissell Pet Foundation logo displayed on website indicating partnership/support for shelter animals.
• Sycamore Chamber of CommerceregionalGTM or Marketing PartnerChamber of commerce partnership for business networking and community engagement in Sycamore, IL area.
• DeKalb Chamber of CommerceregionalGTM or Marketing PartnerChamber of commerce partnership for business networking and community engagement in DeKalb, IL area.
• ASPCAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASPCA and Pedigree featured as transport program partners. ASPCA is a national animal welfare organization. Transport program began in 2003 and has rescued thousands of animals from overcrowded southern shelters.
• Hope HavencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Hope Haven for Safe Pets Program - provides temporary shelter for pets of clients on road to settling in pet-friendly accommodations during homelessness.
• Safe PassagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Safe Passage for Safe Pets Program - provides temporary shelter for pets of domestic violence victims while owners rebuild their lives.
• Voluntary Action Center (VAC) Meals on WheelscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHomeBuddies Program partnership - VAC volunteers deliver pet food to Meals on Wheels clients. HomeBuddies Coordinator provides periodic pet care advice and helps schedule vet visits with Tails veterinarian.
• Byron Bankevent sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarvelous Mutt sponsor for Mutt Strut 2026 event.
• Hy-Veeevent sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerIn-Kind sponsor for Mutt Strut 2026 event.
• Andale Taco ShopeventGTM or Marketing PartnerDine Out partner for July 8th fundraiser - 15% of purchases donated when mentioning TAILS.

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• PAWS Chicago: A large Illinois-based no-kill shelter operating adoption, spay/neuter, and community programs in the Chicago region. Directly comparable managed-admission, no-kill, multi-service shelter model serving a similar Illinois pet-owner demographic.
• Anti-Cruelty Society: Chicago-based 501(c)(3) offering adoption, veterinary, and training services with a long history. Highly comparable mission and service mix (shelter + clinic + behavior/training) within Illinois.
• Tree House Humane Society: Chicago-area adoption and low-cost spay/neuter clinic operator with a no-kill philosophy. Closely aligned operating model combining shelter intake, public-access veterinary services, and community education.
• Anderson Animal Shelter: Northern Illinois humane society providing adoption, low-cost veterinary care, and community programs. Comparable suburban Illinois scale and multi-service shelter structure.

Regional players

• Naperville Area Humane Society: Regional Illinois shelter serving DuPage and surrounding counties with adoption and clinic services. Comparable suburban Illinois footprint and donor-funded operating model.
• DuPage County Animal Services: Government-run animal control and adoption operation serving DuPage County, IL. Comparable regional shelter footprint with overlapping pet-owner audience in the greater Chicago area.

Broad incumbents

• Humane Society of Missouri: Long-established regional humane society operating multiple shelters, a low-cost clinic, and training programs in Missouri. Comparable service breadth but at significantly larger multi-site scale.
• ASPCA: National animal welfare organization operating shelter, spay/neuter, and community programs. Comparable mission scope at national scale; also an actual partner via Tails' transport program.
• Best Friends Animal Society: National no-kill advocacy and shelter operator running adoption, transport, and community programs. Comparable no-kill philosophy and transport/rescue model but at significantly larger national scale.

Others

• BISSELL Pet Foundation: National animal-welfare grantmaker supporting shelter adoptions, transport, and pet food banks. Tails is a partner/grant recipient; functionally an enabling funder rather than a direct shelter competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/tailsdekalb
• Facebookfacebook.com/tailshumanesociety
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tails-humane-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 TAILS Humane Society