Westside Shepherd Rescue of Los Angeles Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WGSR RESCUES GERMAN SHEPHERDS AND SHEPHERD MIXES FROM HIGH-KILL SHELTERS AND OWNER SURRENDERS AND GIVES THEM A PATHWAY TO QUALIFIED LOVING HOMES BY PROVIDING MEDICAL CARE (INCLUDING SPAY AND NEUTER), TRAINING, SOCIALIZATION, AND ADOPTION SERVICES. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE TO OUR DOGS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THEIR LIVES.
- Income
- $2.2 million
- Spending
- $2.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 22.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 85%
- Employees
- 40
- Volunteers
- 0
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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 22.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Weak: 42 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
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 (1)
- $1.9 million spent. WGSR HAS RESCUED OVER 16,000 DOGS SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 2002. WE CURRENTLY HAVE OVER 100 ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS, 22 FULL/PART-TIME STAFF, AND SINCE 2017 HAVE OWNED A 135 DOG CAPACITY KENNEL FACILITY. WGSR SUCCESSFULLY PLACED 619 DOGS IN 2024, AND 603 DOGS IN 2023 IN RESPONSIBLE LOVING ADOPTIVE HOMES. WGSR IS FOCUSED ON DOGS IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA (INCLUDING MANY DOGS FROM RURAL AREAS IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY) EITHER FROM HIGH-KILL SHELTERS OR OWNER SURRENDERS WHERE THERE ARE INSUFFICIENT RESOURCES TO HELP THE DOGS RECOVER AND BECOME ADOPTABLE. WE ARE A KNOWN RESOURCE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOR SPECIAL NEEDS DOGS WITH SEVERE MEDICAL PROBLEMS AND/OR INJURIES INCLUDING FRACTURES AND BURNS, OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY MALNUTRITION AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES. OUR PHILOSOPHY IS TO NOT DENY A DOG A SECOND CHANCE SIMPLY BECAUSE OF MEDICAL COSTS. WE ALSO PROVIDE SOCIALIZATION AND TRAINING, WHICH IS OFTEN NEEDED TO ENABLE THESE DOGS TO BECOME ADOPTABLE. DOGS AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION AND OUR APPLICATION ARE POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE WWW.SHEPRESCUE.ORG. WE ALSO PLACE DOGS (INCLUDING ALL PUPPIES OR THOSE WITH SPECIAL MEDICAL NEEDS) IN FOSTER HOMES TO MAXIMIZE OUR CAPACITY AND TO HELP DOGS TRANSITION FROM THE SHELTER ENVIRONMENT TO A HOME. OUR ADOPTION COUNSELORS MATCH SUITABLE DOGS WITH APPROVED APPLICANTS, AND EDUCATE ADOPTERS TO MAXIMIZE SUCCESS OF OUR PLACEMENTS. DOGS ARE VACCINATED, SPAYED/NEUTERED, AND MICROCHIPPED PRIOR TO ADOPTION. WSGR REMAINS RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR DOGS FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
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 April 2003.
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.