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Muddy Paws Rescue
New York, NY · EIN 475496436 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE T50 · Philanthropy & Grantmaking · Medium ($1M-$10M) · muddypawsrescue.org
revenue
$3.0M
expenses
$2.5M
net assets
$1.8M
employees
9
volunteers
200
program ratio
95%
mission · from form 990

The mission of Muddy Paws Rescue is to build and support a thriving community of dog-loving humans dedicated to ending unnecessary euthanasia of companion dogs. We do this through shared learning and education, direct lifesaving, and continuous innovation.

profile · synthesized from sources

Muddy Paws Rescue is a foster-based dog rescue organization operating in the New York City tri-state area. It focuses on ending unnecessary euthanasia of companion dogs through direct lifesaving, adoption services, and community education. The organization places dogs in foster homes, provides full veterinary and behavioral care, and supports long-term adoption success.

named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Dog Transport Network
Volunteer-driven transport system that moves dogs between shelters, foster homes, vet appointments, and adoption events throughout the tri-state region.
Foster Program
Provides temporary homes for dogs through a network of foster families across the tri-state area, enabling rescue and rehabilitation outside a physical shelter.
Open Adoptions Process
A conversation-based adoption model that removes barriers and fosters trust between adopters and staff to ensure successful, long-term placements.
Volunteer Program
Engages volunteers in event support, transport, marketing, IT, and fundraising roles to extend operational capacity and community outreach.
activities · 9 groups

What they do

  • Animal Rescue Volunteer Coordination 4 activities
    • Adoption events and same-day placements
      Hosts weekly Saturday adoption events in Manhattan and other locations, often near pet supply stores, to promote dogs for adoption. Facilitates same-day adoptions to quickly free up foster homes and increase capacity to save more dogs.
    • Dog and supply transportation
      Uses volunteer drivers to transport dogs and supplies between NYC partner shelters, foster homes, veterinary appointments, adoption events, and other locations in the Tri-state area.
    • Foster-based dog rescue and care
      Provides foster-based care for dogs in need, with an average foster stay of 2–3 weeks. Supplies crates, food, toys, bedding, and other necessary supplies to foster families, who return reusable items after adoption for use with future dogs.
    • Marketing and outreach
      Conducts content production, social media advertising, email marketing, public relations, and fundraising initiatives through its Marketing Team to promote dogs and support rescue operations.
  • Pre-Adoption Veterinary Care for Shelter Animals 2 activities
    • Comprehensive veterinary and medical care for rescue dogs
      Provides full medical care for all dogs in its care, including spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations, parasite prevention, deworming, flea/tick medication, microchipping, and treatment for medical conditions. Follows the Association of Shelter Veterinarians' Guidelines for Standards of Care and partners with NYC-area veterinary clinics to cover essential costs.
    • Management of pregnant dogs and neonatal care
      Manages pregnancies in dogs entering care by performing early-stage spays or placing late-term pregnant dogs in foster homes for birthing and postnatal care until adoption.
  • Animal Welfare and Rescue Support 2 activities
    • Corporate partnership support
      Receives operational support from a named corporate partner to advance its dog rescue and adoption programs.
    • Prevention of euthanasia through direct rescue
      Engages in direct lifesaving efforts to prevent the euthanasia of companion dogs by rescuing and caring for them until adoption.
  • Structured Animal Adoption Program 1 activity
    • Adoption facilitation and placement
      Operates an open-adoption process using a conversation-based approach and a matchmaker system to connect adopters with appropriate dogs. Maintains adoption waitlists, shares dog profiles via social media and email, and offers a Flex Adoption program for temporary placement to assess compatibility before finalizing adoption.
  • Animal Adoption Services 1 activity
    • Adoption fee structure and post-adoption support
      Charges adoption fees ranging from $250 to $575 based on the dog’s age, with higher fees for younger dogs. Provides adopters with a martingale collar, leash, ID tag, and other supplies as part of the adoption package.
  • Rescue Dog Behavioral Training and Adoption Support 1 activity
    • Behavioral support using LIMA methods
      Addresses behavioral issues in dogs using the Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive (LIMA) approach in collaboration with certified trainers and behaviorists to support successful adoption.
  • Humane Education and Responsible Pet Ownership 1 activity
    • Community education and capacity building
      Provides education and shared learning opportunities to build a community focused on dog rescue and responsible pet ownership.
  • Digital Infrastructure Development 1 activity
    • Digital operations and program support
      Develops and maintains digital resources, including the website and online systems, to streamline adoption and foster program operations.
  • Endowment and Gift Fund Management 1 activity
    • Planned giving and sustainability initiatives
      Engages in planned giving initiatives to support the long-term sustainability of the organization.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$3.04M
Contributions & grants$1.79M59%
Program service revenue$1.19M39%
Investment income$24K1%
Other revenue$24K
expenses
Total expenses$2.51M
Program expenses95%
Admin / overhead3%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$1.18M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.95M
Cash$1.53M
Investments$0
Liabilities$172K
Net assets$1.78M
Liquid reserves7.3 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +49.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Rachael Ziering Executive Dir. 40 $107K
board members · 9
  • Adrian Kostli — Board Member
  • Jai Seth — Board Member
  • Liz Remington — Secretary
  • Meghan Catucci — Board Member
  • Meghan Danaher — Board Chair
  • Mike Wimsatt — Board Member
  • Stephanie Liff — Board Member
  • Teddy McBride — Board Member
  • Tyler Strauss — Board Member
relationships · 19

Who they work with

  • ASPCA Funder — Funder providing financial support to Muddy Paws Rescue.
  • Animal Care Centers of NYC Partner — Collaborates with Animal Care Centers of NYC to receive dogs from open-intake shelters.
  • Animal Care Centers of NYC Partner — Partners with Animal Care Centers of NYC to rescue dogs from local shelters.
  • Animal Rescue League of Boston Partner — Collaborates with Animal Rescue League of Boston to provide access to their Free Pet Behavior Helpline for adopters.
  • Association of Shelter Veterinarians Partner — Follows the Association of Shelter Veterinarians' Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters to ensure high standards of mental and physical well-being for dogs in care.
  • Best Friends Animal Society Funder — Funder providing financial support to Muddy Paws Rescue.
  • Bissell Pet Foundation Funder — Funder providing financial support to Muddy Paws Rescue.
  • Classy Government — Platform used for managing recurring donations and supporter accounts.
  • FreeWill Partner — Partners with FreeWill to provide an online tool for supporters to create wills or trusts that include gifts to Muddy Paws Rescue
  • Instagram Partner — Uses foster Instagram accounts to share information about dogs in care prior to website listing.
  • PEDIGREE Foundation Funder — Funder providing financial support to Muddy Paws Rescue.
  • Pack HQ Partner — Primary location in Hell’s Kitchen for supply returns and operational coordination with foster caregivers.
  • PetSmart Charities Funder — Funder providing financial support to Muddy Paws Rescue.
  • Petco Love Funder — Funder providing financial support to Muddy Paws Rescue.
  • Samuel Freeman Charitable Trust Funder — Funder providing financial support to Muddy Paws Rescue.
  • Sean Partner — Adopter who provided a testimonial about the adoption process
  • Under the Weather Partner — Corporate partner supporting Muddy Paws Rescue's lifesaving work.
  • partner shelters in NYC Partner — Collaborates with NYC shelters to transport dogs into foster care and adoption pipeline
  • partner trainers in the Tri-state area Partner — Transports dogs to trainer partners in the Tri-state area for training services
strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Foster-Based Care Model
    methodology: foster_based_care
    By housing dogs in temporary foster homes rather than a physical shelter, Muddy Paws Rescue improves animal well-being and increases adoption success because the home environment reduces stress, enables behavioral assessment, and supports better match outcomes.
  • LIMA-Based Humane Training
    methodology: lima_training
    By applying the Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive (LIMA) methodology to behavior modification, Muddy Paws enhances dog safety and long-term adoptability because humane, science-based training reduces fear and aggression while building trust.
  • Open and Matchmaking-Based Adoption Model
    methodology: open_adoption
    By using conversation-based, preference-aligned adoption processes—including flex trials and matchmaking—Muddy Paws increases adoption success and reduces barriers because personalized engagement builds trust and leads to more compatible, lasting adopter-dog matches.
  • Supported Foster Care System
    methodology: supported_fostering
    By providing peer support, structured matching, and ongoing resources to foster families, Muddy Paws increases foster retention and care quality because caregivers feel supported, informed, and connected, leading to better dog outcomes and faster rehoming.