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Three Little Pitties Rescue

EIN 82-4437410 · Friendswood, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THREE LITTLE PITTIES RESCUE IS REVOLUTIONIZING ANIMAL WELFARE FOR DOGS AND CATS IN TEXAS. WE HAVE CREATED PATHWAYS TO PERMANENT, SAFE, AND LOVING HOMES THROUGH ADOPTION, TRANSPORT AND SPAY/NEUTER SERVICES.

Income
$4.3 million
Spending
$3.7 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 53%
Employees
63
Volunteers
1,000
Highest pay
$85,933, executive director

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

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 33% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 42% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 9 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    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, 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 (3)
  1. $2.2 million spent. ADOPTIONS PROGRAM: AT A TIME WHEN THERE IS NOT A SINGLE OPEN INTAKE SHELTER IN THE 4TH LARGEST CITY IN AMERICA, WE ARE TAKING IN ALMOST 3,000 ANIMALS A YEAR! WE ARE SET UP TO SAY "YES" TO THOUSANDS OF DOGS THAT HAVE NO HOPE - LARGE, POWER BREEDS, PREGNANT OR NURSING DOGS, ORTHOPEDIC OR OTHER MEDICAL CASES, HEARTWORM POSITIVE, AND MORE. OUR APPROACH TO ADOPTIONS IS UNIQUE - WE AIM TO INTIMATELY KNOW OUR ANIMALS BEHAVIORALLY TO MAKE THE BEST MATCH POSSIBLE. WE ARE THE ONLY RESCUE IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA TO HAVE A FULL-TIME BEHAVIOR TEAM, INCLUDING A TRAINER AND K9 COACHES WHO ASSESS BEHAVIOR AND CREATE PLANS TO TRANSFORM DOGS INTO HIGHLY ADOPTABLE FAMILY MEMBERS. WE ARE THE "COMPLETE PACKAGE" IN THE RESCUE WORLD. WE FULLY VET AND SPAY OR NEUTER EVERY DOG AND CAT, AND IN 2024 WE SUCCESSFULLY PLACED 2,427 ANIMALS WITH FAMILIES! OUR RETURN RATE IS LESS THAN 3%.
  2. $447,309 spent. TRANSPORT PROGRAM: THREE LITTLE PITTIES RESCUE HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY TRANSPORTING DOGS FROM THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA TO EAGER ADOPTERS IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST (PNW), NORTHEASTERN US, AND MIDWEST SINCE 2018. OUR SPECIALLY EQUIPPED USDA-CERTIFIED FLEET TRAVELS EVERY TWO WEEKS TAKING BETWEEN 100 AND 120 ANIMALS DIRECTLY TO THE ARMS OF THEIR NEW FAMILIES. IN 2024, WE SAFELY TRANSPORTED ALMOST 2,500 ANIMALS TO THEIR NEW HOMES.
  3. $59,764 spent. COMMUNITY OUTREACH: THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE OUT AND ABOUT DOING SERVICE IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. RECOGNIZING THAT ADOPTION WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF OVERPOPULATION AND CROWDED SHELTERS, WE ADDED COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO OUR MISSION STATEMENT AND NOW HAVE A DIRECTOR OF THAT PROGRAM. OUR TEAM HAS SUPPORTED EVENTS LIKE HOUSTON PETSET VACCINE CLINICS, EMPTY THE SHELTERS, AS WELL AS S.A.V.E. RESCUE IN BRAZORIA COUNTY BY DOING EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS. WE PARTNER WITH GROUPS SUCH AS UNITY FOR A SOLUTION, FIX TEXAS, FORGOTTEN PET ADVOCATES, EMPTY THE SHELTER PROJECT, K-ANGELS, DEFENDERS OF ANIMALS, AND LAUREL'S HOUSE. WE HAVE A DEDICATED STAFF MEMBER WHO TRANSPORTS OWNED ANIMALS TO FREE SPAY AND NEUTER APPOINTMENTS FOR FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY NEEDING ASSISTANCE. WE REGULARLY GATHER OUR VOLUNTEERS AND DO "BLOCK WALKS" TO EDUCATE OWNERS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF VACCINES AND SPAYING AND NEUTERING DOGS. WE OFFER FREE VACCINES, FLEA PREVENTION, FOOD, AND BASIC MEDICAL CARE, AND WILL SIGN OWNED ANIMALS UP FOR FREE SPAY AND NEUTER SERVICES AS OUR BUDGET ALLOWS. WE ASSIST SMALLER RESCUES WITH TRANSPORT SERVICES, TAKING THEIR ANIMALS ALONG ON OUR TRIPS TO OTHER STATES.

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 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 2024.

    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 March 2018.

    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.