Dog Gone Seattle

What it reported doing in 2024

Dog gone seattle has rescued over 6,000 unwanted dogs since 2017. We are a foster and volunteer based rescue organization, which allows us to give each dog the special care and training needed to find the right fit in a loving forever home. Every dog that comes into our rescue receives a veterinary exam including vaccinations, spay and neuter and microchipping prior to adoption. We rely on adoption fees and donations from the general public to fund our organization. In a calendar year, we host 45-50 adoption events allowing the public to meet our adoptable dogs. Our adoption process includes an application, in person meeting(s) and reference checks to ensure the best possible placement for our dogs. If the dog is not a good fit for the family we take our dog back into our rescue. In addition to adoption events, we host several small community based fundraising events a year (raising less than $3,000 per event). Dog gone seattle proudly takes on many dogs that other shelters cannot help, including dogs with behavioral issues or special medical needs. We have rehabilitated dogs with aggression issues, reactivity, and separation anxiety; likewise we have rehabilitated dogs with autoimmune disorders, nutritional deficiencies, and dogs requiring orthopedic surgeries. While the majority of the dogs we rescue are adopted within 3 weeks on average, some need more time for training or veterinary care. We have partnerships in the greater seattle area that allow us to take on special causes. We are proud of our less than 0.5% euthanasia rate since 2017. With the opening of our community center facility in bothell, dog gone seattle now has a dedicated space to support fosters, volunteers, adopters and the dogs in our program. The facility provides training, structured exercise areas and enrichment programs such as barn hunt to support behavioral development and adoption success. We also offer free or reduced-cost training and educational opportuniteies to help ensure long-term placement stability for adopted dogs. This facility expands our capacity to serve the community and improves outcomes for dogs with behavioral or medical needs.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 60.1%; rating input score 60
• Program expense ratio: 90.1%; rating input score 90
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Limited
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 60%; rating input score 60; 12th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 2 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 25
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Fail
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: Limited
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 33.4%; rating input score 86; 86th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.28; rating input score 68; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.02; rating input score 65; 65th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 34.3%; rating input score 5; 5th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 7.7% per year; rating input score 100; 55th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 9.9% per year; rating input score 100; 66th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 25.3% per year; rating input score 100; 87th percentile among comparable filings