Pets for Life Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE PURPOSE OF PETS FOR LIFE, INC. IS TO ENHANCE THE CARE AND TREATMENT OF ADULTS AND CHILDREN IN LOCAL HOSPITALS, NURSING HOMES, SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, SHELTERS FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS, TREATMENT CENTERS FOR YOUTH AND CORRECTIONS FACILITIES THROUGH THE USE OF CERTIFIED THERAPY TEAMS OF PETS AND VOLUNTEERS.
- Income
- $77,192
- Spending
- $106,896
- Spent on programs
- 67%
- Reserves
- 89.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 50%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 128
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
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (health care, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 89.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 38% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1567% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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
Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (health care, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
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, 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)
- $70,273 spent. TAKING PETS TO NURSING HOMES, HOSPITALS, ETC. FOR THERAPY AND COMPANY OF RESIDENTS AND PATIENTS. AT 2025 YEAR END, 136 FACILITIES WERE VISITED BY OUR 128 VOLUNTEERS FOR A TOTAL OF 201,566 PET CONTACTS WITH INDIVIDUALS. THE BENEFITS OF OUR PET/VOLUNTEER VISITS TO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY INCLUDE THE INCREASED EMOTIONAL/SOCIOLOGICAL WELL BEING OF THESE INDIVIDUALS, AS WELL AS POSITIVE PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES. IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, CLINICAL RESEARCH HAS VERIFIED THAT INDIVIDUAL PET VISITS HAVE A VERY POSITIVE PHYSICAL AS WELL AS PSYCHOLOGICAL BENEFIT. ANXIETY IS LESSENDED MEASURABLY, BLOOD PRESSURE IS LOWERED, AND THE RISK OF HEART ATTACK IS REDUCED. PET ASSISTED THERAPY/ACTIVITY IS NOW LOOKED UPON AS A MEASURABLE, MEDICAL ADJUNCT TO A PERSON'S QUALITY OF LIFE. INFORMATION IS SENT TO US MONTHLY FROM THE FACILITIES WE SERVE OR FROM OUR VOLUNTEERS. WE CONTINUE TO INCREASE OUR SERVICES TO CHILDREN. OUR GOAL IS TO INCREASE OUR VOLUNTEER BASE TO BE ABLE TO SERVE MORE INDIVIDUALS AND FACILITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. TAKING PETS TO NURSING HOMES, HOSPITALS, ETC. FOR THERAPY AND COMPANY OF RESIDENTS AND PATIENTS. AT 2025 YEAR END, 136 FACILITIES WERE VISITED BY OUR 128 VOLUNTEERS FOR A TOTAL OF 201,566 PET CONTACTS WITH INDIVIDUALS. THE BENEFITS OF OUR PET/VOLUNTEER VISITS TO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY INCLUDE THE INCREASED EMOTIONAL/SOCIOLOGICAL WELL BEING OF THESE INDIVIDUALS, AS WELL AS POSITIVE PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES. IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, CLINICAL RESEARCH HAS VERIFIED THAT INDIVIDUAL PET VISITS HAVE A VERY POSITIVE PHYSICAL AS WELL AS PSYCHOLOGICAL BENEFIT. ANXIETY IS LESSENDED MEASURABLY, BLOOD PRESSURE IS LOWERED, AND THE RISK OF HEART ATTACK IS REDUCED. PET ASSISTED THERAPY/ACTIVITY IS NOW LOOKED UPON AS A MEASURABLE, MEDICAL ADJUNCT TO A PERSON'S QUALITY OF LIFE. INFORMATION IS SENT TO US MONTHLY FROM THE FACILITIES WE SERVE OR FROM OUR VOLUNTEERS. WE CONTINUE TO INCREASE OUR SERVICES TO CHILDREN. OUR GOAL IS TO INCREASE OUR VOLUNTEER BASE TO BE ABLE TO SERVE MORE INDIVIDUALS AND FACILITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
- $1,214 spent. THE READING EDUCATION ASSISTANCE DOGS (R.E.A.D) PROGRAM IMPROVES CHILDREN'S READING AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS BY EMPLOYING A POWERFUL METHOD: READING TO A DOG. R.E.A.D. DOGS REGISTERED THERAPY ANIMALS CERTIFIED THROUGH PETS FOR LIFE WHO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION FOR THIS PROGRAM. THE VOLUNTEER TEAMS GO TO SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES AS READING COMPANIONS FOR CHILDREN. WHEN A R.E.A.D DOG IS LISTENING, THE ENVIRONMENT IS TRANSFORMED, A CHILD'S DREAD IS REPLACED BY EAGER ANTICIPATION, AND LEARNING OCCURS. PARTICIPATING KIDS MAKE ENORMOUS STRIDES IN READING AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS WHILE BUILDING SELF-ESTEEM, CONFIDENCE AND SOCIAL SKILLS. PERFORMANCE IN OTHER SUBJECTS TENDS TO IMPROVE, AS DOES ATTENDANCE AND EVEN PERSONAL HYGIENE. REACH OUT AND READ -- OUR VOLUNTEERS AND THEIR DOGS VISIT THE CABOT WESTSIDE CLINIC TWICE A MONTH AND INTERACT WITH CHILDREN IN THE WAITING ROOM. THE CHILDREN LISTEN OR READ TO THE DOGS AS THEY AWAIT THEIR TURN TO VIST THE MEDICAL STAFF. IN 2025, 1,948 CHILDREN PARTICIPATED IN THE R.E.A.D. PROGRAM. THE READING EDUCATION ASSISTANCE DOGS (R.E.A.D) PROGRAM IMPROVES CHILDREN'S READING AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS BY EMPLOYING A POWERFUL METHOD: READING TO A DOG. R.E.A.D. DOGS REGISTERED THERAPY ANIMALS CERTIFIED THROUGH PETS FOR LIFE WHO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION FOR THIS PROGRAM. THE VOLUNTEER TEAMS GO TO SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES AS READING COMPANIONS FOR CHILDREN. WHEN A R.E.A.D DOG IS LISTENING, THE ENVIRONMENT IS TRANSFORMED, A CHILD'S DREAD IS REPLACED BY EAGER ANTICIPATION, AND LEARNING OCCURS. PARTICIPATING KIDS MAKE ENORMOUS STRIDES IN READING AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS WHILE BUILDING SELF-ESTEEM, CONFIDENCE AND SOCIAL SKILLS. PERFORMANCE IN OTHER SUBJECTS TENDS TO IMPROVE, AS DOES ATTENDANCE AND EVEN PERSONAL HYGIENE. REACH OUT AND READ -- OUR VOLUNTEERS AND THEIR DOGS VISIT THE CABOT WESTSIDE CLINIC TWICE A MONTH AND INTERACT WITH CHILDREN IN THE WAITING ROOM. THE CHILDREN LISTEN OR READ TO THE DOGS AS THEY AWAIT THEIR TURN TO VIST THE MEDICAL STAFF. IN 2025, 1,948 CHILDREN PARTICIPATED IN THE R.E.A.D. PROGRAM.
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
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 2025.
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 December 1984.
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.