Butte Humane Society

What Butte Humane Society does

Butte Humane Society (BHS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal welfare organization operating continuously since 1911 in Chico, California. It functions as a Limited Admission shelter, providing animal adoption services for dogs and cats, low-cost spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations, wellness exams, exotic animal care, and an online pharmacy through its on-site Veterinary Center. Beyond direct animal care, BHS runs a foster care program for sick, under-socialized, or underage animals, a volunteer program (with multiple individuals logging 1,000+ hours annually), a pet food and supply pantry for community members in need, and behavior/training resources.

The organization is funded through a hybrid revenue model spanning one-time and recurring donations (general fund, planned giving, wish list, and the 2026 Giving Society), adoption fees (cats from $55), veterinary clinic service fees (with a 50% deposit model), event fundraising, and corporate sponsorships. Adoption packages include over $500 worth of bundled services (vaccinations, spay/neuter, microchip, vet exam, behavior consultation), and adoption counselors use an education-based matching process rather than pass/fail applications. BHS operates from a main shelter and adoption center at 13391 Garner Ln, a Veterinary Center, and a Cat Adoption Center, with walk-in adoption hours daily from 12pm-4pm and surgery hours Tuesday-Friday.

BHS runs multi-channel community engagement including website content, monthly PawPost newsletter, active Facebook/Instagram/TikTok/X presence, local media partnerships (KRCR), a Business Buddies referral program, and recurring corporate-sponsored adoption events with partners such as Subaru and Royal Aire. The organization has no proprietary technology platform; service delivery is grounded in physical shelter operations, in-house veterinary staff (including a shelter veterinarian and clinic veterinarian), and a deep volunteer and donor ecosystem across Butte County.

Name

Butte Humane Society

Legal name

Butte Humane Society

Website

https://buttehumane.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1911

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Butte Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal welfare organization in Chico, California, operating since 1911 to provide animal adoption, low-cost spay/neuter and veterinary services, foster care, and community pet support across Butte County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Welfare and Veterinary Services

NAICS

Veterinary Services (54194)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Companion Animal Veterinary Clinics & Hospitals (AFAEANAA), Low-Cost & Community Veterinary Clinics (HLAMAAAE), Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership) (BPAGAIAK)

Keywords

• Animal shelter services
• Pet adoption services
• Low-cost spay neuter
• Veterinary clinic services
• Animal welfare nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Chico

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Primary revenue stream including general fund donations, recurring donations, planned giving, wish list items, and 2026 Giving Society program. Donations support life-saving medical care, staffing, food, shelter, and adoption services.
2. Animal Adoptions: Fees charged for pet adoptions including dogs and cats, providing revenue while facilitating animal placement into homes.
3. Veterinary Clinic Services: Low-cost spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations, preventative care, wellness exams, exotic animal care, and an online pharmacy. Services require 50% deposit.
4. Event Fundraising: Revenue from community events, sponsored adoption events, business partnerships, and fundraiser events at partner locations like Lovebird Coffee and Lost Dutchman.
5. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship opportunities, business buddy programs displaying adoptable animals, and event sponsorships from companies like Subaru, Royal Aire, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Butte Humane Society is a nonprofit animal welfare organization providing pet adoption placement (dogs, cats, and other companion animals), low-cost spay/neuter veterinary services, vaccinations, wellness exams, exotic animal care, foster care programs, volunteer opportunities, pet food pantry support, and community education on responsible pet ownership. The organization operates a Limited Admission shelter, an on-site Adoption Center, and a Veterinary Center in Chico, California.

Product overview

Butte Humane Society is a non-profit animal shelter organization operating since 1911 in Chico, California. Rather than offering a technology product, the organization provides animal welfare services including animal adoption (dogs, cats, and other companion animals), low-cost spay and neuter veterinary services, vaccination programs, foster care programs, volunteer opportunities, pet food pantry, behavior and training resources, and community outreach programs. The organization operates as a limited admission shelter with an adoption center and a veterinary clinic.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pet Adoption Services Walk-in and online adoption program placing dogs, cats, and other companion animals with individuals and families in the Chico community. Adoption packages include vaccinations, spay/neuter surgery, microchipping, a vet exam, and a temperament assessment valued at over $500. Cat adoptions start at $55 with 2-for-1 specials available.
• Low-Cost Spay and Neuter Surgery On-site veterinary surgery service offered at reduced cost to the public, requiring a 50% deposit to book, with animals needing to be at least 8 weeks old and 3 pounds before alteration. Cancellations with 48+ hours notice receive a refundable deposit. Available Tuesday-Friday at the Chico Veterinary Center.
• Walk-In Vaccine Services Walk-in vaccination service for dogs and cats offered at the Veterinary Center, allowing pet owners to obtain affordable, age-appropriate vaccinations without an appointment.
• Veterinary Exams and Preventative Care Wellness exams, preventative care, and clinical services for dogs, cats, and exotic animals provided by the in-house Veterinary Center staff.
• Exotic Animal Care Veterinary care services for exotic pets, including wellness exams and preventative care provided by the Veterinary Center.
• Online Pharmacy and Supply Store Online pharmacy and product store offering veterinary medications, prescription refills, and supplies to clinic clients.
• Foster Care Program Coordinated foster network providing temporary home care for animals that are sick, have behavioral issues, or are too young to be adopted. The Foster Coordinator matches foster volunteers with individual animals and supports them through the placement.
• Volunteer Program Volunteer engagement program enabling community members to walk dogs, socialize cats, support events, and provide administrative assistance. Individual volunteers have contributed well over 1,700 hours to operations, and structured group opportunities are available for larger teams.
• Pet Food and Supply Pantry Free pet food and supply distribution service for community members in need, operating Fridays 11am-2pm at the shelter location.
• Pet Rehoming Service Service assisting community members who need to rehome their pets, helping owners find new homes rather than surrendering animals to the shelter.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97 adoptions completed in a single day during 'Empty the Shelter' event
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Chico Pet WorkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing professional dog grooming and self-service pet wash stations for shelter animals needing extra hair care. Helps maintain adoptable animals in good condition while educating community on pet care.
• SubarucoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsored 'Subaru Loves Pets Month' providing adoption boxes with toys and goods, and sponsored adoption fees for long-term residents (Oro, Honey, Veda, Calypso, and Shasta).
• Royal AirecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsored adoption event where 61 animals found homes in one day. Event sponsorship supporting shelter operations and adoption promotions.
• Lovebird CoffeeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted fundraiser donating 25% of sales back to BHS during breakfast hours. Community partnership supporting lifesaving work.
• Lost Dutchman TaproomminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAll-day fundraiser donating 20% of sales (2pm-10pm) and hosting Pet Costume Contest & Parade. Event partnership.
• Chico Sports ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonating 100% of enrollment fees during October with $25 enrollment special to support BHS. Corporate wellness partnership.
• TrupanioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPet insurance partnership providing 30-day free comprehensive medical insurance (90% coverage, no payout limits) for new adopters activated within 24 hours of adoption. Covers injuries, illnesses, hereditary and congenital conditions.
• Paws of ChicocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal spay/neuter assistance program partnered with BHS to provide financial assistance for low-income pet owners to spay/neuter pets.
• PawPrints Thrift StorecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal spay/neuter assistance program partnered with BHS providing financial help for low-income pet owners accessing spay/neuter services.
• Midtown Veterinary Clinic (Davis)minorOthersDonated equipment and caging to BHS clinic enabling increased surgical capacity for spay/neuter procedures.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• San Francisco SPCA: Established large-scale California animal welfare nonprofit operating adoption, veterinary hospital, and community programs across the Bay Area. Broader portfolio and greater resources than BHS but similar service categories.
• Humane Society of the United States: Largest US animal protection organization with national advocacy, shelter grants, and policy programs. Indirect peer as an umbrella/funder for regional shelters like BHS and a benchmark for nonprofit animal welfare governance.
• ASPCA: National animal welfare organization operating shelter, spay/neuter, and advocacy programs across multiple regions. Sets the competitive backdrop for BHS's ASPCA $100K Challenge participation and industry-wide benchmarks.
• Best Friends Animal Society: National no-kill animal welfare nonprofit operating sanctuaries and partnerships with regional shelters. Comparable adoption and spay/neuter mission at much broader geographic scale.

Direct peers

• Placer SPCA: Northern California nonprofit animal welfare organization offering sheltering, adoptions, spay/neuter, and humane education in Placer County. Comparable in scale, regional focus, and service mix to Butte Humane Society.
• Sacramento SPCA: California-based nonprofit humane society operating an animal shelter, low-cost veterinary clinic, and adoption services in the Sacramento region. Directly comparable model to BHS in terms of shelter, clinic, and community education programming.
• Humane Society of the Sierra Foothills: Regional nonprofit animal shelter in the Sierra Nevada foothills area offering adoptions and community programs. Similar rural-to-suburban community footprint to BHS.
• Yolo County SPCA: Regional animal shelter and welfare nonprofit serving Yolo County, California, with adoption and low-cost veterinary services. Closely comparable mission and operating model within Northern California.
• Pets In Need: Northern California nonprofit animal rescue and adoption organization with shelter operations and community spay/neuter programs. Direct comparable in mission, service mix, and fundraising approach.

Emerging players

• Maddie's Fund: National family foundation funding shelter medicine, adoption programs, and community cat initiatives. Strategic comparator as a capital and grants provider to organizations like BHS in the pet overpopulation space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/buttehumane
• Facebookfacebook.com/buttehumane
• Instagraminstagram.com/buttehumane
• TikToktiktok.com/@buttehumane
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/butte-humane-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Butte Humane Society