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HELPING HOUNDS DOG RESCUE INC
NORTH SYRACUSE, NY · EIN 264132608 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE D20 · Animal-Related · Medium ($1M-$10M) · helpinghoundsdogrescue.org
revenue
$1.2M
expenses
$1.2M
net assets
$2.0M
employees
15
volunteers
447
program ratio
78%
mission · from form 990

HELPING HOUNDS DOG RESCUE PROVIDES A COMPASSIONATE APPROACH TO DOG RESCUE BY MATCHING HOMELESS DOGS FROM OVERCROWDED SHELTER SYSTEMS WITH LOVING HOMES.

profile · synthesized from sources

Helping Hounds Dog Rescue is a nonprofit organization based in North Syracuse, NY, that rescues homeless dogs from overcrowded shelters and places them in permanent homes. The organization operates adoption, training, and boarding programs, and relies on donations, adoption fees, and volunteer support. Since its founding in 2009, it has placed over 1,700 dogs annually into loving homes in Central New York.

named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Adoption Program
Core program that rescues homeless dogs from overcrowded shelters and matches them with adoptive families, providing lifelong post-adoption support.
Boarding Services
Provides overnight boarding for dogs with daily exercise, socialization, playtime, and optional grooming and training, with proceeds supporting the rescue mission.
Pack Walks
Community-based program that rotates through local parks to help dogs and handlers build real-world skills in varied environments.
Training and Behavior Services
Offers group training classes ("First Steps" and "Next Steps") and private K9 coaching to address obedience, reactivity, and behavioral challenges in dogs.
activities · 7 groups

What they do

  • Rescue Dog Behavioral Training and Adoption Support 2 activities
    • Animal care and shelter operations
      Provides daily animal care for rescued dogs, including feeding, cleaning, enrichment, and monitoring. Manages transportation logistics for rescued dogs and operates a purpose-built facility with improved kennel spaces designed to enhance comfort and well-being.
    • Dog training programs
      Offers foundational and advanced group training classes (7-week and 6-week sessions), private one-on-one sessions tailored to individual needs, and recurring pack walks in public parks to help dogs practice skills in real-world environments.
  • Organizational Sustainability Management 1 activity
    • IT and operational systems management
      Manages internal IT and operational systems to support organizational functions and service delivery.
  • Comprehensive Adoption Services 1 activity
    • Post-adoption support services
      Provides lifelong post-adoption support to adopters, including in-person visits at the North Syracuse facility and ongoing resources to ensure successful integration of adopted dogs into their homes.
  • Animal Welfare and Rescue Support 1 activity
    • Rescue and adoption of homeless dogs
      Rescues homeless dogs from overcrowded shelter systems, including transfers from Texas and Alabama, and places them into adoptive homes. The organization screens applicants and matches dogs with families where they are likely to thrive, placing over 1,700 dogs annually. It also accepts owner-surrendered dogs that meet behavioral and medical criteria.
  • Pre-Adoption Veterinary Care for Shelter Animals 1 activity
    • Veterinary and medical care for rescued dogs
      Provides comprehensive veterinary services for rescued dogs, including spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchipping, heartworm testing, and general medical care. The organization partners with local agencies to reduce euthanasia rates, achieving a reduction at the Finger Lakes Dog Protection Agency from 40% to only medically or behaviorally necessary cases.
  • Animal Rescue Volunteer Coordination 1 activity
    • Volunteer engagement and coordination
      Engages and coordinates volunteers in dog walking, event support, and other rescue operations. Manages volunteer programs as part of organizational capacity.
  • Uncategorized 3 activities
    • Dog boarding services
      Provides overnight dog boarding with clean, spacious kennels featuring climate-appropriate amenities such as raised beds and heated floors. Services include daily exercise, socialization, playtime, staff interaction, seasonal pool access, and photo/video updates. Rates are $50 per night with discounts for multiple dogs and optional add-ons for grooming and training.
    • Dog grooming services
      Provides professional dog grooming services including basic baths, nail trims, face/feet/sanitary trims, full breed-standard or custom haircuts, deshedding treatments, dematting, and Dremel nail smoothing. Offers puppy introductory sessions and extended brushing for coat health.
    • Emergency pet respite care
      Provides temporary shelter for pets of individuals facing hospitalization, housing crisis, or financial hardship, for up to 30 days. Respite care is offered at no cost to those experiencing medical, financial, or family disruptions.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.16M
Contributions & grants$490K42%
Program service revenue$596K52%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$71K
expenses
Total expenses$1.21M
Program expenses78%
Admin / overhead16%
Fundraising7%
Salaries & benefits$635K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.51M
Cash$611K
Investments$0
Liabilities$469K
Net assets$2.04M
Liquid reserves6.1 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +13.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 12
  • CHRISTEN BELCHER — DIRECTOR
  • DRJAMIE LOVEJOY — DIRECTOR
  • FRANK BATTISTA — DIRECTOR
  • GRAYSON WALTER — DIRECTOR
  • GREG JARVIS — TREASURER
  • HELEN KELLY — DIRECTOR
  • JAMES WRIGHT — DIRECTOR
  • JENNIFER BARNES — DIRECTOR
  • JOE FOUSEK — PRESIDENT
  • KATRINA CROCKER — VICE PRESIDENT
  • KELLY GRIFFITH — SECRETARY
  • MATT GERMAIN — DIRECTOR
relationships · 10

Who they work with

  • Certified Public Accounts Government — Two Certified Public Accountants serve on the Board of Directors, overseeing financial integrity.
  • Embark Partner — Corporate partner providing discounted dog DNA tests and donating a portion of proceeds to Helping Hounds Dog Rescue.
  • Embark Partner — Partners with Embark to offer adopters a discount on DNA tests, with Embark donating a portion to the organization.
  • Facebook Partner — Shares photos and videos of boarded dogs on a dedicated boarding Facebook page to engage clients and promote transparency.
  • Finger Lakes Dog Protection Agency Partner — Partner agency collaborating to reduce dog euthanasia through adoption and transfer programs.
  • Gingr Partner — Uses Gingr's software platform for client account management, package purchases, and scheduling of training services.
  • Gingr Partner — Uses Gingr's software platform for client profile management and appointment booking.
  • rescue partners Partner — Partner organizations that协助 in transporting dogs, such as Dante, from Texas to HHDR.
  • traditional shelter organizations Partner — Collaborates with traditional shelters by providing support when they lack capacity for owner-surrendered dogs.
  • traditional shelters and dog control facilities Partner — Partners with traditional shelters and dog control facilities by transferring dogs from their overcrowded systems to create space for other animals in need.
strategies · 5

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.

  • Careful Matching and Supported Transition
    methodology: careful_matching_and_supported_transition
    By carefully screening applicants and matching dogs to families based on compatibility, the organization increases long-term adoption success and dog well-being, because thoughtful placement reduces returns and promotes stable homes.
  • Crisis-Intervention Respite Care to Prevent Family-Pet Separation
    methodology: crisis-intervention_respite_care
    By providing temporary pet care during family crises, the organization prevents unnecessary surrenders, because short-term support maintains human-animal bonds and avoids shelter intake when not needed.
  • Individualized Rehabilitation Through Training and Environmental Generalization
    methodology: individualized_training
    By using personalized training and rotating environments, the organization addresses each dog’s behavioral needs and ensures reliable obedience in real-world settings, because skill generalization across contexts improves adaptability and integration into adoptive homes.
  • Mission-Sustaining Service Model
    methodology: mission-sustaining_service_model
    By operating paid boarding services and directing revenue toward rescue operations, the organization sustains its mission financially, because earned income reduces reliance on donations and stabilizes funding for homeless dog care.
  • Rescue-Partnership Network to Reduce Euthanasia
    methodology: rescue-partnership-network
    By partnering with municipal shelters and high-intake facilities, the organization rescues at-risk dogs and transfers them to adoptable pathways, thereby reducing euthanasia rates because coordinated networks expand lifesaving capacity beyond local limits.