2024
YEAR IN REVIEW
2024 was another year of double-digit growth in adoptions thanks to supporters old and new.
So we start 2025 with tremendous promise, optimism, and hope.
Adoptions
321 dogs + 109 cats =
430 veteran-pet adoptions
While 2024 saw a slight decrease in owner surrendered animals and strays, unwanted animals continued to pour into shelters. Too many dogs and cats still face death or chronic homelessness, which means we all have more work to do.
We continued to make strategic investments in technology that supercharge our tiny team. One innovation, spurred by a partner’s suggestion, allows us to more quickly connect veterans to our network shelters to adopt a pet. Thanks to these and other efforts, 2024 adoptions increased more than 17% over 2023.
Partners
Saving lives in 41 states
In 2023 we began efforts to streamline our shelter and veterinarian partner networks to include only those most dedicated to working together. Thanks to strategic investments in automation, this is an ongoing initiative that helps keep our partner network as current as possible.
We continue to highlight partner quality over partner quantity as we move towards our goal of programs in all 50 states.
And in 2024 we launched our partnership with Vetster, a leading provider of pet telehealth services. This reinforces our commitment to adoptions for life by expanding access to quality, affordable veterinary care for our veterans’ pets.
3.1K
partners…and counting
262 shelters, humane societies, SPCAs, rescues, and municipal animal controls
98 full-service veterinary practices
2,829 VIP Petcare Wellness and Community Clinics, and PetVet walk-in clinics at select Tractor Supply stores
6,000+ Vetster veterinary professionals providing 24/7/365 pet telehealth
Hardship program
21 veterans received hardship support so they were not faced with surrendering their pets due to short-term financial or personal crisis
John is a 93 year-old Coast Guard veteran. In late 2023 he was widowed and adopted Lilly, herself a senior, for comfort and companionship.
Through our post-adoption follow ups we sensed John could use an assist, but was too proud to ask. So every few months we send a pet gift card his way – and at the end of the year organized a secret shipment of birthday cards from well-wishers around the country.
In 2021 Chaz adopted Stella, who recently turned seven years old. Last year the Army veteran fell on hard times and reached out to us for help. We’re proud to answer the calls of our veterans months – even years – after their adoptions.
Stella is a dual recipient of our hardship and hero programs, which is not unusual. Thanks to our supporters she remains Chaz’s steadfast life companion.
Robin served in the Air Force and has always had dogs. In June 2024 he adopted then seven year-old Fiji from one of our Texas shelter partners. It was love at first sight for both man and dog.
But within a few months Robin hit some hard times. Our donors swooped in with contributions to our hardship fund so that Robin and Fiji could remain high flying partners in life.
More than $89,770 disbursed to veterans for adoption essentials – up 63% from 2023 thanks to a double-digit boost in adoptions and an increase in the value of ‘welcome home’ gift cards
Hero program
21 pets received $16,700+ of support towards essential, life extending, and palliative veterinary care
Allison is a young Navy sailor who threw a lifeline to an older pet. But she was unprepared financially for digestive issues that plagued Sammie for months.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors we were able to pay for diagnostics to get to the root of Sammie’s tummy troubles. We’re happy to report that it’s now smooth sailing for this darling duo!
Rex had a rough start to his new life. Within a day of his adoption he was hospitalized in intensive care due to a rare pneumonia. His new dad Ralph, a Navy veteran, was anguished.
While our hero fund does not cover emergency care, for a modest $500 hero fund investment Rex received follow up diagnostics and support on his road to recovery.
Bob served in Vietnam and adopted Biscuit to help him cope with the lifelong scars of war. So when Biscuit began to limp in pain he reached out to us for help.
Generous supporters help pay for monthly injections that give Biscuit a life of pain-free mobility. And he’s back to giving Bob the peace and purpose he deserves.
Give with confidence
Four-Star All Stars
Pets for Patriots continues to earn a Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator, the world’s largest and most trusted nonprofit evaluator. This is the highest possible rating on Charity Navigator, whose prestigious, third-party accreditation validates our nonprofit’s operational excellence.
And year after year we earn Candid’s Platinum Seal of Transparency for sharing our goals, capabilities, strategies, achievements, and progress.
And we just started our 15th year saving veterans and shelter pets!
What’s next
In mid-2025 we will be opening our program to Gold Star spouses, husbands and wives of service members killed in or declared missing in action.
Be a part of our journey.