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Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary

EIN 68-0317260 · Sacramento, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair59 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HAPPY TAILS PET SANCTUARY IS A NO-KILL ANIMAL RESCUE GROUP DEDICATED TO PROTECTING AND IMPROVING THE LIVES OF HOMELESS AND ABUSED ANIMALS THROUGHOUT THE SACRAMENTO AREA.

Income
$858,151
Spending
$629,803
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
19.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
7
Volunteers
313

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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 19.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 27% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 74% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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, 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 (2)
  1. $416,310 spent. RESCUE & ADOPTION PROGRAM - HAPPY TAILS RESCUES APPROXIMATELY 500 CATS AND 20 DOGS EACH YEAR AND FINDS THEM HOMES. EVERY ANIMAL IS EVALUATED FOR ITS EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING, AS WELL AS SPAYED/NEUTERED, TESTED, VACCINATED, AND MICROCHIPPED. ANIMALS ARE PLACED AT THE ADOPTION CENTER OR IN FOSTER CARE UNTIL SAFE, LOVING, PERMANENT HOMES CAN BE FOUND. ADOPTIONS TAKE PLACE BOTH AT THE HAPPY TAILS "PATRICIA L. HOLMES" ADOPTION CENTER AND AT OFFSITE LOCATIONS.
  2. $148,607 spent. FERAL & SEMI-FERAL CAT PROGRAM - HAPPY TAILS OWNS AND OPERATES THE "ZOE K. MCREA" FELINE SANCTUARY FOR CATS THAT ARE IN NEED OF SHELTER BUT UNSUITABLE FOR PLACEMENT INTO HOMES DUE TO ILLNESS, INJURY, OR BEHAVIOR ISSUES. HAPPY TAILS CARES FOR OVER 100 CATS IN ITS SANCTUARY AND PROVIDES FOOD, INDOOR CAGE-FREE SHELTER, AND MEDICAL CARE. ADDITIONALLY, HAPPY TAILS MAINTAINS SEVERAL FERAL CAT COLONIES IN THE SACRAMENTO AREA TO HELP MANAGE FERAL CAT POPULATIONS . ALL COLONY "RESIDENTS" ARE SPAYED/NEUTERED, TESTED, VACCINATED, MICROCHIPPED, AS WELL AS FED AND CARED FOR BY HAPPY TAILS VOLUNTEERS.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since February 1994.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.