Windsor/Essex County Humane Society

What Windsor/Essex County Humane Society does

The Windsor/Essex County Humane Society (WECHS) is a registered Canadian charity founded in 1926 that operates an open-admission animal shelter, adoption services, welfare programs, and a veterinary clinic serving Windsor and Essex County, Ontario. It is headquartered at 1375 Provincial Road, Windsor, and delivers the full animal welfare stack: adoption placement (dogs, cats, small animals, rabbits) through on-site and off-site channels; a high-volume spay/neuter clinic opened in 2011 that has performed over 60,000 surgeries; animal control services under contract with the City of Windsor and Town of Amherstburg; a lost-and-found and licensing service; community cat TNR (trap-neuter-return) and Return to Field programs; emergency boarding for pets of domestic violence survivors in partnership with Hiatus House; a pet food bank distributed through Feeding Windsor Essex, Kids First, and Downtown Mission; end-of-life and cremation services; and a humane education program. The organization pairs every animal with veterinary care, vaccinations, microchipping, spay/neuter, flea treatment, and behavioral assessment before adoption, supported by a Good Home Guarantee and specialized programs (Signature Pets, Hidden Gems, Underdogs, Special Paws, Working Whiskers) for hard-to-place animals.

The technology stack is conventional non-profit infrastructure: a WordPress-based website with online adoption applications refreshed twice daily, DonorPerfect for donation processing, Constant Contact for email marketing (Fur the Record e-newsletter, Paw Print print newsletter), Sniffspot for dog park bookings, Trupanion for adopter pet insurance trials, 24PetWatch for microchip registration, and Facebook/Instagram/YouTube/LinkedIn/TikTok channels for community engagement. There is no proprietary software, no AI/ML capability, and no app product.

WECHS is funded through a diversified mix of donation streams (one-time gifts, monthly recurring as low as $10, planned giving/bequests, tribute donations, vehicle donations via Donate a Car Canada, securities, Facebook fundraisers), adoption and admin fees (e.g., $210 large dogs, $375 small dogs/puppies, $100 cats, $150 kittens, with $30 admin fees and surcharges), surrender and reclaim fees, clinic revenue, cremation services ($30-$485), merchandise (plush toys at $30, granite commemorative bricks at $250, kennel plaques at $500-$750), dog park rental ($9 USD/hour via Sniffspot), and tiered wedding donation packages ($150 to $10/guest). The organization is governed by a board of directors, employs 51-100 staff, is celebrating its centenary in 2026, and is led by an executive team managing operations across nine Essex County municipalities (Windsor, Amherstburg, Essex, Tecumseh, LaSalle, Lakeshore, Kingsville, Leamington, and Tecumseh).

Name

Windsor/Essex County Humane Society

Legal name

Windsor/Essex County Humane Society

Website

https://windsorhumane.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Windsor/Essex County Humane Society is a 100-year-old registered Canadian charity operating an open-admission animal shelter, adoption services, a high-volume spay/neuter clinic, and municipal animal control contracts for Windsor and Essex County, Ontario, funded through donations, adoption fees, and veterinary services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Welfare Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Low-Cost & Community Veterinary Clinics (HLAMAAAE), Veterinary Charity Clinics & Medical Aid (BPAGAIAD)

Keywords

• Animal shelter services
• Animal welfare programs
• Veterinary clinic services
• Pet adoption services
• Community animal care

Headquarters

HQ city

Windsor

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations: Primary revenue stream including one-time donations, monthly recurring donations (as little as $10/month), planned giving/bequests, tribute donations, vehicle donations via Donate a Car Canada, securities donations, and Facebook fundraisers. Registered charity number: 11890 2055 RR0001.
2. Adoption Fees: Fees vary by animal type: Large dogs $210, Small dogs/Puppies $375, Cats $100, Kittens $150, Rabbits $20, Pocket Pets vary. All subject to $30 non-refundable admin fee. Additional surcharges may apply for 'Adoption Diva' high-demand animals.
3. Surrender Fees: Fees charged when owners surrender pets: Dog $60, Cat $30, Rabbits $10, Reptile $50, Pot belly pig $100. Fees reduced upon request for financial hardship.
4. Lost Pet Reclaim Fees: Fees for reclaiming lost pets: Dogs $75 claim fee (waived if licensed) plus $25/day boarding; Cats $25 claim fee.
5. Pet Cremation Services: Communal cremation: small animals $30, cats $100, dogs $150. Private cremation ranges $300-$485 depending on pet weight and urn selection.
6. Merchandise Sales: Sale of plush toy replicas of shelter animals (Justice and Hope) at $30 each or 2 for $50. Available in-shelter and at events.
7. Commemorative Bricks and Plaques: Black granite commemorative bricks for dog park at $250 (not tax receipt eligible). Kennel plaques at $500 (2 lines) or $750 (4 lines with image).
8. Dog Park Rental: Happy Tails Dog Park available for rent via Sniffspot at $9 USD/hour for first dog, 50% off additional dogs.
9. Wedding Donation Packages: Tiered wedding donation packages: Paws & Promises (min $150), Love Unleashed ($2.50/guest, min $250), Meow & Forever ($5.00/guest, min $500), Fur-Ever After ($10.00/guest, min $750). Plus 'Kissing Box' option.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Open-admission animal shelter providing pet adoption services (dogs, cats, small animals, rabbits) across physical and off-site partner locations, plus a high-volume low-cost spay/neuter veterinary clinic. Also delivers animal control services for municipalities, lost and found pet reunification, emergency boarding, end-of-life and cremation services, pet food bank support, and community humane education programs in Windsor/Essex County, Ontario.

Product overview

The Windsor/Essex County Humane Society operates as an animal shelter and welfare organization offering a portfolio of interconnected services centered on animal adoption, veterinary care, and community support. The core offerings include animal adoption services (with specialized programs like Signature Pets, Hidden Gems, and Community Cats TNR) and a full-service veterinary clinic providing spay/neuter surgeries and wellness care. Supporting services include the Pet Food Bank, Pumpkin Fund for extraordinary medical care, Happy Tails Dog Park, Emergency Boarding for crisis situations, and merchandise (commemorative bricks, plaques, and plush toys). The organization integrates with third-party platforms including Sniffspot for dog park bookings, DonorPerfect for donations, Constant Contact for email marketing, Trupanion for pet insurance, and 24PetWatch for microchipping services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Signature Pets Program: Program for pets with medical conditions, behavioural concerns, or those waiting extended time for adoption
• Hidden Gems
• Underdogs
• Overlooked
• Working Whiskers
• Special Paws
• Pumpkin Fund
• Plush Toys (Justice and Hope)
• Happy Tails Dog Park

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,225 animals adopted in 2023
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PetSmartcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOff-site adoption partner with cats available at PetSmart Walker and Dougall locations in Windsor.
• Pet Valu (Multiple Locations)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOff-site adoption partner with cats and small animals available at multiple Pet Valu locations across Windsor/Essex County.
• Wings Rehabilitation CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLicensed wildlife rehabilitation centre accepting sick/injured wild animals transferred from WECHS for specialized care.
• Erie Wildlife RescuecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWildlife rescue organization providing rehabilitation services for sick/injured wildlife from Essex County.
• Hiatus HousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership spanning more than a decade providing emergency boarding for pets of domestic violence survivors, allowing women fleeing abuse to have safe housing for their pets.
• Feeding Windsor EssexminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPet food distribution partner. Primary location at 999 Drouillard, Windsor (New Song Church) open Saturdays 2pm-5pm; also at 395 University Ave East for WECHC residents Wednesdays 12pm-1:30pm.
• Kids First Pet Food BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPet food distribution partner at 900 Howard Ave, Windsor. Open Mondays & Fridays 1:30pm-4pm. Available once monthly with ID.
• Downtown MissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPet food distribution partner at 875 Ouellette Avenue, Windsor. Pet food available Tuesday-Friday 10am-3pm subject to mission policies.
• TrupanionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPet insurance provider offering 30-day free trial to adopters at time of adoption.
• Royal CaninminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPet food provider including food samples and coupons with adoptions. Pilot program delivering free bags of dog/cat food to adopters' homes after adoption.
• Ren's Pets WindsorminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupply coupon provided to adopters for pet supplies at Ren's Pets locations.
• Donate a Car CanadaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVehicle donation partner accepting car, RV, boat, motorcycle donations. Provides free towing and issues tax receipts after sale/recycling.
• SniffspotminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPlatform for booking Happy Tails Dog Park rentals at $9 USD/hour.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Montreal SPCA: Canadian humane society with shelter, veterinary clinic, and advocacy programs. Directly comparable as a bilingual Canadian animal welfare organization of similar scope.
• Calgary Humane Society: Alberta-based shelter offering adoption, veterinary services, and community programs. Comparable mid-sized humane society with shelter + clinic model.
• Ottawa Humane Society: Ontario-based shelter offering adoption, veterinary services, and animal control contracts. Comparable scope including municipal contracts and clinic operations.
• Toronto Humane Society: Large Ontario-based animal shelter offering adoption, veterinary clinic, and surrender services. Closest functional peer — same province, similar shelter + clinic + community education model.
• Hamilton/Burlington SPCA: Regional Ontario humane society operating shelter, adoption, and community programs. Comparable scale and service mix to WECHS.

Broad incumbents

• BC SPCA: Largest animal welfare organization in Western Canada operating 40+ branches with shelters, clinics, and cruelty investigations. Comparable multi-service model though at significantly larger scale.
• ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals): US-based national animal welfare organization with shelter, veterinary, and advocacy operations. Provides industry comparison as a much larger-scale US analog to Canadian humane societies.
• Ontario SPCA and Humane Society: Provincial animal welfare organization operating shelters and animal centers across Ontario. Most direct comparable given shared Ontario jurisdiction, shelter operations, and provincial advocacy role.

Others

• PetSmart Charities of Canada: Major Canadian animal welfare funder providing grants to shelters including WECHS ($35K grant). Ecosystem participant as a funder and adoption partner (PetSmart locations host cats).
• Humane Canada: National federation representing Canadian humane societies and SPCAs. Industry body and convener — relevant as the umbrella organization linking WECHS to peer shelters.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/Windsoressexhumane
• Facebookfacebook.com/windsorhumane
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/windsor-essex-county-humane-society
• Instagraminstagram.com/windsorhumane
• TikToktiktok.com/@windsorhumane
• Xx.com/windsorhumane

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Windsor/Essex County Humane Society