Pets Lifeline Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Pets Lifeline is dedicated to protecting and improving the lives of cats and dogs in need in Sonoma Valley through sheltering and adoption, humane education, and community programs.
- Income
- $4.3 million
- Spending
- $2.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 68%
- Reserves
- 18.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 94%
- Employees
- 48
- Volunteers
- 200
- Highest pay
- $151,484, 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 18.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 46% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 143% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1568% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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 (3)
- $1.3 million spent. Animal Shelter/Adoption Services - Pets Lifeline takes in and cares for stray and abandoned dogs and cats by providing them with food, shelter, medical attention and human kindness. We place animals into loving, permanent homes if their owners do not reclaim them. Pets Lifeline averages an intake of 500 cats and dogs per year with a 98% live release rate. All shelter animals are spayed or neutered before adoption to help control future unwanted animals. In addition, they are seen by a veterinarian before adoption and receive all necessary vaccinations.
- $141,467 spent. Humane Education - Pets Lifeline offers educational programming that has a two-pronged approach. One, teaching compassion for all living things, and two, offering a humane education curriculum for the learning needs of students in Pre-K, T-K, and K-5th grade classrooms. The programs are taught by Pets Lifeline educators on Sonoma Valley elementary school campuses, as well as at our own facility, and include programs such as "Kids Speak for Pets", "Early Literacy Intervention", "Library Skills Instruction", and "Humane Education Summer Camp". These education services reach approximately 500 students each year.
- $139,593 spent. Behavioral Training - Pets Lifeline offers a variety of ongoing classes for canines and their owners, including Family Dog I (a beginning level course that covers all the behavioral fundamentals), Family Dog II (an intermediate course addressing the AKC's Canine Good Citizen criteria), as well as courses providing volunteer canine handlers with the requisite skills needed to effectively work with shelter dogs. Approximately 50 dogs go through these training programs each year.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1984.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.