The Cleveland Animal Protective League

Name

The Cleveland Animal Protective League

Legal name

Cleveland Animal Protective League

Website

https://clevelandapl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1913

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Welfare Services

NAICS

Veterinary Services (54194), Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (812910)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Veterinary Charity Clinics & Medical Aid (BPAGAIAD), Animal Cruelty Prevention, Investigation & Humane Law Enforcement (BPAGAIAG), Behavioral Medicine & Training-Integrated Veterinary Services (HLAMAAAI)

Keywords

• Animal sheltering services
• Pet adoption programs
• Veterinary clinic services
• Animal welfare programs
• Humane investigations

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: General donations from individuals supporting the organization's mission. Donors can make one-time or recurring gifts, with options to cover transaction fees.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Support from corporate sponsors including Hill's Pet Nutrition (preferred partner), PetSmart Charities, Petco Love, Maddie's Fund, and others.
3. Adoption Fees: Fees collected from animal adoptions ranging from $60 for adult cats to $250 for puppies, covering spay/neuter, initial vaccines, microchipping, and other services.
4. Animal Admissions/Surrender Fees: Small fee charged to surrender animals to the shelter, helping offset operational expenses. Fees are doubled for out-of-county residents.
5. Community Pet Clinic Services: Revenue from affordable veterinary services including spay/neuter procedures, vaccinations, dentistry, and end-of-life care. Prices range from $15 for vaccines to $220 for large dog spay procedures.
6. Special Events: Annual signature events including Fur Ball Gala (November 2026 at InterContinental Hotel), WKYC Fur-Get-Me-Not Telethon (March 2026), and Dick Goddard APL Telethon on Fox 8 (September 2026).
7. Planned Giving and Estate Gifts: Bequests, wills, charitable remainder trusts, and life insurance beneficiary designations. Members recognized in Helen King Brydle Faithful Friends Society.
8. Cage Sponsorships: Annual sponsorship of animal cages: Dog Cage Sponsorships $1,800/year, Cat Cage Sponsorships $1,500/year, Small Mammal Sponsorships $1,300/year.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Cleveland Animal Protective League is an independent nonprofit animal shelter and resource center that provides animal adoptions, foster care, low-cost veterinary services, and community pet retention programs for homeless, at-risk, and surrendered animals. Core revenue-generating services include animal adoption placements, a full-service Community Pet Clinic, an Animal Welfare Clinic for partner shelters, and specialized programs such as Trap-Neuter-Return, Project CARE, and the Crisis Safety Net.

Product overview

The Cleveland Animal Protective League is an independent nonprofit animal welfare organization operating as a single integrated platform with multiple interconnected programs rather than a modular product architecture. The core offering centers on animal adoption services (dogs, cats, small mammals, and barn animals) supported by complementary programs including the Foster Care Program, Crisis Safety Net Program (temporary pet housing during owner crises), and Dog's Day Out Cleveland (field trip enrichment). Veterinary services are delivered through two distinct clinic offerings: the Community Pet Clinic (direct public veterinary care including spay/neuter, vaccines, dentistry, and end-of-life services) and the Animal Welfare Clinic (low-cost spay/neuter for other shelters and rescue organizations). Additional programs include Project CARE (community retention support with food pantry and wellness clinics), Trap-Neuter-Return Program (feral cat population control), Humane Investigations (animal cruelty enforcement), Behavior Help (training resources), Lost Pet Resources, and Animal Admissions (rehoming intake services). The organization generates revenue through donation programs (general, recurring, memorial, planned giving, cage sponsorship) and signature events (Fur Ball Gala, telethons), with proceeds funding the Second Chance Program for medical treatment of special-needs animals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Animal Adoption Services Facilitates placement of homeless dogs, cats, and small mammals into permanent homes. Adoption includes spay/neuter, vaccines, microchipping, flea treatment, and a free follow-up veterinary exam.
• Community Pet Clinic Full-service veterinary clinic offering vaccines, spay/neuter, dentistry, general surgery, and end-of-life care to the general public at affordable prices to maintain the human-animal bond.
• Animal Welfare Clinic Low-cost spay/neuter services provided to other area shelters, 501(c)(3) humane societies, rescue groups, and feral cat caregivers to reduce community pet overpopulation.
• Foster Care Program Temporary in-home care program providing shelter animals a break from the shelter environment until they are ready for adoption, freeing shelter resources.
• Crisis Safety Net Program Temporary crisis foster care (up to 90 days) for pets whose owners face domestic violence, homelessness, or hospitalization, keeping families together with their pets.
• Project CARE Community Animal Retention Effort providing low-cost spay/neuter, emergency medical assistance, pet food pantry, wellness clinics, and resource referrals for Cleveland residents facing financial hardship.
• Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) Program Humane population control program for feral and free-roaming cats that includes trapping, vaccination, spay/neuter surgery, ear-tipping, and return to original location.
• Humane Investigations Animal cruelty investigation and enforcement service. Officers are empowered to enforce Ohio animal protection laws within Cuyahoga County, investigating approximately 1,500 cases of neglect, abuse, and improper animal care annually.
• Second Chance Program Medical care fund providing advanced veterinary treatment for sick, injured, and special-needs animals, enabling care for animals with complex medical conditions requiring expensive interventions.
• Signature Fundraising Events Annual fundraising events including the Fur Ball Gala (November 2026, InterContinental Hotel Cleveland), WKYC Fur-Get-Me-Not Telethon (March 2026), and Dick Goddard APL Telethon on Fox 8 (September 2026).
• Animal Admissions Rehoming services for pets whose owners can no longer care for them. Includes appointment-based intake, surrender fee (doubled for out-of-county residents), and end-of-life care options including euthanasia and cremation.
• Lost Pet Resources Resources for locating lost pets including neighborhood search strategies, Petco Love Lost database matching, microchip verification, and partnerships with local animal services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,211 animals saved by foster care volunteers in 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 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.

• Hill's Pet Nutrition (Science Diet)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreferred partner providing pet food for shelter animals and retail sales at the shelter's Pawtique store. Supports the organization's nutritional needs for animals in care.
• PetSmart CharitiescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSupports adoption events and provides grants for animal care programs. Helps animals find new homes through adoption promotions.
• Petco LovecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartners with APL for lost pet resources through Petco Love Lost platform, helping reunite lost pets with families.
• WKYC StudioscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner for the Fur-Get-Me-Not Telethon, broadcasting live on Channel 3 to raise funds and awareness.
• Fox 8coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner for Dick Goddard's APL Telethon, broadcasting live to raise funds and showcase animals available for adoption.
• PetSupplies PlusminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPet supply retailer partner that supports adoption events and animal welfare initiatives.
• Pet PeopleminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal pet supply retailer supporting APL through donations and adoption promotions.
• La BodegaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal restaurant partner that hosts fundraising events and provides support for APL programs.
• Buy Porch FightminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrand partner supporting APL through charitable giving programs.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Petco Love: Animal welfare foundation funded by Petco that partners with shelters nationwide on adoption and lost-pet reunification. Comparable in mission space and a direct funding/adoption partner of APL.
• Maddie's Fund: Family foundation focused on achieving no-kill status across the U.S. shelter system. Comparable as a no-kill animal welfare funder and grant partner supporting APL's programs.
• PetSmart Charities: Leading funder of animal welfare in North America supporting adoption programs across thousands of shelters. Comparable as an adoption-promotion and grant partner, and a direct supporter of APL.

Broad incumbents

• ASPCA: Large national animal welfare organization providing sheltering, adoption, veterinary, and humane law enforcement services. Comparable mission across multiple verticals but at vastly greater scale and with national fundraising reach.
• Best Friends Animal Society: National no-kill animal welfare nonprofit running adoption, sanctuary, and community programs. Comparable mission and operating model, but at a far larger scale with national reach and broader program portfolio.
• The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS): National animal welfare advocacy and direct-care organization. Comparable mission around animal suffering prevention and sheltering, though HSUS focuses more heavily on advocacy and policy while APL focuses on direct services.

Direct peers

• Portage Animal Protective League: Northeast Ohio humane society and shelter organization operating a similar model of adoptions, spay/neuter, and surrender services in an adjacent county. Directly comparable independent nonprofit shelter.
• Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter: Government-funded animal shelter operating in the same Cuyahoga County/Cleveland service area as APL. Directly comparable as a regional animal shelter and adoption organization serving overlapping populations.

Emerging players

• Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF): Independent nonprofit animal welfare organization offering adoptions, veterinary services, and community programs. Comparable in scope and integrated service model, though operating on the West Coast.

Regional players

• Cleveland Animal Hospital (private clinic): Regional veterinary clinics operating in the same Cleveland geography. Comparable in providing spay/neuter, vaccines, and end-of-life services, though they are for-profit whereas APL's clinic is mission-driven and subsidized.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Cleveland-Animal-Protective-League/29396512928
• Instagraminstagram.com/clevelandapl
• TikToktiktok.com/@clevelandapl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-cleveland-animal-protective-league

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 The Cleveland Animal Protective League