Patriot Paws Service Dogs
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO TRAIN AND PROVIDE SERVICE DOGS OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY AT NO COST TO DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS AND OTHERS WITH MOBILE DISABILITIES IN ORDER TO HELP RESTORE THEIR PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL INDEPENDENCE.
- Income
- $3.9 million
- Spending
- $3.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 11.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 37
- Volunteers
- 680
- Highest pay
- $132,210, executive dir.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 254 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $3.1 million spent. DOG TRAINING AND PLACEMENT: PATRIOT PAWS IS COMMITTED TO RESTORING AND ENHANCING THE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL INDEPENDENCE OF AMERICAN VETERANS BY PROVIDING SERVICE DOGS OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY AT NO COST. THESE DOGS ARE PROVIDED TO VETERANS WITH DISABILITIES, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEIR DISABILITIES ARE CONNECTED TO THEIR MILITARY SERVICE. IN 2023, WE TOOK A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD BY BUILDING OUR PUPPY DEVELOPMENT CENTER (PDC) AND PRODUCING PURPOSE-BRED DOGS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE ADI NORTH AMERICA BREEDING COOPERATIVE (ABC). OUR DOGS ARE CAREFULLY EVALUATED TO ENSURE ONLY THOSE OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY ARE SELECTED FOR OUR PROGRAM. ONCE ACCEPTED INTO TRAINING, EACH DOG IS TAUGHT COMMANDS THAT MEET OR EXCEED THE STANDAREDS SET BY ASSISTANCE DOGS INTERNATIONAL (ADI). WITH PARTNERSHIPS FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY, AND LOCAL PUPPY RAISERS, OUR COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING PROGRAM ENSURES EACH DOG RECEIVES THE BEST POSSIBLE PREPARATION. ONCE TRAINING IS COMPLETED, DOGS ARE SELECTED FOR VETERANS BASED ON DETAILED OBSERVATION AND EVALUATION, AS WELL AS THE ABILITY OF THE VETERAN AND THE SERVICE DOG TO EFFECTIVELY WORK TOGETHER AND PASS THE ADI PUBLIC ACCESS TEST AS A TEAM.DURING 2023, PATRIOT PAWS PLACED 13 SERVICE DOGS, 12 IN-HOME WORKING DOGS, AND 2 FACILITY DOGS WITH VETERANS AND QUALIFYING FACILITIES, BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DOGS PLACED IN 2023 TO 27.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 2006.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.