About Stafford
The Stafford Animal Shelter prevents animal distress by caring for displaced animals, facilitating adoptions and reunions, minimizing pet overpopulation and pioneering humane education & community outreach.
Our Mission
The Stafford Animal Shelter prevents animal distress by caring for displaced animals, facilitating adoptions and reunions, minimizing pet overpopulation and pioneering humane education & community outreach.
Stafford Animal Shelter accepts pets in need regardless of age, species, breed or medical condition. We have no length of stay restrictions so animals are welcome with us until they find their forever homes. We accept every pet; abandoned or homeless, unwanted litters from unspayed and uneutered animals, and those confiscated from hoarding and cruelty cases. As the only nonprofit animal shelter in Park County, we serve the people and pets of the greater Southwestern Montana including Gallatin, Sweet Grass, Stillwater, Meagher, Fergus counties, Yellowstone National Park and beyond. We are the only shelter in the region that accepts all lost and unwanted domesticated pets in our “Zoo” where we can care for a wide range of animals from exotics, rabbits, birds, reptiles, rodents, fish, small mammals and more. We also serve as the care facility for at large animals, cruelty cases and emergencies for city and county officials and first responders. Of all the animals we take in, approximately half are reclaimed and half are adopted. Every cat, dog, kitten, puppy and rabbit are spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped before being adopted out.
History (Quick Timeline)
- 1986: Humane Society of Park County founded.
- 1999: Became Stafford Animal Shelter with the opening of a 4,500 sq ft facility (gift from Frances Stafford).
- 2009: New cat wing completed.
- 2011: Dog wing enhanced and separate “Zoo” built.
- 2012: Expansion building added for rescues/hoarding/evacuation cases.
- 2016: Bon K9 Rescue Center opened for quarantine + raised indoor/outdoor kennels.
- June 2022: Facility destroyed by Yellowstone Flooding; staff and animals safely evacuated.
- Jan 2023: Fully reopened after restoration and rebuild fundraising.
Founded in 1986 by local animal advocates, the Humane Society of Park County began by placing displaced pets and promoting spay and neuter programs to reduce overpopulation. In 1999, a generous gift from Frances Stafford allowed us to build our 4,500-square-foot facility and become the Stafford Animal Shelter.
Over the years, we expanded to meet growing community needs, adding dedicated spaces for cats, dogs, rescues, and quarantine care — including the Bon K9 Rescue Center in 2016.
In June 2022, the Yellowstone flooding devastated our facility, nearly destroying the building. Thankfully, all staff and animals were safely evacuated. With no flood insurance, we rebuilt through the strength and generosity of our community and proudly reopened in January 2023 — resilient and ready to continue serving animals in need.
Our Team
Our staff is the heart of our organization—supporting the physical and emotional well-being of the animals and people we serve.
Community Impact
We keep a yearly count of the animals we’ve helped—and we’re proud of our lifesaving work in Park County and beyond.
Questions? Give a call or stop on in.
Whether you’re thinking about adoption, Or just want more information — we’re here to help.
Stafford Animal Shelter
3 Business Park Road
Livingston, MT 59047
Hours:
Wednesday – Sunday
12:00 – 5:00 PM