The YVAS Mission:
The mission of the Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter is to provide shelter for animals in transition, serve as advocates for animals and their people, and be a leader in enhancing the human-animal bond.

Donations:
YVAS is a Montana nonprofit corporation, with an organization inception date of December 11, 2007.
Additionally, we are a tax-exempt agency. To view a copy of our IRS Determination Letter please visit our facilities.
Thank you!

Adoption Policy:
It is our intention to offer healthy pets for adoption.  That being said, some of the cats in the shelter have, or are recovering from, upper respiratory infection.  We do vaccinate every cat as it comes into our care.  Also, we do as much as we can to control infection, but with stressed immune systems shelter cats often cannot mount a sufficient immune response to avoid signs of illness.  Please keep in mind that while most cats recover without treatment, just like we do from a cold, a few need antibiotics for secondary bacterial infections. 

Regarding more significant diseases: if we suspect a cat has feline leukemia we will test that cat.  If we suspect a dog has parvovirus we will test that dog.  We do not do routine testing of healthy-appearing animals.

Shelters experience an overwhelming number of animals coming through the facility, animals whose health histories and prior living conditions are unknown to us.  Additionally, living in a shelter in the best of conditions is stressful to pets.

When you adopt from us you are getting a spayed or neutered animal that we believe is healthy.

The only vaccinating we do is the intranasal vaccine for cats for upper respiratory virus.  For other vaccinations, deworming, or microchipping, we recommend you contact your own veterinarian.

If, within the first 48 hours of taking your pet home from the shelter, your veterinarian determines and is willing to document that your new pet has an illness you should not be responsible for, you can return the pet to us for a refund of the adoption fee. We will not refund your veterinary costs. We will only refund your adoption fee.

We hope this doesn't sound terribly harsh.  We want to remind you, however, that we are a shelter.  We are not a pet store, or a breeding operation. We do not operate to profit from adoptions.  We operate to provide safe quarters to otherwise unwanted animals, with the hope we can make them wanted...by responsible folks like you.

As a courtesy to shelter-animal adopters, local veterinarians in Yellowstone County generally do not charge for the initial exam performed within the first 48 hours. They will however, charge for any additional services they provide.

Thank you for your interest in our animals.


Employment Opportunities

Thank you for your interest in YVAS.  We have no employment opportunities at this time.
If you would like to complete an application, please click here and print out the form.  The mailing address is on the document.