Petset
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
HOUSTON PETSET IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO ENDING THE HOMELESSNESS AND SUFFERING OF COMPANION ANIMALS.
- Income
- $2.6 million
- Spending
- $3.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- 3.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 65%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 60
- Highest pay
- $150,000, veterinarian
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
Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 24% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 37 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
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
- $1.1 million spent. TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF ABANDONED, UNWANTED AND ABUSED ANIMALS BY PROVIDING FUNDING AND SUPPORT TO THOSE ORGANIZATIONS DEDICATED TO HELPING HOMELESS ANIMALS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND GREATER METROPOLITAN AREA FIND FOOD, SHELTER AND VETERINARY TREATMENT, INCLUDING SPAY AND NEUTER SERVICES, THROUGH FUNDRAISING EFFORTS. HOUSTON PETSET FUNDS EMERGENCY CASES AND PROVIDES EDUCATION FOR THE PUBLIC ON GOOD GUARDIANSHIP OF PETS. IT ALSO PROVIDES TRAINING FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS ON NEW LAWS AND ORDINANCES REGARDING ANIMAL WELFARE.
- $1.1 million spent. HOUSTON PETSET PARTNERS WITH FIDO FIXERS TO LEASE THEIR MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT. HOUSTON PETSET STATIONS THE MOBILE UNIT IN UNDERSERVED AREAS OF HOUSTON, PROVIDING FREE SPAY AND NEUTER PROCEDURES, BASIC VACCINES, AND MICROCHIPS FOR OWNED PETS. ADDITIONALLY, HOUSTON PETSET SUPPLIES VOUCHERS TO OWNERS FOR SPAY AND NEUTER SERVICES AT THIRD PARTY VETERNINARY CLINICS AND ALSO FUNDS ONE-DAY SPAY NEUTER EVENTS. THESE SERVICES ARE INTENDED TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF UNWANTED LITTERS AND SHELTER INTAKES IN AREAS OF HOUSTON THAT EXPERIENCE HIGH RATES OF ANIMAL SURRENDER. THE MOBILE UNIT SERVED OVER 4,100 ANIMALS IN 2024 AND THE OTHER SPAY AND NEUTER ACTIVITIES ADDED AN ADDITIONAL 3,300 ANIMALS FOR APPROXIMATELY 7,400 TOTAL ANIMALS SPAYED OR NEUTERED IN 2024 THROUGH THESE HOUSTON PETSET PROGRAMS.
- $234,535 spent. HOUSTON PETSET FACILITATES MONTHLY TRANSPORTS OF SHELTER AND RESCUE ANIMALS TO PARTNERS IN MINNESOTA. SINCE 2017, HOUSTON PETSET HAS TRANSPORTED MORE THAN 10,500 PETS TO THEIR FOREVER HOMES. THE ORGANIZATION WILL CONTINUE TO TRANSPORT APPROXIMATELY 1,500 ANIMALS PER YEAR, WHICH SIMULTANEOUSLY INCREASES THE CAPACITY OF LOCAL SHELTERS AND RESCUES TO TAKE IN ABOUT 1,500 HOMELESS ANIMALS.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 2004.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.