Shelter Partner: Process & requirements
Hope and a home for the most overlooked dogs and cats
Pets for Patriots is an innovative channel to help you place your most adoption-challenged dogs and cats with military veterans. The unconditional love of a companion pet is a wonderful way to thank veterans for serving while saving animals’ lives.
Our program is open to shelters, rescues, SPCAs, humane societies, and municipal animal controls. We offer a free, demonstrably successful program that is easy to administer and that your staff, volunteers, and donors will love.
Download and share our shelter partner program overview.

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Benefits: loving homes for dogs and cats
When you join you:
- Adopt more hard-to-place pets since our program focuses solely on the most overlooked dogs and cats in your care
- Get adoption referrals of veterans looking for a companion pet
- Receive free print and digital tools to promote our partnership in your shelter and community
- Have a program that is easy to use and that your staff, volunteers, and donors will love
- Access a demonstrably successful turnkey program to support veterans in your community with the love of a companion pet
- Get this and more – for free
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Eligible pets: the most overlooked dogs and cats
Veterans in our program must adopt a pet who is…
- Dog or cat, at least 2 years of age, OR
- Dog or cat with special needs, OR
- Dog or cat homeless 6+ months, OR
- Dog 40+ pounds at adoption


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Eligibility requirements: essential needs of our program
To join, you must…
- Operate as a 501(c)(3) or municipal tax-exempt organization for a minimum of one year; organizations in fiscal sponsorship are not eligible
- Have up-to-date financials on Guidestar; 990-EZ or 990 (501(c)(3) organizations only)
- List current governance and day-to-day management/operational information on Guidestar and/or organization website (501(c)(3) organizations only)
- Offer a member patriot special – gratitude for service for veterans in our program
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Application process: how to get started
Apply to become a shelter/rescue partner…
- Complete our online application request (takes less than 5 minutes)
- If we are unable to advance your application we’ll send you an email explaining why
- If we advance your application we’ll email you requests for your eligibility documents
- Once you are approved we’ll send you a series of emails to get you started, including access to our members-only shelter partner welcome kit
