Cherokee County Humane Society

What it reported doing in 2024

The cherokee county humane society (cchs) remained focused on its five primary goals: saave- save, alter, adopt, vaccinate and end euthanasia. We rescued, adopted, altered and aided in excess of 1,000 animals and 500+ pet owners in 2024. The adopted animals were rescued primarily from overcrowded shelters and individuals who abandoned or turned in their pets. All of the animals adopted by cchs are vaccinated, dewormed, and tested for diseases. Then, they were spayed/neutered, flea treated and microchipped. No animal leaves cchs without medical clearance, being spayed or neutered, and heartworm tested. If a dog tests positive, then it is treated. In tandem with the medical requirements, all for adoption animals are quarantined at approved foster homes as cchs does not have a physical shelter. We also provided dog/cat food to indigent pet owners who cannot afford to feed their pets. Cchs provides basic feline and k-9 shots at no charge. Plus, we offer deworming liquid as parasites are a frequent problem. In addition, through program services, cchs continues to help indigent pet owners by providing much needed medical attention to animals who otherwise would not receive care. Often, indigent pet owners are elderly individuals whose family are their pets. Cchs continues to regularly support spay and neuter clinics for local dogs and cats which are held in mobile units and through support of the all the fixins formerly known as Georgia animal project (gap) which has its own spay/neuter surgical facility in ball ground, cherokee county. In 2024, cchs helped or paid for multiple spays/neuters of over 150 local pets - this is in addition to those 1,000+ spayed and neutered prior to adoption. We continue to sponsor low-cost shot/vaccination clinics called catsnip clinics at the in our geographic area. Rabies shots are a requirement in Georgia. Diseases like parvo, distemper, feline leukemia and feline HIV are often fatal. Thus, cchs provides the opportunity for pet owners to save their pets. Finally, we help to educate school children and communities by speaking at various grade, middle and high school organizations.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 31.2%; rating input score 31
• Program expense ratio: 27%; rating input score 27
• Fundraising efficiency: $0.14 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 3; 3rd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 0%; rating input score 0; 7th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 1 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 14
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Fail
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -15.9%; rating input score 17; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.76; rating input score 33; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 53; 53rd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 69; 69th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 2.9% per year; rating input score 100; 44th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -1.6% per year; rating input score 0; 18th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 10.6% per year; rating input score 100; 67th percentile among comparable filings