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Paws for Life K9 Rescue

EIN 83-0757621 · Thousand Oaks, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceWeak35 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PFLK9 PULLS DOGS FROM CITY AND COUNTY SHELTERS AND PLACES THEM IN OUR PAWS FOR LIFE (PFL) CALIFORNIA STATE PRISON PROGRAM WITH OUR INCARCERATED TRAINERS WHO ARE ABLE TO DEDICATE ALL OF THEIR TIME TO THEIR REHABILITATION. AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF LIVING AND WORKING WITH OUR INMATE TRAINERS, OUR DOGS EARN THEIR AKC CANINE GOOD CITIZEN CERTIFICATION AND ARE READY FOR ADOPTION AND FAMILY LIFE. SOME PFL GRADUATES COMPLETE FURTHER TRAINING TO BECOME SERVICE ANIMALS FOR MILITARY VETERANS SUFFERING FROM PTSD. THE PFL PROGRAM ENRICHES THE LIVES OF THE INMATES AND DOGS ALIKE. BY LOWERING EUTHANASIA RATES AND PREPARING DOGS FOR SERVICE JOBS, PFL IS PROVING THAT EVERYONE DESERVES A SECOND CHANCE.

Income
$3.7 million
Spending
$3.4 million
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
3.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$153,791, president

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (4)
  1. $543,411 spent. THE PFLK9 SHELTER PROGRAM READIES LAAS DOGS FOR SUCCESSFUL HOME PLACEMENTS THROUGH ONE-ON-ONE TRAINING - FACILITATED BY OUR PROFESSIONAL DOG TRAINERS, INCARCERATED DOG TRAINERS AT CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION (CDCR) FACILITIES, AND REENTRY PROGRAM DOG TRAINERS ON-SITE AT OUR PEOPLE AND PET INNOVATION CENTER. OUR TRAINERS WORK WITH DOGS TO ADDRESS BEHAVIORAL ISSUES BEFORE ADOPTION, AND AFTER ADOPTION TO ENSURE THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOMES FOR THE CANINES. THROUGH THE PROGRAM, DOGS ALSO RECEIVE ESSENTIAL VETERINARY CARE AND MICROCHIPPING, PARTICIPATE IN PLAYGROUPS FOR SOCIALIZATION, AND MUCH MORE. SHELTER IS ON AVERAGE A 6 TO 8-WEEK PROGRAM THAT TAKES PLACE WITHIN THE CORRECTIONAL SETTING, AT THE PEOPLE AND PET INNOVATION CENTER (PPIC), AND IN THE COMMUNITY FOR ROUGHLY TWO TO FOUR HOURS EACH DAY, FIVE DAYS A WEEK. BECAUSE OF THE HANDS-ON TRAINING AND SOCIALIZATION THE DOGS RECEIVE, SUCCESSFUL LONG-TERM HOME PLACEMENTS AND FEWER OWNER SURRENDERS DUE TO TEMPERMENT AND CORRECTABLE BEHAVIOR ISSUES ARE MORE LIKELY. BEST OF ALL, THE PROGRAM IS OFFERED AT NO COST - THIS INCLUDES ANY NECESSARY CONTINUED TRAINING POST-ADOPTION. WE CURRENTLY SERVE BETWEEN 700-800 LAAS DOGS EACH YEAR AND HAVE A GOAL TO SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THOSE NUMBERS EACH YEAR.
  2. $135,853 spent. THE PFL SERVICE DOG PROGRAM IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN PAWS FOR LIFE K9 RESCUE AND THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION (CDCR) THAT REHABILITATES RESCUE DOGS INTO HIGHLY TRAINED SERVICE DOGS FOR MILITARY VETERANS WITH PTSD. INCARCERATED PARTICIPANTS IN CDCR FACILITIES SPEND HUNDREDS OF HOURS TRAINING THE DOGS TO PERFORM A VARIETY OF TASKS THAT ALLEVIATE MAY OF THE DAILY CHALLENGES OF PTSD. IN THE PROCESS THEY FIND HEALING, ACCOUNTABILITY, A SENSE OF PURPOSE, AND FOR MANY, A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND EMPATHY FOR THE FIRST TIME. PARTICIPANTS ALSO BUILD JOB SKILLS THAT CAN LEAD TO SECURE EMPLOYMENT UPON RELEASE, LOWERING REENTRY RISK SIGNIFICANTLY. THIS PROGRAM IS A 40-WEEK TRAINING PROCESS THAT PREPARES THE DOG TO HANDLE THE RIGORS OF PERFORMING IN VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTS AND PTSD DISABILITY-SPECIFIC TASKS. AT THE END OF THE CORE SIX MONTHS OF THE PROGRAM, OUR TRAINERS PLACE DOGS WITH CLIENTS (VETERANS) DURING A SEVEN-DAY EDUCATION AND TRAINING BOOT CAMP. THE BOOT CAMP TEACHES VETERANS HOW TO UTILIZE HIS/HER NEW SERVICE DOG APPROPRIATELY. THE TRAINING TAKES PLACE IN VARIOUS PUBLIC SETTINGS/SITUATIONS, AS WELL AS, WITHIN THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY WITH THE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WHO TRAINED THE SERVICE DOGS. PFL'S STAFF AND TRAINERS SUPPORT THE VETERAN ADOPTERS AT EVERY STEP OF THE PROGRAM, AND BEYOND. THE PLF PTSD SERVICE DOG PROGRAM RUNS TWO 52-WEEK CYCLES ANNUALLY, SERVING 25 INCARCERATED PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, 7 DOGS, AND 7 MILITARY VETERANS EACH CYCLE. VETERANS AND THEIR DOGS CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER, AND ADDITIONAL TRAINING IS OFFERED TO ENSURE THE BEST POSSIBLE FIT FOR HUMANS AND CANINES.
  3. $1.9 million spent. THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES PROVIDED AT THE PEOPLE AND PET INNOVATION CENTER (PPIC) INCLUDE ONGOING INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP DOG TRAINING, SOCIALIZATION, PLAYGROUPS, TRANSPORT, AND MAY OTHER ESSENTIAL RESOURCES TO ENSURE THE GREATEST NUMBER OF DOGS POSSIBLE ARE PLACED IN FOREVER HOMES. MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY REMAIN IN LOVING HOMES AND DO NOT RETURN TO OVERBURDENED SHELTERS. MANY DOG OWNERS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH THE SKILLS TO NAVIGATE DIFFICULT TRAINING SCENARIOS WITH THEIR DOGS NOR THE FINANCIAL ABILITY TO HIRE A TRAINER. PAWS FOR LIFE K9 RESCUE (PFL) HAS COME UP WITH A SOLUTION TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AND KEEP DOGS IN THIER HOMES, SUPPORT OTHER RESCUES, AND TACKLE ISSUES WITH DIFFICULT-TO-ADOPT DOGS - ALL AT ABSOLUTELY ZERO COST TO ADOPTERS! IN 2023, 2,030 DOGS RECEIVED SERVICES AT THE PEOPLE AND PET INNOVATION CENTER. MOVING FORWARD, THE PPIC IS POISED TO TRAIN 2,500 DOGS IN A SINGLE YEAR, WITH A STRATEGIC PLAN TO INCREASE THAT NUMBER YEAR AFTER YEAR. SERVICES AT THE PPIC INCLUDE GROUP TRAINING, 1:1 DOG TRAINING/TUTORING, SOCIALIZATION, PLAYGROUPS, BOOT CAMPS (FOR PTSD VETERANS), FIREFIGHTER CAMPS (FOR FIRST RESPONDERS), AND MUCH MORE. ALL SERVICES ARE FREE OF CHARGE AND AVAILABLE EARLY IN THE MORNING, EVENING, AND ON WEEKENDS, TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE CAN ACCESS THE RESOURCES, REGARDLESS OF INCOME, WORK, OR LIFE SCHEDULES.
  4. $849,079 spent. THE PAWS FOR LIFE FIRST RESPONDER - FIREHOUSE PROGRAM WAS LAUNCHED IN 2021 IN RESPONSE TO THE EMOTIONAL, MENTAL (AND PHYSICAL) TOLL THAT THE UNPRECEDENTED CATASTROPHIC WILDFIRES THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA HAD ON THE PEOPLE ON THE FRONTLINES. MUCH OF THE PROGRAM TAKES PLACE WITHIN THE CORRECTIONAL SETTING, OVERSEEN BY PFL'S PROGRAM LEADERSHIP AND FACILITATED BY INCARCERATED DOG TRAINERS WHO WORK CLOSELY WITH FORMERLY HOMELESS DOGS TO LEARN THE NECESSARY SKILLS AND COMMANDS TO MEET THE CRITERIA TO SERVE AS EFFECTIVE THERAPY DOGS. AROUND 10 WEEKS INTO TRAINING, A THERAPY DOG WILL BE PAIRED WITH A FIRST RESPONDER TO BEGIN WORKING TOGETHER IN THE FIELD. OUR PROFESSIONAL DOG TRAINERS PROVIDE AROUND-THE-CLOCK TRAINING SERVICES, ADVICE, AND VIDEOS TO ENSURE THE PROCESS IS SUCCESSFUL AND THE FIRST RESPONDERS FEEL ADEQUATELY SUPPORTED. THE FIRST RESPONDER PROGRAM RUNS 3 CYCLES ANNUALLY, SERVING 25 INCARCERATED PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, 2-3 DOGS, AND AS MANY AS 100 FIRST RESPONDERS PER CYCLE (DEPENDING ON THE SIZE AND LOCATION OF A FIRE STATION OR PLACEMENT OF A DOG WITH A FIRE CAMP). TO DATE, WE HAVE PLACED OUR SPECIALLY TRAINED THERAPY DOGS AT FIRE STATIONS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA: SACRAMENTO COUNTY, SONOMA VALLEY FIRE, SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, AND LOS ANGELES COUNTY. IT IS GENUINELY REWARDING TO WITNESS THE DOGS AND FIRST RESPONDERS SUPPORTING EACH OTHER.

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 February 2019.

    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.