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Oktibbeha County Humane Society Inc

EIN 64-0618170 · Starkville, MS

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF OKTIBBEHA COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY (OCHS) IS TO SERVE AS A RESOURCE FOR PETS AND THEIR PEOPLE, CONTROL PET OVERPOPULATION THROUGH AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE SPAY AND NEUTER SERVICES, AND CARE FOR AND PROMOTE ADOPTION OF THE THOUSANDS OF HOMELSS AND NEGLECTED DOGS AND CATS THAT COME THROUGH OUR DOORS EACH YEAR.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
2.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 50%
Employees
33
Volunteers
80
Highest pay
$42,000, 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

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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

    9 of 15

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

  • 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 (3)
  1. $652,663 spent. MANAGEMENT OF CITY OF STARKVILLE ANIMAL SHELTER - OCHS MANAGES UNDER CONTRACT FROM THE CITY OF STARKVILLE, THE ANIMAL SHELTER FOR STARKVILLE. THE CITY PROVIDES ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS WHO ASSIST THE PUBLIC WITH ISSUES RELATED TO ANIMAL WELFARE AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE CITY OF STARKVILLE ANIMAL CONTROL ORDINANCES AND OCHS SERVES AS A HOLDING PLACE FOR COURT CASE ANIMALS AS WELL AS PROVIDING CARE FOR HOMELESS ANIMALS AND A SECURE PLACE FOR THE PUBLIC TO SURRENDER OR ADOPT ANIMALS. OCHS HIRES AND SUPERVISES FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME STAFF MEMBERS TO OPERATE THE SHELTER. THE SHELTER RECEIVES INCOME FROM CONTRACTS WITH THE CITY AND COUNTY, AND ADOPTION FEES FOR ANIMALS. IN 2025, THE SHELTER TOOK IN APPROXIMATLEY 841 CATS AND 1,017 DOGS AND ADOPTED/RTO/TRANSPORTED 657 CATS AND 855 DOGS FROM OUR SHELTER.
  2. $51,269 spent. TRANSPORT PROGRAM - IN 2025 OCHS CONTINUED ITS TRANSPORT PROGRAM THROUGH GRANTS FUNDED BY ASPCA. THESE GRANTS PROVIDE FOR TRANSPORTATION OF ANIMALS FROM THE CITY OF STARKVILLE ANIMAL SHELTER AND PARTNERING SHELTERS IN SURROUNDING COUNTIES TO SHELTERS IN LOCATIONS WHERE ANIMALS ARE SCARCE. IN 2025, WE TRANSPORTED APPOXIMATELY 626 CATS AND 2,142 DOGS FROM OUR SHELTER AND OUR PARTNER SHELTERS.
  3. $392,400 spent. LOW COST SPAY /NEUTER PROGRAM - OCHS MANAGED AND OPERATED THE OCHS SPAY AND NEUTER CLINIC, A LOW-COST CLINIC FOCUSED ON PROVIDING AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE SPAY/NEUTER SURGERIES AND BASIC WELL AND SICK CARE TO DOGS AND CATS IN THE REGION. IN 2025, THE CLINIC SPAYED/NEUTERED 1,124 CATS AND 806 DOGS AND SAW 445 PATIENTS FOR WELL AND SICK CARE.

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 July 1979.

    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.