Best Pet Charities in America

Too often, charitable organizations end up being scandalized once their donors find out that only a very small percentage of money actually goes to the donation. In many cases, the money that's donated ends up in "administration fees," which is another way of saying that you got people to pay you for asking them for money.

Because of all the pet charities that have been exposed as shams, many groups like CharityWatch have started to look at the actual numbers and effects that charities put forth. Those who rank highly are ones that put money to good use, keep administration fees low, and actually make a positive impact for pets.

It's really crucial to research your charitable organization before you donate to them. In some cases dealing with pet charities, the animals rescued may not even make it to a 'forever' home. Rather, as is the case with PETA, they may end up just being killed minutes after being left at the shelter.

Want to donate, but don't know who to donate to? According to watchdog groups, these are the best pet charities in America.

The Animal Welfare Institute

Watchdog groups have rated this animal welfare charity as an A+ because 96 percent of every dollar donated goes directly to providing care for stray animals, fighting against laws that hurt wildlife, and spreading awareness of animal plights around the world.

If you love any kind of animals charities like this one make a huge difference. Even if you aren't really concerned about pets, it's worth contacting this charitable organization simply because it's one of the few which also regularly works with lawmakers to improve animal welfare.

The Animal Welfare Institute has a slew of programs, including one which lobbies to keep whaling illegal and one which helps farm animals have decent lives.

They accept donations in a number of different ways. You can even donate a car or building to them if you want to, and they are officially recognized as a nonprofit. So, it's also tax-deductible.

To donate to the Animal Welfare Institute or learn about their projects, check out their website here.

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Also known as the ASPCA, this charity has been around for decades and currently runs the largest number of non-profit pet shelters in the United States. This one makes the list of the best pet charities in America, solely because of the fact that so many pets found Forever Homes thanks to them.

This charity provides shelter, medical care, food, and even training to animals in need throughout the country. Chances are that there's an ASPCA shelter in your state, too. They accept donations as well as volunteers who just love animals of every size.

The organization also has an on-the-go spay and neuter clinic, so there's also that added benefit. Even if you don't have an ASPCA shelter near you, chances are that there's a mobile vet in the area that can help you do right by pets.

Unlike most other organizations, the ASPCA has no problem working with a very large variety of different pets. Rabbits, cats, dogs, horses, and even exotic pets have all been able to thank ASPCA for their lifetimes of love and happiness.

Additionally, they don't have policies that discriminate against certain breeds of dogs. So, if you love pitties, this is a good donating charity option to consider.

To donate to the ASPCA, go here.

Friends of Animals

Around 2.5 million pets have been spayed or neutered thanks to this massive nonprofit. Along with one of the most successful breeding prevention programs in America, this is one of the few organizations that also works on rescuing feral animals, improving laws for animal welfare, and more.

They are doing amazing things, and the majority of the donated money goes to great programs and groups of animals that really do need our help.

To see what Friends of Animals does for both pets and wildlife, visit them here.

PetSmart Charities

Wait, what? PetSmart?

Yes, PetSmart, the famous pet store, actually has one of the best pet charities in America according to charity watchdog groups. PetSmart Charities has been rated an A thanks to the fact that an overwhelming amount of money raised goes directly to animals in need.

The way PetSmart Charities works to improve the lives of pets is actually really simple: they invest in other organizations to do it. As of right now, PetSmart Charities has helped facilitate 10 percent of all pet adoptions in America. That's around five million happy homes!

Better still, the PetSmart Charities animals adopted out also get free spay/neuter services before they're sent home. Say what you will about American business, but this is a company with a heart.

To donate to the PetSmart Charities, visit them here.

D.E.L.T.A Rescue

Of all the smaller shelters out there, D.E.L.T.A Rescue really stands out as a unique facility. This pet charity works by giving shelter to over 1,500 different animals, including a total of 800 dogs and a huge swath of cats as well. Unlike other groups on this list, the animals aren't up for adoption.

As of right now, it's a rare, "no kill, care for life" sanctuary for animals that were inches away from death. As a result of all the saves they've made, they're always in need of donations.

Best of all, their A- rating from watchdog groups means that the money you send goes to the animals that need it - not into company pockets.

To see what D.E.L.T.A Rescue does, or to donate to their program, go to their site here.

The American Humane Association

Ever since 1877, the American Humane Association has been working to ensure a better life for both pets and wildlife alike. But, this charitable organization doesn't stop at animals, either. The AHA has also stepped in to save children and domestic violence victims from abuse in the past as well.

As of right now, the majority of their work deals with animals - and that includes pairing animals with military vets who are suffering from PTSD. They have been regularly awarded for their intelligent use of funding, excellent accomplishments in all forms of humanitarian efforts, and just being one of the charities animals can count on.

Because they have always been there for animals, it's not surprising that they regularly rank among the best pet charities in America.

To learn more about the American Humane Association, visit their site here.

Best Friends Animal Society

This petite Utah-based animal shelter and pet welfare group has been getting applause for their excellent volunteer programs, high-quality care, and their goal of rescuing innocent animals from the being victims of homeless pet deaths.

Donating to them can help them curb the number of animals that meet untimely fates in animal shelters that euthanize due to overpopulation. Charity watchdog groups also rated them highly in terms of how they use the money, so there's that, too.

To learn about their many different projects, check out their site here.

4 Paws for Ability

A lot of dogs are able to find new homes when they learn skills involved with being a therapy dog, a seeing eye dog, or just a companion animal. 4 Paws for Ability provides training to shelter pets, which in turn makes them animals that can potentially have a new forever home faster than ever before.

Additionally, 4 Paws for Ability often will pair the animals they train with disabled people in need - particularly children. If you want to see your donation working to save both people and animals in need, then 4 Paws for Ability will be your top choice on the list of the best pet charities in America.

To see what this 4 Paws for Ability does or to donate to them, go to their website here.

Alley Cat Allies

Alley Cat Allies is a charitable organization that focuses on pet cats and feral cats alike. When Hurricane Katrina hit, Alley Cat Allies was one of the lead organizations working to rescue cats that were trapped by flood waters and reconnect them with owners. Since then, they've been working to help cats affected by disasters.

Additionally, Alley Cat Allies also has a PR group that they work with to help advocate for cat rights throughout the world. When Australia's government had announced that they were going to aim to kill off millions of cats, Alley Cat Allies actually sent representatives to advocate against the decision. Upon hearing of a veterinarian who killed a cat via a bow and arrow, Alley Cat Allies also stepped up to ensure she'd never work again.

Simply put, if you're a cat person, this will probably be your favorite charity to donate to. Because of their tireless efforts, they're regularly ranked on magazine lists of the best pet charities in America - even though they're relatively new.

To help out Alley Cat Allies, visit their website here.