Everything You Need to Know Before Adopting from a Nonprofit Shelter or Rescue
What This Section Covers
Some rescues, shelters and online rescue sites hide behind their 501(c)(3) nonprofit status to appear trustworthy, but nonprofit status alone does not prove an organization is ethical, transparent, or operating in the best interest of animals. In some cases, breeders or commercial operators may also create or operate under nonprofit organizations while continuing breeding or sales-related activities behind the scenes.
This section will teach you how to understand and read a 990 form, identify red flags, verify information, and learn how to determine whether an organization is legitimate before adopting an animal in an easy step-by-step guide.
You can find free printables to download for your research and links to help you in your journey to responsible pet ownership. You’ll also find links to all of the resources at the bottom of the page with some frequently asked questions.
Key Terms
Commonly used terms you may encounter while reviewing public records, nonprofit filings, licensing information, and organizational documents.
Click the buttons below for more information
Animal Nonprofits & Rescues Explained
How to Read a Nonprofit 990 and What to Look For
Potential Red Flags
How to Research An Animal Rescue: Step-by-Step Guide
Research Corner
Rescue and Shelter clickable links and printables.
Download the printable Step-by-Step guide to help you research the rescue or shelter’s 990 form. This can be used for online rescues and shelters too.
Search the IRS database for the rescue or shelter’s 990 forms.
Use the PA Business Search to verify: Registered address, initial filing date, status of organization, registered office address, officers and governors.
PA Kennel Inspection Search: Look up the rescue’s kennel license and verify it has passed inspections.
Internet Crimes Complaint Center: Report suspected online scams and fraud for investigation.
Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS): Report a complaint against an animal rescue or shelter.
Need help researching?
The goal of this site is to put all of the information in one place and make it free to the public but we know researching a puppy seller, breeder, rescue, or shelter takes time and sorting through public records, inspection reports, and licensing information can be overwhelming. Fetch the Facts offers consumer research services to help make the process easier. Whether you’re looking to support a responsible breeder or want to learn more about a rescue or shelter before adopting, we’re here to help.
Fetch the Facts does not promote or discourage a consumer’s choice to select a specific dog breed, but encourages informed and responsible decisions regardless of where a dog comes from. We believe that supporting responsible breeding practices, ethical rescues, and informed pet ownership can help improve animal welfare and reduce the number of dogs entering shelters over time.
If you are interested in this service please choose from one of the options below:
Puppy Trace Report
This report traces the puppy’s path from its current seller back to the breeder using publicly available records available under federal and applicable state laws. Depending on what information is publicly available, the report may include:
- The seller’s license number
- Seller inspection reports
- The breeder’s and/or broker’s license number
- Breeder and/or broker inspection reports
- Previous business names or aliases associated with the breeder, broker, or seller
- Copies of inspections or enforcement reports
- The transporter’s USDA registration number and any publicly available transporter violations or enforcement records.
This report is based solely on publicly available information and record availability may vary by state, agency and seller.
Not sure how many reports you need?
Review the examples below before submitting your request. Puppies from the same litter and seller can often be researched together, while puppies from different litters or sellers require separate research reports.
Shelter/Rescue Transparency Report
This report reviews a rescue or shelter using publicly available records and information available under federal, state, and local laws (when applicable). Depending on what information is publicly available, the report may include:
- The organization’s registered business or nonprofit name
- State charity or nonprofit registration information
- USDA and/or state license information (if applicable)
- Inspection reports and publicly available violations
- Previous business names, aliases, or affiliated organizations
- Consumer complaints
- Enforcement actions, or legal cases that are publicly documented
This report is based solely on publicly available information and record availability may vary by state, agency, and organization type.
💬 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
General Questions
How do I know if a rescue or shelter is legitimate?
A legitimate rescue or shelter should generally be transparent about its leadership, nonprofit status, licensing (if required), animal sourcing practices, and adoption policies. Consumers can research public records, Form 990 filings, licensing databases, inspection reports, and organizational history to compare public claims with official records.
Why should I research a rescue or shelter before adopting?
Research can help consumers better understand how an organization operates, where animals come from, how money is used, whether licensing requirements are being followed, and whether public claims appear consistent with official records.
What public records can I use to research a rescue or shelter?
Useful records may include:
- IRS Form 990 filings
- state business registrations (click here for PA)
- charity registrations
- kennel licenses
- inspection reports
- court records
- property records
- USDA records (when applicable)
- Pennsylvania Kennel Inspection Records (when applicable)
Nonprofit & IRS Questions
Does being a 501(c)(3) nonprofit automatically mean a rescue is trustworthy?
No. A 501(c)(3) designation means the organization has received tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service for charitable purposes, but nonprofit status alone does not guarantee ethical practices, transparency, or proper animal care.
What is the difference between a nonprofit and a 501(c)(3)?
A nonprofit is a type of organization structure. A 501(c)(3) is a specific federal tax-exempt classification recognized by the IRS for charitable organizations.
What is an EIN number and why does it matter?
An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is a unique tax identification number assigned by the IRS. It can help identify the organization’s legal entity and locate nonprofit filings and public records.
What is a DBA (“Doing Business As”) name?
A DBA is a public-facing business or organization name that differs from the entity’s legal registered name. For example the legal name would be “John Smith” but their public facing name, or DBA, is “Happy Tails”.
Can a rescue operate under a different name than its legal name?
Yes. Some organizations use DBA names or alternate public names while operating under a different legal corporate name in IRS or state records.
Form 990 Questions
What is a Form 990?
Form 990 is a public financial filing submitted by many tax-exempt nonprofits to the IRS. It may include information about revenue, expenses, salaries, leadership, governance, and relationships with other organizations or businesses. Click here for form 990.
Why are Form 990 filings important?
Form 990 filings can help consumers better understand how a nonprofit operates financially and organizationally. They may reveal information about salaries, contractors, related organizations, governance practices, and how money is spent.
Where can I find a rescue or shelter’s Form 990?
Form 990 filings can be found through:
What are Schedule O, Schedule L, and Schedule R?
These are supplemental sections attached to Form 990 filings.
- Schedule O provides additional explanations and disclosures.
- Schedule L reports certain transactions involving insiders or related persons.
- Schedule R discloses relationships with related organizations or connected entities.
What should I look for in a Form 990?
Consumers may want to review:
- mission statements
- revenue and expenses
- salaries and compensation
- board members
- contractor payments
- related organizations
- insider transactions
- governance practices
- inconsistencies between public claims and financial records
Licensing & Regulation Questions
Do rescues and shelters need licenses?
Licensing requirements vary depending on the state, type of operation, and activities performed by the organization. Search here for PA kennel inspections. Check your state laws.
Do Pennsylvania rescues and shelters need kennel licenses?
Many Pennsylvania organizations handling dogs may require kennel licensing through the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture depending on how they operate and how many dogs they house or transfer.
Do rescues need USDA licenses?
Not all rescues require USDA licensing. Licensing requirements under the Animal Welfare Act depend on the organization’s activities, such as breeding, brokering, transporting, selling, or exhibiting animals.
Transparency & Red Flags
Should a rescue publicly list its leadership or board members?
There may not always be a legal requirement to publicly display leadership information on websites or social media pages, but transparency about leadership and oversight can help build public trust and accountability.
What are signs of a transparent rescue or shelter?
Transparent organizations are generally willing to explain:
- leadership structure
- nonprofit status
- finances
- animal sourcing
- veterinary practices
- adoption policies
- licensing status
- public records and filings
What are potential red flags to research further?
Potential concerns may include:
- inconsistent records
- vague financial reporting
- hidden leadership information
- unexplained related businesses
- unusually high contractor payments
- conflicting addresses
- lack of transparency
- patterns of complaints or enforcement actions
A single issue alone does not automatically prove wrongdoing, but multiple concerns together may justify additional research.
How do I search for lawsuits involving a rescue or shelter?
Consumers can search:
- state court databases
- federal court records
- news archives
- attorney general actions
- public complaint records
using organization names, DBA names, addresses, and leadership names.
Does a lawsuit automatically mean a rescue is unethical?
No. Lawsuits can occur for many reasons. The goal is to look for patterns, repeated allegations, official enforcement actions, or serious claims supported by public records.