Associated Humane Societies Inc
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
ASSOCIATED HUMANE SOCIETIES, (AHS), IS THE LARGEST ANIMAL SHELTERING ORGANIZATION IN NEW JERSEY AND IS ALSO HOME TO POPCORN PARK, LOCATED AT OUR AHS-LACEY BRANCH. POPCORN PARK WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1977 AND IS A SANCTUARY FOR ABUSED, NEGLECTED, AND/OR ABANDONED ANIMALS OF ALL BREEDS AND SIZES, INCLUDING WILDLIFE, FARM ANIMALS, AND EXOTIC ANIMALS. OUR THREE ANIMAL SHELTER FACILITIES LOCATED IN NEWARK, TINTON FALLS, AND FORKED RIVER, PROVIDE ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES TO MORE TOWNS THAN ANY ANIMAL SHELTER IN THE STATE. WE ARE AN OPEN DOOR FACILITY AND DO NOT TURN AWAY ANY ANIMAL REGARDLESS OF THEIR AGE, BREED, OR MEDICAL/EMOTIONAL ISSUES. WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON THE HIGH LEVEL OF CARE THAT WE PROVIDE TO THE HUNDREDS OF ANIMALS THAT CALL OUR FACILITY HOME WHILE THEY ARE AWAITING ADOPTION. WE HAVE FULL-SERVICE VETERINARY CLINICS THAT ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND PROVIDE OUR COMMUNITIES WITH TOP-NOTCH, PROFESSIONAL VETERINARY SERVICES FOR PERSONAL PETS, AND ALSO OPERATE A MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT THAT
- Income
- $14.5 million
- Spending
- $12.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 6.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 67%
- Employees
- 215
- Volunteers
- 143
- Highest pay
- $183,299, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 38% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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 June 30, 2025, 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 (5)
- $6.8 million spent. SHELTER FACILITIES - THE ASSOCIATED HUMANE SOCIETIES, (AHS), STRONGLY BELIEVES THAT WILD ANIMALS SHOULD LIVE FREE AND UNCAGED. POPCORN PARK LOCATED AT OUR AHS-LACEY FACILITY WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1977 FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING A REFUGE TO SICK, INJURED, PERMANENTLY DISABLED, ABANDONED, ELDERLY, AND UN-RELEASABLE WILDLIFE, FARM ANIMALS, AND EXOTIC ANIMALS THAT WOULD BE UNABLE TO SURVIVE ON THEIR OWN. POPCORN PARK TAKES IN ANIMALS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD SUCH AS A THREE-LEGGED FOX FROM KUWAIT, A BLIND BENGAL TIGER FROM A MARYLAND ZOO, AND PATAS MONKEYS FROM A RESEARCH LAB, TO NAME A FEW. NO ANIMAL IS EVER PURCHASED OR BRED. EVERY ANIMAL THAT COMES TO POPCORN PARK IS HOUSED IN A HABITAT THAT IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO FEEL MUCH LIKE THEIR NATIVE HOME. VISITORS ARE WELCOME AT POPCORN PARK TO VIEW THESE ANIMALS AND READ THE STORIES OF HOW THEY CAME TO LIVE AT THE REFUGE. ZOO VETERINARIANS ARE ON STAFF TO PROVIDE THE POPCORN PARK RESIDENTS WITH MEDICAL CARE AND WELLNESS CHECKS AND IF THERE IS EVER EXTENSIVE MEDICAL CARE THAT AN ANIMAL NEEDS THAT CANNOT BE PROVIDED ON-SITE, ARRANGEMENTS ARE MADE FOR THE ANIMAL TO BE TRANSPORTED TO A SPECIALTY HOSPITAL THAT CAN PROVIDE THAT CARE. SHELTER FACILITIES - THE ASSOCIATED HUMANE SOCIETIES, (AHS), STRONGLY BELIEVES THAT WILD ANIMALS SHOULD LIVE FREE AND UNCAGED. POPCORN PARK LOCATED AT OUR AHS-LACEY FACILITY WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1977 FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING A REFUGE TO SICK, INJURED, PERMANENTLY DISABLED, ABANDONED, ELDERLY, AND UN-RELEASABLE WILDLIFE, FARM ANIMALS, AND EXOTIC ANIMALS THAT WOULD BE UNABLE TO SURVIVE ON THEIR OWN. POPCORN PARK TAKES IN ANIMALS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD SUCH AS A THREE-LEGGED FOX FROM KUWAIT, A BLIND BENGAL TIGER FROM A MARYLAND ZOO, AND PATAS MONKEYS FROM A RESEARCH LAB, TO NAME A FEW. NO ANIMAL IS EVER PURCHASED OR BRED. EVERY ANIMAL THAT COMES TO POPCORN PARK IS HOUSED IN A HABITAT THAT IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO FEEL MUCH LIKE THEIR NATIVE HOME. VISITORS ARE WELCOME AT POPCORN PARK TO VIEW THESE ANIMALS AND READ THE STORIES OF HOW THEY CAME TO LIVE AT THE REFUGE. ZOO VETERINARIANS ARE ON STAFF TO PROVIDE THE POPCORN PARK RESIDENTS WITH MEDICAL CARE AND WELLNESS CHECKS AND IF THERE IS EVER EXTENSIVE MEDICAL CARE THAT AN ANIMAL NEEDS THAT CANNOT BE PROVIDED ON-SITE, ARRANGEMENTS ARE MADE FOR THE ANIMAL TO BE TRANSPORTED TO A SPECIALTY HOSPITAL THAT CAN PROVIDE THAT CARE.
- $2.4 million spent. CLINIC - THE VETERINARY CLINICS TREAT INJURED AND SICK ANIMALS ON BOTH A FREE AND PAYING BASIS, AS WELL AS PROVIDING MEDICAL CARE TO THE ANIMALS AT OUR SHELTER FACILITIES. THE CLINICS ARE STAFFED BY MULTIPLE VETERINARIANS AND SUPPORT STAFF, AND TREAT 50 TO 100 ANIMALS OR MORE PER WEEK. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING VETERINARY SERVICES FOR THE PUBLIC, THE CLINICS ALSO HOLD EVENTS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE WELL-BEING OF ANIMALS IN OUR COMMUNITIES SUCH AS FERAL CAT SPAY/NEUTER DAYS AND PERSONAL PET MICROCHIPPING EVENTS. OUR MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT TRAVELS TO VARIOUS LOWER INCOME TOWNS AND OFFERS SPAY/NEUTER SERVICES AND WELLNESS VISITS FOR THOSE RESIDENT'S PETS. OUR SHELTER VETERINARIANS TREAT THE HUNDREDS OF ANIMALS THAT ARE AWAITING ADOPTION AND IN SOME CASES, PROVIDE EXTENSIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT TO THOSE ANIMALS THAT ARE THE VICTIMS OF EXTREME ABUSE AND NEGLECT. THE SHELTER VETERINARIANS ALSO DETERMINE WHEN AN ANIMAL IS IN NEED OF SPECIALTY CARE, AND MAKE ARRANGEMENTS WITH OUTSIDE FACILITIES TO PROVIDE SUCH CARE. THEY ENSURE THAT ALL PETS ARE SPAYED/NEUTERED, VACCINATED, AND MICROCHIPPED PRIOR TO BEING ADOPTED. CLINIC - THE VETERINARY CLINICS TREAT INJURED AND SICK ANIMALS ON BOTH A FREE AND PAYING BASIS, AS WELL AS PROVIDING MEDICAL CARE TO THE ANIMALS AT OUR SHELTER FACILITIES. THE CLINICS ARE STAFFED BY MULTIPLE VETERINARIANS AND SUPPORT STAFF, AND TREAT 50 TO 100 ANIMALS OR MORE PER WEEK. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING VETERINARY SERVICES FOR THE PUBLIC, THE CLINICS ALSO HOLD EVENTS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE WELL-BEING OF ANIMALS IN OUR COMMUNITIES SUCH AS FERAL CAT SPAY/NEUTER DAYS AND PERSONAL PET MICROCHIPPING EVENTS. OUR MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT TRAVELS TO VARIOUS LOWER INCOME TOWNS AND OFFERS SPAY/NEUTER SERVICES AND WELLNESS VISITS FOR THOSE RESIDENT'S PETS. OUR SHELTER VETERINARIANS TREAT THE HUNDREDS OF ANIMALS THAT ARE AWAITING ADOPTION AND IN SOME CASES, PROVIDE EXTENSIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT TO THOSE ANIMALS THAT ARE THE VICTIMS OF EXTREME ABUSE AND NEGLECT. THE SHELTER VETERINARIANS ALSO DETERMINE WHEN AN ANIMAL IS IN NEED OF SPECIALTY CARE, AND MAKE ARRANGEMENTS WITH OUTSIDE FACILITIES TO PROVIDE SUCH CARE. THEY ENSURE THAT ALL PETS ARE SPAYED/NEUTERED, VACCINATED, AND MICROCHIPPED PRIOR TO BEING ADOPTED.
- $905,186 spent. ANIMAL CONTROL - THE AHS IS CONTRACTED WITH SEVERAL TOWNS THROUGHOUT NEW JERSEY TO ANSWER THE CALLS OF STRAY ANIMALS, FREE ROAMING ANIMALS, AND INJURED ANIMALS, BOTH DOMESTIC AND WILD. AHS EMPLOYS MULTIPLE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS, (ACO), THAT WORK ROUND THE CLOCK TO GO OUT ON THESE CALLS AND RESCUE ANIMALS IN DISTRESS. OUR ACO'S OFTEN WORK WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT ORGANIZATIONS ON CASES INVOLVING THE INHUMANE TREATMENT OF AN ANIMAL AND ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REMOVING THOSE ANIMALS FROM ABUSIVE OR NEGLECTFUL SITUATIONS AND BRINGING THEM TO THE SAFETY OF OUR FACILITIES.
- THE AHS PRIDES ITSELF ON OUR INVOLVEMENT WITH EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ON CRUELTY PREVENTION AND HUMANE TREATMENT OF ALL ANIMALS. WE PROVIDE SPEAKERS FOR VARIOUS VENUES SUCH AS SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES, WHERE WE ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO BE INVOLVED WITH THE ANIMAL COMMUNITY AND PROMOTE SPAY/NEUTER OF PETS AND HUMANE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS. WE PUBLISH A REGULARLY SCHEDULED BOOKLET TITLED THE HUMANE NEWS, WHICH IS DISTRIBUTED TO THOUSANDS OF HOMES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND IS ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE. THIS BOOKLET FEATURES ANIMAL STORIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD, BOTH HUMANE AND INHUMANE. IT FEATURES ARTICLES ON OUR RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS THAT WE HAVE MADE THROUGH RESCUING ANIMALS, AND IS GEARED TOWARD INFLUENCING PEOPLE TO ADOPT PETS RATHER THAN PURCHASING THEM, TREATING ALL ANIMALS WITH KINDNESS AND RESPECT, AND SPEAKING UP ON BEHALF OF AN ANIMAL IN CRISIS. THE BOOKLET ALSO FEATURES ANIMALS AT ALL OF OUR FACILITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION AND RECENT NEWS ON OUR ANIMALS THAT RESIDE AT POPCORN PARK. IN ADDITION TO THE HUMANE NEWS, WE ALSO UTILIZE SOCIAL MEDIA TO SPREAD THE MESSAGE OF HUMANE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS AND ADOPTING YOUR PETS, AS WELL AS OPERATING A WEBSITE WHERE ALL OF THE INFORMATION ON OUR ORGANIZATION CAN BE FOUND. THE AHS ALSO OFFERS A WIDE VARIETY OF SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC SUCH AS PLANNING FOR YOUR PETS IN THE EVENT THAT YOU ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO CARE FOR THEM, AND HELP WITH WILLS AND BEQUESTS. OUR SHARE-A-PET PROGRAM OFFER THE PUBLIC THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPONSOR ANIMALS WAITING FOR ADOPTION. THE AHS ALSO MAINTAINS A ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY, WHERE INDIVIDUALS CAN SPONSOR ANIMALS THAT RESIDE IN POPCORN PARK. THOSE INDIVIDUALS WILL RECEIVE UPDATES, PHOTOS, ETC., ON THEIR SPONSORED ANIMALS, AS WELL AS FREE ADMISSION TO POPCORN PARK AND A SUBSCRIPTION TO OUR MAGAZINE, THE HUMANE NEWS. THE AHS HAS ESTABLISHED A VESTED INTEREST FUND, WHICH PROVIDES BULLET-PROOF VESTS FOR EVERY WORKING K-9 IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AT NO COST TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. THE AHS ALSO OFFERS MEMORIALS AND WE SPONSOR A WIDE VARIETY OF PROGRAMS SUCH AS SPAY/NEUTERING PROGRAMS AND TNR PROGRAMS FOR FERAL CATS.
- THE AHS PRIDES ITSELF ON OUR INVOLVEMENT WITH EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ON CRUELTY PREVENTION AND HUMANE TREATMENT OF ALL ANIMALS. WE PROVIDE SPEAKERS FOR VARIOUS VENUES SUCH AS SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES, WHERE WE ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO BE INVOLVED WITH THE ANIMAL COMMUNITY AND PROMOTE SPAY/NEUTER OF PETS AND HUMANE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS. WE PUBLISH A REGULARLY SCHEDULED BOOKLET TITLED THE HUMANE NEWS, WHICH IS DISTRIBUTED TO THOUSANDS OF HOMES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND IS ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE. THIS BOOKLET FEATURES ANIMAL STORIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD, BOTH HUMANE AND INHUMANE. IT FEATURES ARTICLES ON OUR RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS THAT WE HAVE MADE THROUGH RESCUING ANIMALS, AND IS GEARED TOWARD INFLUENCING PEOPLE TO ADOPT PETS RATHER THAN PURCHASING THEM, TREATING ALL ANIMALS WITH KINDNESS AND RESPECT, AND SPEAKING UP ON BEHALF OF AN ANIMAL IN CRISIS. THE BOOKLET ALSO FEATURES ANIMALS AT ALL OF OUR FACILITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION AND RECENT NEWS ON OUR ANIMALS THAT RESIDE AT POPCORN PARK. IN ADDITION TO THE HUMANE NEWS, WE ALSO UTILIZE SOCIAL MEDIA TO SPREAD THE MESSAGE OF HUMANE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS AND ADOPTING YOUR PETS, AS WELL AS OPERATING A WEBSITE WHERE ALL OF THE INFORMATION ON OUR ORGANIZATION CAN BE FOUND. THE AHS ALSO OFFERS A WIDE VARIETY OF SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC SUCH AS PLANNING FOR YOUR PETS IN THE EVENT THAT YOU ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO CARE FOR THEM, AND HELP WITH WILLS AND BEQUESTS. OUR SHARE-A-PET PROGRAM OFFER THE PUBLIC THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPONSOR ANIMALS WAITING FOR ADOPTION. THE AHS ALSO MAINTAINS A ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY, WHERE INDIVIDUALS CAN SPONSOR ANIMALS THAT RESIDE IN POPCORN PARK. THOSE INDIVIDUALS WILL RECEIVE UPDATES, PHOTOS, ETC., ON THEIR SPONSORED ANIMALS, AS WELL AS FREE ADMISSION TO POPCORN PARK AND A SUBSCRIPTION TO OUR MAGAZINE, THE HUMANE NEWS. THE AHS HAS ESTABLISHED A VESTED INTEREST FUND, WHICH PROVIDES BULLET-PROOF VESTS FOR EVERY WORKING K-9 IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AT NO COST TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. THE AHS ALSO OFFERS MEMORIALS AND WE SPONSOR A WIDE VARIETY OF PROGRAMS SUCH AS SPAY/NEUTERING PROGRAMS AND TNR PROGRAMS FOR FERAL CATS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 June 2025.
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 June 1942.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Caution.
California's Attorney General lists its registration as revoked as of December 31, 1990. Organizations on this list may not solicit donations in California.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 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.