Our Vision

We envision a compassionate community where every stray & vulnerable animal finds safe shelter, loving care, & a permanent home. We strive to provide essential spay & neuter support to ensure healthy, thriving pets.

MVAS Mission Statement

The Mission Valley Animal Shelter is Committed to

the Humane and Compassionate

Treatment of Animals

Shelter & Care : Provide safe refuge, nourishment, & love for lost & unwanted animals.
Reunite Families : Actively seek to return lost pets to their rightful owners.
Forever Home : Place adoptable animals into responsible, loving environments.
Health & Prevention : Promote sterilization & provide community services to reduce pet overpopulation & end unnecessary euthanasia.
Advocacy & Education : Prevent animal cruelty & implement programs that foster responsible pet ownership.

WHAT WE DO & HOW WE DO IT

The Mission Valley Animal Shelter is a small private no-kill facility serving Lake County, Montana. As a nonprofit 501(c)(3), we depend upon the kindness, generosity and love for animals that we all share. Our goal is to reduce the number of abandoned, unwanted and homeless pets through adoption and education.

Serving an area spanned by Lake County and the Flathead Indian Reservation, we are faced with both a rural and a reservation environment where stray animals often wander and breed on the streets. Being the only animal shelter between Missoula (60 miles to the south) and Kalispell (60 miles to the north) and serving a county where no Animal Control services exist, we are regularly challenged by the number of animals in need.

Our shelter is managed and supported by a Development Director, a Shelter Manager, a Board of Directors, a small staff and a host of wonderful volunteers who help us with the maintenance of the facility and care for our animals.

Our Board of Directors meets monthly, and all Directors take an active role in ensuring the organization is run efficiently and professionally.

The MVAS projected 2026 annual budget is $260,475, which is to be covered by Thrift Store sales, grants, event fundraising, private donations, investment returns and client fees. The organization has a 501(c)(3) nonprofit determination, meaning that all donations are 100% tax deductible.

Our adoption numbers for the last three years: 168 (2023), 116 (2024), to 151 (2025).

Our animal intakes from 182 (2023), 134 (2024), to 171 (2025).

Two women and one man petting a black dog in front of a sign that reads 'Mission Valley Animal Shelter, a voice for those that cannot speak, 883-5312' on a sunny day with a blue sky, clouds, and greenery.

A building with a gray roof, gray siding, brick accents, and a porch with white chairs and four white plastic chairs outside. The building has decorative dog silhouettes and paw prints on the wall, and a small sign with the word 'Open' in the window.

Our Location

MVAS is located in the Mission Valley of Western Montana and is the only brick n mortar animal sheltering facility between Missoula and Kalispell. Sitting between Polson and Pablo, MVAS serves animals from throughout Lake County, much of which overlaps the Flathead Indian Reservation. Lake County is one of the few Montana counties with no animal control ordinances other than a vicious dog ordinance. This, combined with the higher prevalence of stray and un-sterilized animals on reservation lands, poses a unique challenge and most stray animals end up at MVAS.

Please feel free to stop by our facility at any time and visit the dogs and cats who are eagerly anticipating your arrival! Learn how much joy a pet can bring into your life!

Two images of buildings at Mission Valley Animal Shelter, one from 1994 and one more recent, showing the change in the building's appearance over time.

Our Facility

The facility has 11 inside dog kennels (including 8 main kennels and 3 isolation/quarantine kennels), 4 puppy and/or small dog kennels, 18 outdoor dog runs, 1 outdoor isolation kennel and 4 separated fenced yards for dogs. The facility includes a nearly half acre yard surrounded by 900 feet of 8 foot tall fencing to ensure security and provide room for animals to exercise and run.

The shelter offers a large adult cat room and a separate smaller kitten room where cats and kittens can freely roam and socialize. Additionally, there is a cat isolation room with 9 cages where new or ailing cats and kittens are observed prior to joining the general population.

Snow-capped mountains at sunset with colorful pink, purple, and orange clouds in the sky, and a grassy plain in the foreground.

Our History

MVAS was organized in 1989, opened as temporary facility in 1992 and moved to our permanent location in 1994.

During 2000 we raised money for an expansion of our shelter, which was completed in 2001. A further expansion was added in 2010 without incurring any debt.

In 2018 MVAS embarked upon yet another expansion, which was completed in 2019. This expansion added 4 puppy and/or small dog kennels, and five additional fenced-in outdoor runs, as well as a new washroom.

In 2021, we started a Doggy Play yard Campaign to raise money for some new dog yards. In 2022 the construction was completed, and we now have 4 outdoor dog yards for our fabulous furry friends to enjoy.

In 2022, we also were able to place a new roof system over the outdoor kennels in our East Yard and enclose the kennels in our West Yard on three sides. Now our doggos have some serious protection against the Montana weather. This was all possible thanks to the help of some amazing donors!