About
American Humane (operating as the American Humane Society) is the United States' first national humane organization, founded in 1877 and headquartered in Washington, DC. Its mission is to make the world better for all animals, and it describes itself as a beacon for all those who cherish the human-animal bond. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 84-0432950) whose work spans animal rescue, welfare certification, service dog programs, and the well-known "No Animals Were Harmed" certification for film and television.
Mission
American Humane's mission is to make the world better for all animals. Its work is organized around rescuing and protecting animals, caring for military heroes and their canine partners, certifying the humane treatment of animals, and championing animals through awards and public storytelling.
What they do
- Rescue and Protect: animal sanctuary, disaster response, intervention in cruelty and neglect cases, and wildlife protection
- Care for Our Heroes: the Pups4Patriots program pairing veterans with trained service dogs, and reunifications of retired military working dogs with their handlers
- Certify Humane Treatment: the No Animals Were Harmed end-credit certification for film and television productions, plus humane certification programs for farms and zoos
- Champion Animals: the Hero Dog Awards, the Kiessling Prize, and documentary series
History
American Humane was founded on October 9, 1877 in Cleveland, Ohio, as the country's first national humane organization; its first goal was to secure humane treatment for working animals and livestock in transit. In 1916 it was invited by the U.S. Secretary of War to do for Army animals what the American Red Cross was doing for soldiers, rescuing 68,000 wounded horses and donkeys a month during World War I. It established a Western Regional Office in Hollywood in 1940 to address animal cruelty in entertainment, and issued the first No Animals Were Harmed end credit to the movie The Doberman Gang in 1972. The organization also supported passage of major animal protection laws including the Humane Slaughter Act (1958), the Animal Welfare Act (1966), and the Marine Mammal Protection Act (1971).
Scale and impact
American Humane states that it protects and cares for over 1 billion animals annually through its combined rescue, certification, and welfare programs.
Financials
According to the organization's IRS Form 990 data on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 American Humane reported total revenue of $36,567,566, total expenses of $32,582,875, and net assets of $30,768,559.
Governance
American Humane is led by President and CEO Robin R. Ganzert, Ph.D., with Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Cheryl Lesko and Chief Program Officer Erin Meyer, Ph.D. The organization reports holding Platinum status from Candid (formerly GuideStar) and top ratings from Charity Navigator and CharityWatch.