We from the Assistenzhunde Helfende Pfoten gGmbH (short: “Helfende Pfoten”) are a non-profit organization. We train dogs to become assistance dogs for people with disabilities and support the human-dog teams in everyday life. Because trust is important, you will find all the information about our structure, our finances and our work explained clearly and comprehensibly here.

1. who we are

Name: Assistenzhunde Helfende Pfoten gGmbH

Registered office: Overath

Address: Olper Straße 33, 51491 Overath

Founded on 12.05.2023 (emerged from the association “Helfende Pfoten e.V.”)

Registered in the Cologne Commercial Register under HRB 114712

Non-profit status recognized by the Bergisch Gladbach tax office on 4 July 2023

2. articles of association

Articles of association of the Assistenzhunde Helfende Pfoten non-profit limited liability company

§ 1 Company, registered office

The name of the company is Assistenzhunde Helfende Pfoten gemeinnützige Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung.

The company’s registered office is in Overath.

§ 2 Object of the Company

The company pursues exclusively and directly tax-privileged purposes within the meaning of the third section of the German Fiscal Code (§§ 51-68 AO). The object and purpose of the company is the promotion of aid for the disabled and the promotion of animal welfare within the meaning of § 52 II S. 1 No. 10, 14 AO.

The company pursues its statutory purposes in particular by

• animal-assisted intervention,
• training of assistance dogs in line with animal welfare requirements,
• Advice for people with chronic illnesses or disabilities regarding assistance dogs and animal-assisted intervention,
• Advice and support for people with disabilities in the context of financing the training and purchase of an assistance dog,
• Training people with disabilities in handling assistance dogs,
• Public relations work with a focus on education about assistance dogs, their importance and possible uses in the context of support for people with chronic illnesses or disabilities,
• Representation of the interests of assistance users – people with a chronic illness or disability who are supported by assistance dogs – in connection with legislative procedures,
• Development of concepts for the animal welfare-compliant training of assistance dogs and
• Organization and realization of seminars and coaching sessions.

The company may also pursue its corporate purposes of promoting aid for the disabled and promoting animal welfare in accordance with Section 58 No. 1 AO by raising and transferring funds to other tax-privileged corporations or corporations under public law to realize the tax-privileged purposes of promoting aid for the disabled and promoting animal welfare.

§ 3 Selflessness

The company is a non-profit organization. It does not primarily pursue its own economic purposes. The funds of the corporation may only be used for the purposes set out in the articles of association. The shareholders may not receive any profit shares or – subject to the provision in Section 5 of the Articles of Association – other benefits from the company’s funds. No person may benefit from expenses that are alien to the purpose of the corporation or from disproportionately high remuneration.

In the event of withdrawal from the company, dissolution of the company or discontinuation of the tax-privileged purposes, the shareholders are only entitled to repayment of the capital contribution actually made and reimbursement of the fair market value of the contributions in kind made by them.

3. tax information

Tax office: Bergisch Gladbach

Tax number: 204/5805/0670

We are exempt from corporation and trade tax (§5 para. 1 no. 9 KStG / §3 no. 6 GewStG)

Reason: Promotion of aid for civilian victims and disabled people and promotion of animal welfare (§ 52 para. 2 no. 10 AO & no. 14 AO)

Decision dated July 4, 2023

Assessment period: 2024 to 2029

4 Who decides for us?

Our gGmbH has two shareholders with the right of sole representation:

Katharina Küsters (Managing Director & Partner)

Heiko Küsters (Partner)

The shareholders’ meeting is the highest decision-making body.

5. what we do

You can find our financial reports here:

Financial report 2020

Tax number: Financial report 2021

6. who works for us

Voluntarily active:

Many dedicated people (volunteers) help with projects, events and programs. A qualified psychologist provides support when needed. On average, around 10 people actively help out each year

Employees:

We are currently supported by one and a half part-time office staff and one part-time trainer.

Honorary staff:

Depending on requirements, one to three assistant dog trainers, other external service providers for website, taxes, legal matters, etc.

7 & 8 Where the money comes from – and where it goes

The income and expenditure overview will be available here soon.

9. are we connected to others?

• No subsidiaries
• No investments in other companies or organizations
• No regular corporate donations
• Since April 2021: Foundation for the benefit of Helping Paws at Sparkasse Vorderpfalz (link to the foundation)
• No legal or personnel links with other organizations

10. larger individual donations (over 10% of annual income)

2020: none

2021: € 7,361.93 from Kinder unterm Regenbogen gGmbH

2022: none

2023: none

If you have any questions about transparency, please write to us: kontakt@helfende-pfoten.de