Midlands Humane Society

What Midlands Humane Society does

Midlands Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) open-admission animal welfare organization founded in 2015 and headquartered in Council Bluffs, Iowa. It operates as the sole humane society serving Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie County, providing adoption placement, foster coordination, working cat placement, lost & found, owner surrender, low-cost microchipping ($27.50), vaccine clinics, a pet pantry for low-income pet owners, and end-of-life services through its FurEver Remembered program. The organization also partners with Nebraska Humane Society for spay/neuter capacity and has achieved no-kill status for dogs.

The shelter is staffed by 18 employees and governed by a 12-member board of directors under Executive Director Nikki Cruickshank. Its operating technology stack consists of ShelterLuv for animal management, Petco Love Lost for AI-powered facial recognition-based lost-pet reunification, Petfinder for adoption listings, Volgistics for volunteer scheduling, DonorPerfect for donor management, and Home Again for microchip registration. Over a ten-year operating history, the organization has placed more than 14,500 pets; in 2025 alone, it processed adoptions/fosters of 1,660 dogs and cats plus 50 exotic animals and reunited 388 lost pets with owners.

Revenue mechanics are characteristic of a mid-sized nonprofit animal welfare organization. Adoption fees range from $50 to $500, microchipping is priced at $27.50, cremation services run $55–$185, and merchandise generates supplemental income. Per organizational disclosure, more than half of the operating budget is funded through donations and grants. Documented corporate/foundation grants include a 2025 PetSmart Charities grant of $75,000, a 2024 Petco Love grant of $28,000, and a 2024 Banfield Foundation grant of $10,000. The organization maintains Service Enterprise certification and is integrated into the Hill's Food Shelter & Love network of more than 801 partner shelters.

Name

Midlands Humane Society

Legal name

Midlands Humane Society

Website

https://midlandshumanesociety.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Midlands Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) open-admission animal shelter in Council Bluffs, Iowa, serving Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie County since 2015. It provides adoption, foster, microchipping, vaccine clinics, pet pantry, and end-of-life services funded primarily by donations and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Welfare Services

NAICS

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (812910)

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
• Animal welfare nonprofit
• Community pet care
• End-of-life pet services

Headquarters

HQ city

Council Bluffs

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Over half of the budget is derived from grants, sponsorships, donations, memorials, and tributes. EIN #20-5105144. 501(c)(3) organization.
2. Adoption Fees: Fees range from $150-$500 for dogs, $50-$175 for cats based on age, and $10-$75 for critters. These fees cover spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchipping, and testing.
3. End of Life Services: Euthanasia services ($60) and cremation services (Private Cremation $125-$185, Partitioned Cremation $100-$125, Communal Cremation $55).
4. Low Cost Microchipping: Microchipping service at $27.50 per chip with free registration to Home Again.
5. Event Fundraising: Annual fundraisers including Together 4 Tails Gala and Wags & Wheels Car Show. Merchandise sales through online store.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Midlands Humane Society operates an open-admission animal shelter in Council Bluffs, Iowa, providing pet adoption, foster care, surrendered pet intake, lost-and-found reunification, low-cost microchipping, community vaccine clinics, and pet food pantry services. Complementary fee-based offerings include euthanasia and cremation end-of-life services, and the organization sustains operations through donations, grants, sponsorships, and fundraising events including the Together 4 Tails gala and Wags & Wheels car show.

Product overview

Midlands Humane Society is an open-admission animal shelter serving Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie County, Iowa since 2015. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio of animal welfare services organized around three pillars: Core Animal Services (adoption, foster care, working cat placement, lost & found reunification, surrender services), Community Support Programs (low-cost microchipping, community vaccine clinics, pet food pantry), and End-of-Life Care (FurEver Remembered cremation services). The organization operates fundraising events including Together 4 Tails gala, Wags & Wheels car show, and Bark Friday year-end campaign, supplemented by donation programs such as Simba's Circle monthly giving, Angel's Fund medical care, memorial bricks, and legacy giving. Volunteer engagement is enabled through a Points of Light Service Enterprise certified program with multiple opportunity categories. Technology platforms including ShelterLuv (adoption/foster management), Petco Love Lost (lost & found facial recognition), Volgistics (volunteer scheduling), and DonorPerfect (donations) power operational workflows.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Together 4 Tails: Annual signature fundraising gala featuring social hour, dinner, silent and live auctions, and animal fashion show. Celebrates the community that stands behind the organization's mission.
• Wags & Wheels
• FurEver Remembered
• Simba's Circle of Second Chances
• Angel's Fund
• Bark Friday
• Sit. Stay. Read.

Products and services

• Pet Adoption Services Comprehensive adoption program placing dogs, cats, rabbits, and small animals (guinea pigs, hamsters, ferrets, birds, reptiles) into loving homes. Includes adoption counseling, meet-and-greet rooms, and post-adoption support. Adoption fees range from $50-$500 based on species and age.
• Foster Care Program Temporary housing program for animals needing decompression, socialization, or special care (nursing cats/kittens, orphaned kittens, puppies, medical cases). The organization provides all supplies; fosters cover only love and cleaning.
• Working Cat Program Placement program for feral or semi-feral cats unsuitable for indoor homes, providing barn, garage, or warehouse environments for rodent control. All cats are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and ear-tipped before placement.
• Lost and Found Pet Services Reunification services for lost pets using Petco Love Lost database with facial recognition technology. Includes online listings, community outreach, microchip scanning, and three-day holding period for strays.
• Low-Cost Microchipping Microchip implantation service using Home Again brand chips at $27.50 per chip with free registration. Service available during regular shelter hours; chips include permanent ID and ownership proof.
• Community Vaccine Clinics Free and low-cost vaccine clinics in partnership with Petco Love, offering Parvo/Distemper (DA2PP), FVRCP, and rabies vaccines plus low-cost microchipping without income requirements or residency restrictions.
• FurEver Remembered End of Life Services Euthanasia and cremation services including private, partitioned, and communal cremation options with urn selection. Pricing ranges from $55-$185 based on pet weight. Includes memorial merchandise options.
• Pet Food Pantry Food assistance program for Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie County residents experiencing pet food insecurity. Provides cat/dog food and occasionally shampoo, leashes, collars, and kennels. Requires proof of residency.
• Pet Surrender Services Managed intake surrender program accepting all pets from Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie County. Includes pre-surrender counseling, $50 surrender fee (waivable), and behavioral/medical evaluation before adoption placement.
• Sit. Stay. Read. Youth Reading Program Youth summer reading program pairing children ages 6-14 with shelter dogs for literacy practice. Includes orientation video, parent/guardian attendance requirement, and group sessions up to 15 participants.
• Together 4 Tails Annual Fundraiser Signature annual gala featuring social hour, dinner, silent and live auctions, and animal fashion show. Held at Mid-America Center; the largest annual fundraising event celebrating community support for animal welfare.
• Wags & Wheels Car & Bike Show Annual fundraising event featuring car and motorcycle judging in multiple classes with trophy awards. Includes a Harley-Davidson Trike raffle, free spectator admission, held at Iowa Western Community College.
• Sit. Stay. Read. Program Youth summer reading program pairing children ages 6-14 with shelter dogs for literacy practice. Includes orientation video, parent/guardian attendance requirement, and group sessions up to 15 participants.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 14,500 pets adopted or reunited with owners since opening in 2015
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, moderate and minor.

• City of Council Bluffs Animal ControlcoreOthersProvides animal control services and housing for stray animals within city limits. Animals are brought to MHS for evaluation and potential adoption placement.
• Pottawattamie County Animal ControlcoreOthersProvides animal control services and housing for stray animals within the county jurisdiction. Works with MHS for animal intake and reunification.
• Iowa Western Community College Veterinary Technician ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVet tech students receive hands-on experience housing and caring for shelter pets while learning. Provides valuable labor for animal care at the shelter.
• Nebraska Humane SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for spay and neuter procedures and vaccines for numerous shelter pets prior to adoption. Helps manage medical care costs.
• Urgent Pet CaremoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides veterinary care for shelter animals including emergency services. Also sponsors MHS events.
• Council Bluffs Veterinary ClinicmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides veterinary care for shelter animals and sponsors MHS events. Offers complimentary first exam for adopted pets.
• Best Friends Animal SocietymoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides mentorship programs and advice for animal welfare circumstances. Offers resources for post-adoption care guidance.
• Iowa Federation of Humane Societies (IFHS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level coalition for information and resource sharing among humane societies in Iowa.
• Humane Society of the United StatesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides assistance for issues regarding animal welfare and legal concerns. National organization support.
• Tri-State CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted by Siouxland Humane Society, this coalition assists with sharing information and resources regarding a wide range of animal welfare topics.
• The Daily NonpareilmoderateGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal newspaper publishes weekly articles and pet photos every Saturday covering a wide variety of topics provided by MHS staff.
• Thunderbowl/McCoy'sminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocation host for Annual Wags & Wheels Car Show fundraiser.
• New Horizon Presbyterian ChurchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocation host for Annual Howl-oween Howl 5K Fun Run/Walk fundraiser.
• Hill's Food, Shelter & Love ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides premium, quality food for dogs and cats through Hill's Science Diet. Part of program with over 800 shelter partners in North America. Offers New Pet Parent program with food samples and coupons.
• Our Savior's Lutheran ChurchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization operating a food pantry for both people and their animals at 313 Story Street, Council Bluffs. Alternative resource for pet food donations.
• Petco Love LostcoreTechnology or IntegrationNational pet database using facial recognition technology to help reunite lost pets with owners. Free service allowing searches across 200,000+ pets.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• PetSmart Charities: Major national funder of adoption programs; awarded MHS $75,000 in 2025. Acts as a capital/grant provider rather than direct operator but shapes MHS's growth runway.
• Maddie's Fund: Family foundation funding community animal welfare initiatives and no-kill progress. Listed as a current MHS funder; comparable grant-making peer rather than direct operator.
• Petco Love: National pet welfare foundation funding lifesaving grants ($28K to MHS) and operating the Love Lost lost-and-found database integrated into MHS workflows.

Broad incumbents

• ASPCA: National animal welfare organization with shelter, advocacy, and grant-making arms. Operates broader programs that overlap with MHS's community-based shelter mission.
• Humane Society of the United States (HSUS): Largest national animal welfare organization providing policy, legal, and operational support to local humane societies. Named partner of MHS for animal welfare and legal concerns.
• Best Friends Animal Society: National no-kill advocacy organization that partners with MHS for mentorship and resources. Sets industry-wide standards and provides grant/mentorship support to shelters like MHS.

Direct peers

• Nebraska Humane Society: Operates a similar open-admission animal shelter model in Omaha, providing adoption, lost and found, microchipping, and veterinary services. Direct operational peer that already partners with MHS for spay/neuter overflow.
• Iowa Humane Alliance: Iowa-focused nonprofit providing high-volume spay/neuter and community veterinary services. Operates a similar low-cost vet and shelter support model.
• Siouxland Humane Society: Regional shelter serving the Sioux City tri-state area, hosting the Tri-State Coalition referenced in MHS partnerships. Comparable open-admission shelter offering adoption, surrender, and community programs.
• Animal Rescue League of Iowa (ARL): Des Moines-based shelter offering adoption, low-cost spay/neuter, and pet support programs. Closest Iowa peer of similar size and service scope to MHS.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/Midlandshumane
• Facebookfacebook.com/MidlandsHumane/?ref=ts
• Instagraminstagram.com/midlandshumanesociety
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/midlands-humane-society

Compliance2 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 Midlands Humane Society