Florida Keys Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Promoting the humane treatment of all animals through compassionate care, adoption, education, population control and humane law enforcement. Activities include: animal control, low cost spay & neuter and wellness clinic, adoption, education, and care for animals when owners are in distress. Through a veterinary clinic and veterinary outreach programs, we endeavor to makeaffordable healthcare available to every animal in the Florida Keys.Through education and community outreach programs, we strive to promote awareness,respect and compassion for all the animals in our community.
- Income
- $4.2 million
- Spending
- $3.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- 9.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 53%
- Employees
- 46
- Volunteers
- 139
- Highest pay
- $194,582, executive dir.
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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 43% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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
Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 14 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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 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 (5)
- $3.1 million spent. FKSPCA provides Animal Control services, cruelty investigations and adoption programs to the citizens of the Lower Florida Keys. The costs to fulfil the requirements of the County Contract in 2024 were $2,780,155 in program expenses. The Contract costs not covered by the fees received from the County resulted in a approximate shortfall of $1,337,948 that was covered with donations from the public and fundraising events. Donations and fundraising from the public also cover all the other general shelter costs in this program. Total costs for all other sections of this program, including Oscar's fund medical, total $308,850Donations from the public for Oscar's Fund cover extraordinary medical bills for shelter animals that would not otherwise be possible. In 2024, Oscar's Fund paid out $3,754 and received $3,567 in donations. During 2024, 480 animals were surrendered by their owners and 914 animals (including 159 wildlife animals) were picked up or brought to the shelter as lost or strays. Of the 1,394 animals picked up or brought in, 189 were dead on arrival or died. During 2024,a total of 622 animals were adopted out to new homes or transferred to specialty rescues and 381 were reunited with their owners. The FKSPCA live release rate for 2024 was 94.0% The FKSPCA's Safe Haven program offers temporary housing for pets belonging to individuals in crisis situations such as emergency hospitalization or escaping domestic abuse. This service is provided free of charge.To encourage the adoption of older animals, the FKSPCA has two programs to encourage adoption of senior pets. A 6/60 program matches senior adopters (over 60 years of age)with pets over 6 years of age with no adoption fees. Adoption costs are covered by general donations. The Golden Paw Project highlights qualifying pets 8 years old or greater and makes those pets available with no adoption fees, discounted clinic services and one year free vaccines, exam and flea, tick and heartworm prevention.Other services available to the citizens of the Lower Keys under this program service include: low cost microchipping, behavioral counseling, owner requested end of life services for pets, and volunteering in various capacities for the shelter.Educational programs are a part of this program service.The FKSPCA plans more community outreach and education programs. Programs began in 2019 to work with schools and other non-profit organizations. The programs continue to be successful.
- $263,499 spent. FKSPCA provides low-cost spay & neuter services for dogs and cats and rabbits and the occasional exotic pet. The services are provided free of charge for pets of community residents who are unable to pay and for all feral cats and all pit bull/pit bull mixes. During 2024, FKSPCA spayed and neutered the 676 dogs and cats (shelter and public animals. The Wellness Clinic provided wellness services to 433 public animals in 2024.
- $26,000 spent. Critter Camp for Kids during the summer months began in the summer of 2019 to teach children how to treat and care for companion animals. Critter Camps are held several times in summer months and during the school break weeks.Youth Club is an afterschool instructor led volunteer program that brings children from the schools to the shelter each week to learn about caring for the animals. Related programs with the local schools and other non-profits during the entire year bring groups of children and also mentally handicapped adults to socialize with the animals, thereby providing knowledge to the children and enrichment for the animals.
- The Key West Dog Park was established by a small group of Key West citizens as a project of the FKSPCA. The FKSPCA continues to: (1) work as liaison between dog park advocates and local governments and (2) facilitate improvements to the Park. The Park provides a safe place for the dog owners of the Lower Keys to bring their dog for exercise off leash and a venue for animal related events. Each year the FKSPCA holds an annual event at the Key West Dog Park for the community and their pets. The event provides a fun venue for pet owners to get information about local vets, pet services of all kinds and the FKSPCA services. In 2024 there were no expenses for the dog park.
- Spearheaded by the FKSPCA, a Pet Food Pantry was established in 2009 in conjunction with other local non-profits to help local residents keep their pets during the economic downturn. Food is collected with help from Saint Mary's Star of the Sea Outreach (SOS) food pantry. Pet Food is distributed by SOS and FKSPCAAll promotion and collection work is done by volunteers.During 2024 an estimated $3,500 in pet food was collected and distributed through the Pet Food Pantry.
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 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 December 2024.
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 July 1999.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 2026.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (New York, NY), EIN 13-1623829. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.