Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Willows Wags and Whiskers

EIN 47-4727620 · San Clemente, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak33 out of 100GovernanceWeak20 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

WAGS AND WHISKERS PET RESCUE IS A 501(C)(3) NON-PROFIT ALL BREED, NO KILL, ANIMAL RESCUE ORGANIZATION, INCORPORTATED IN AUGUST 2015. WE ARE A VOUNTEER DRIVEN GROUP WITH A NUMBER OF YEARS EXPERIENCE WITH ANIMALS AND RESCUE.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
-1.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 95%
Employees
2
Highest pay
$64,236, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 33 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 108% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 20 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 (2)
  1. $2.2 million spent. FIRST ACCOMPLISHMENT DURING 2025, WWPR CONTINUED ITS MISSION OF IMPROVING ANIMAL WELFARE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH ADOPTION, VETERINARY ASSISTANCE, AND RESCUE SUPPORT SERVICES. WWPR SUCCESSFULLY ADOPTED OUT 284 CATS AND 998 DOGS INTO PERMANENT LOVING HOMES. PRIOR TO ADOPTION, ANIMALS RECEIVED APPROPRIATE VETERINARY CARE INCLUDING SPAY/NEUTER SERVICES, VACCINATIONS, AND MICROCHIPPING. THESE EFFORTS HELP REDUCE PET OVERPOPULATION, IMPROVE LONG-TERM ANIMAL HEALTH, INCREASE RETURN TO OWNER RATES FOR LOST PETS, AND PROMOTE RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. WWPR ALSO CONDUCTED SEVERAL LOW-COST SPAY/NEUTER AND VACCINATION CLINICS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, PROVIDING SERVICES TO MORE THAN 200 CATS AND DOGS IN THE COMMUNITY. THESE CLINICS HELPED REDUCE PET OVERPOPULATION AND PROVIDED ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL PREVENTATIVE VETERINARY CARE FOR PET OWNERS. IN ADDITION, THE WWPR FACILITATED A FOOD BANK AND SUPPLY DISTRIBUTION SERVICES FOR LOCAL RESCUE GROUPS, HELPING
  2. FORM 990 - ORGANZIATIONS MISSION WAGS AND WHISKERS PET RESCUE IS A 501(C)(3) NON-PROFIT ALL BREED, NO KILL, ANIMAL RESCUE ORGANIZATION, INCORPORTATED IN AUGUST 2015. WE ARE A VOUNTEER DRIVEN GROUP WITH A NUMBER OF YEARS EXPERIENCE WITH ANIMALS AND RESCUE. OUR MISSION IS TO RESCUE, FOSTER, REHABILITATE, AND REHOME ABANDONED, ABUSED, AND UNWANTED ANIMALS IN WILLOWS AND CHICO, CALIFORNIA. WE RESCUE ANIMALS AT RISK OF EUTHANASIA IN SHELTERS, AS WELL AS THOSE SURRENDERED BY THEIR OWNERS BECAUSE OF DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES AND THOSE ANIMALS IN DANGER OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT. WE ARE COMMITTED TO HELPING THE MOST NEEDY AS WELL AS THE READILY ADOPTABLE. FIRST ACCOMPLISHMENT THROUGHOUT 2024, WE HELD NUMEROUS LOW-COST VACCINE AND SPAY/NEUTER CLINICS, PROVIDING ESSENTIAL PREVENTATIVE CARE TO THE COMMUNITY. THESE CLINICS HELPED TO REDUCE PET OVERPOPULATION AND IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF PETS IN THE AREA. WWPR WORKS HARD TO RESCUE AND REHABILITATE THE HARDEST MEDICAL CASES. OUR VETERINARY TEAM PROVIDES CRITICAL AND OFTEN LIFE-SAVING CARE TO ANIMALS WITH SEVERE INJURIES AND ILLNESSES.AFTER THEIR RECOVERY, WE WORK HARD TO FIND THEM PERMANENT, LOVING HOMES. THROUGH OUR COMPREHENSIVE ADOPTION PROGRAM, WE ADOPTED OUT 280 CATS AND 935 DOGS IN 2024. WAGS AND WHISKERS PET RESCUE SUPPORTED THE SHELTERS BY PULLING AS MANY DOGS AND CATS AS POSSIBLE INTO THE RESCUE PROGRAM AND PLACING THEM INTO LOVING FOSTER HOMES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 2015.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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 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.