Valley Humane Society Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Valley Humane Society (VHS) creates a brighter future for cats and dogs by encouraging and strengthening the bond between people and pets. VHS rescues and rehabilitates companion animals, champions responsible caretaking, shares pets' soothing affections with people in need of comfort, and supports and preserves existing pet-guardian relationships.
- Income
- $3.1 million
- Spending
- $2.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- 5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 52%
- Employees
- 36
- Volunteers
- 559
- Highest pay
- $177,470, medical 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
Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.0 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 18% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 41 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 73% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 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 (4)
- $649,130 spent. Adoptions and Animal Care -In 2024, Valley Humane Society welcomed 565 cats and dogs into its care, providing each with compassionate sheltering, enrichment, and attentive veterinary support. Through its Adoption Center, 542 animals found loving homeseach placement guided by careful matchmaking and a commitment to every pet's well-being. As a closed-intake shelter, Valley Humane Society accepts animals primarily from municipal shelters and local residents as space allows, ensuring that every pet taken in receives the time and attention needed to fully recover, grow, and thrive. Animals remain in the organization's care until they are adopted, allowing staff and volunteers to provide consistent medical, behavioral, and emotional support throughout their stay. A devoted network of 129 foster families cared for 436 animals throughout the year, creating safe, nurturing environments that expanded the shelter's capacity and offered individualized care when medical or behavioral support was needed. This collaboration between staff and foster volunteers remains essential to preparing animals for successful adoptions. The addition of a part-time shelter veterinarian further strengthened in-house medical capacity, enabling timely exams and preventive treatmentsall contributing to improved health outcomes for adoptable animals.
- $1.2 million spent. Veterinary Medical Services (Phil Scholz Veterinary Surgery Center) -The Phil Scholz Veterinary Surgery Center continues to serve as a vital resource for animal welfare organizations and pet guardians across the region. Providing affordable, high-quality spay/neuter surgeries for the public and more than 40 community rescue partners, the center has become a cornerstone of accessible veterinary care in the Tri-Valley and beyond. In 2024, the center performed 6,804 surgeries, including 6,668 spay/neuter procedures1,739 for public clients and 4,929 for rescue partnersand 136 additional medical surgeries addressing urgent conditions. This high-volume capacity has been instrumental in helping rescue groups overcome widespread barriers to accessing spay/neuter servicesbarriers that often delay adoptions and strain shelter resources throughout the region. To further extend its reach, Valley Humane Society also launched the Field Vet Program, bringing compassionate veterinary care directly to underserved pet owners in the community. Together, these efforts are expanding regional access to affordable care, supporting the stability of rescue partners, and ensuring that more animals stay healthy, adoptable, and in loving homes.
- $73,110 spent. Canine Comfort and Community Outreach-Valley Humane Society's Canine Comfort Pet-Assisted Therapy program expanded dramatically in 2024, with 112 volunteer teams providing emotional support and companionship throughout the community. These teams visit more than 61 regular locationsincluding hospitals, libraries, senior centers, schools, and corporate campusesbringing comfort and connection to thousands of people each month. New partnerships with Oakland International Airport and Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley significantly increased outreach, enabling Canine Comfort teams to engage with an estimated 16,800 adults monthly, including travelers, patients, students, and seniors. Through the Paws to Read literacy program, 5,619 children improved reading fluency and confidence by practicing alongside therapy dogs, as program locations doubled in 2024. To further address the needs of local pet owners, Valley Humane Society launched its Field Veterinary Program, providing basic veterinary care to pets of low-income or unhoused guardians receiving supportive services. In addition, the AniMeals Pet Food Pantry distributed 246,924 meals to help families in crisis keep their pets healthy and at home. Together, these programs embody the organization's commitment to nurturing the human-animal bond and building a more compassionate community for all.
- $3,250 spent. Field Vet Program
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 August 1987.
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.
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.