Great Falls Animal Shelter Celebrates No-Kill Milestone with National Recognition

GREAT FALLS, Montana – The Great Falls Animal Shelter, a cornerstone of animal welfare in the community, proudly announces that it has achieved and maintained no-kill status in 2023. This recognition, awarded by Best Friends Animal Society, reflects that over 90% of the animals entering the shelter were saved last year.

Best Friends Animal Society, a national leader in animal welfare working toward a no-kill nation by 2025, commends this achievement as an example for other shelters to follow.

“This award represents extraordinary leadership, both within your organization and the broader animal welfare movement,” said Julie Castle, CEO of Best Friends Animal Society. “We deeply appreciate the tireless efforts of shelters across the country, like the Great Falls Animal Shelter, whose lifesaving work is bringing us closer to a future where no pets are killed in shelters simply due to lack of space.”

Laramie Smovir, Operations Manager of the Great Falls Animal Shelter, expressed gratitude for the community’s role in achieving this milestone:

“Reaching no-kill status is a testament to our team, volunteers, and the unwavering support of the Great Falls community. This accomplishment shows what’s possible when we come together to save lives. However, maintaining no-kill requires ongoing community involvement through adoptions, fostering, donations, and advocacy.”

Lifesaving Programs and Milestones in 2023:

Several key initiatives contributed to the shelter’s no-kill achievement throughout 2023:

• Adoption Events: The shelter hosted multiple adoption drives, including the Bissell Pet Foundation's Empty the Shelters events and Home for the Holidays, which significantly boosted pet placements.
• Community Events: Partnerships with local businesses, city departments, and community organizations helped elevate public awareness of pet adoption and shelter services. Signature events included Raise the Woof, Drool in the Pool, and an online auction.
• Vaccination Events: The shelter’s participation in the recent World Rabies Vaccination Day event served 77 animals—an increase compared to the previous year.

The Great Falls Animal Shelter will continue to build on these efforts to ensure the humane treatment of every animal that enters its doors. To learn more or get involved, visit the shelter’s website at https://greatfallsmt.net/animalshelter.

A 90% save rate is the nationally recognized benchmark for achieving no-kill status, as it accounts for cases where humane euthanasia is necessary due to severe medical or behavioral issues.

About Great Falls Animal Shelter

We are an open-admission municipal shelter dedicated to the well-being of our community's stray domesticated animals. Our mission is to promote responsible pet ownership through education, ensuring the health and safety of both pets and citizens. At GFAS, we are committed to finding loving homes for every adoptable animal. Through adoptions, rescue partnerships, and engaging events, we strive to rehome pets without resorting to euthanasia based on space or length of stay. With the support of the Great Falls community, we are making a positive impact on the lives of our furry friends.

For more information, visit https://greatfallsmt.net/animalshelter or call (406) 454-2276.

About Best Friends Animal Society

Best Friends Animal Society is a leading animal welfare organization working to end the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters and make the country no-kill by 2025. Founded in 1984, Best Friends is a pioneer in the no-kill movement and has helped reduce the number of animals killed in shelters from an estimated 17 million per year to 415,000 in 2023. Best Friends runs lifesaving programs across the country, including the nation’s largest no-kill animal sanctuary. Through collaboration with a network of more than 4,700 animal welfare and shelter partners, Best Friends is working to Save Them All®. For more information, visit bestfriends.org.