About Stafford
Our Mission, Our Team, Our Impact & How You Can Help!
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.
Join Our Pack!
A Career That Makes A Difference
Current Openings:
June 2023:
We have current openings for:
Please send your resume CNelson@staffordanimalshelter.org if you have experience or skills that would benefit our mission!
Also accepting applications for Community Outreach Coordinator. Please email your resume to our Executive Director Lauren Smith to apply, LSmith@staffordanimalshelter.org
About Us
Stafford Animal Shelter is an open-door facility that accepts all 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 care facility in
Park County, we serve the people and pets of the greater Southwestern Montana including Gallatin, Sweet Grass, Stillwater, Meagher, Fergus counties 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
The Humane Society of Park County was founded in 1986 by area individuals dedicated to animal welfare who initially found homes for displaced pets and educated the public about the importance of spaying and neutering to reduce animal overpopulation. We became the Stafford Animal Shelter in 1999 when a 4,500-square-foot facility was completed with a generous donation from local, Frances Stafford, to house the community’s displaced pets. In 2009, a new cat wing was completed to more adequately house the community's many abandoned cats. In 2011, the dog wing was enhanced and the separate "Zoo" was built. In 2012 the Shelter expansion project - all funded by an anonymous grantor - was completed with the construction of a multi-purpose building to house rescues, hoarding populations & evacuation cases. Realizing the need for a truly infectious disease quarantine unit and raised, indoor/outdoor dog kennels, "The Bon K9 Rescue Center" was opened in 2016 in the existing multi-purpose building through a generous donation from the Bonnie Allchin. The Shelter now has the ability to properly isolate, house and help more incoming dogs. In June 2022 the entire shelter was destroyed by the devastating Yellowstone Flooding in Park County Montana. The building and contents were almost a total loss, but thankfully all the staff and animals were safely evacuated. The shelter, and most community members, did not have flood insurance so we embarked on a campaign to fundraise and rebuild the entire facility while staying open in a limited capacity to help others in need during that trying time for our town. We fully reopened to the public in our restored building in January of 2023 thanks to the generosity and financial planning of the past and present supporters.
Our Team
Our staff is the heart of our organization & mission. They provide support, advocacy, physical and emotional well-being to the 1000+ animals and people we serve in Montana. Please thank them for their hard work when you see them!
Lauren Smith - Executive Director - Lsmith@staffordanimalshelter.org
Alicia Davis - Director of Administration - Adavis@staffordanimalshelter.org
Christa Nelson - Director of Operations - Cnelson@staffordanimalshelter.org
Dr. Julie Kappes DVM - Shelter Veterninarian
Nick Radovich — Canine Specialist - Dogtrainer@staffordanimalshelter.org
Chelsea Delia
- Veterinary Assistant - Vetcare@staffordanimalshelter.org
Dale Fowler - Facilities Assistant
Animal Care Coordinators
Daisy Castro
Elizabeth Davidson
Shallen Gurtler
Jaiden Huttinger
Sarah Jane Lamb
Grace Nutting
Lucia Nziengui Boussengui
Alex Roberts
Volunteer
Make a Difference For A Homeless Pet
We love working with the Livingston community, and we're happy to work with everyone who can help us improve the lives of our pets, maintain our facility or help at outreach events. Contact Christa Nelson our Director of Operations at Cnelson@staffordanimalshelter.org for information on various opportunities below:
- Dog Walker/Cat Cuddler: help our cats and dogs exercise and relieve stress. Stop by Wed-Sun from noon to 4:30 and spend a 1/2 hour with our animals. Remember to bring your ID! Dog walkers must be 16+. (Under 16 must be accomplished by a guardian).
- Odds 'n' Ends: Help us fold laundry, clean windows, craft items, sew blankets & various projects.
- Outdoor Maintenance: Weed, garden, shovel snow, fill bird feeders, care for our play yards etc.
- Foster Folks: Open your home to animals that need special socialization, sleepovers, a shelter stress break or round-the-clock medical care. Varying degrees of opportunities are available based on your experience.
- Group Volunteer Projects: We love corporate volunteer groups and school tours however, please note that we limit the number of group visits per month and the age of the participants due to the space in our shelter and staff availability. Please contact Christa to reserve a spot.
- RVSP: Retired Senior Volunteer Program opportunities are available, please reach out.
- High School or Court-Ordered Service Hours: We have special projects from time to time so feel free to email our Director of Operations and find out how you can help.
- Special Events & 3rd Party Fundraising: To help with annual events, party planning committees or fundraisers on our behalf, contact our Executive Director, Lauren Smith, Lsmith@staffordanimalshelter.org. (3rd Party Fundraising agreement and preapproval is needed in order to fundraise, represent or collect funds on behalf of Stafford Animal Shelter.)
Board of Directors
Sue Dailey - President
Nikki Fox — Vice President
Darcy Cook —
Secretary & Treasurer
Andy Art — Board Member
Andy Art — Board Member
Stephanie Cunningham - Board Member
Hannah Pauli - Board Member
Chris Raley - Board Member
Vicki Regula - Board Member
Gwen Strachan - Board Member
The Animals We've Served
Our Impact on the Community
We keep a yearly count of the animals we've helped—we're incredibly proud to say that approximately half the animals we take in are reclaimed, and half are adopted. Download our 2021 count below.
Best in Show
$5,000+
- JTech Communications - Websites & Digital Marketing
- Joanne Berghold Photography
- PFL - Printing for Less
- Raich Montana Properties
- Simkins-Hallin Inc. - Bozeman
- Spectec - Walter & Regina Wunsch
Friend For Life
$4,000+
- East Main Liquor
- Pioneer Meats
- Small Dog Realty
Top Dog
$2,500+
- Blue Rider Tattoo Company
- Circle T Brewing Co. LLC
- Yellowstone National Park Lodges - Xanterra Travel Collection
Pick of the Litter
$1,500+
- Antlers Bar & Shamrock Entertainment
- Arrowhead Electric
- Bridger Animal Nutrition
- CEM Bookkeeping & Tax Services, Cat Moody
- Community Closet
- Charles Schwab of Bozeman
- Eyecare Professionals & Mountain Eyewear
- Hills Pet Nutrition
- Iron Maiden Welding
- Jon Ellen Snyder – ERA Landmark Real Estate
- Livingston Tree Lawn & Snow Removal
- Mark’s In & Out
- Murdoch’s Home & Ranch Supply
- NorthWestern Energy
- The Obsidian Collection
Pet Patrons
$500+
- 2 Basset Brewery
- Allied Storage
- Amazing Acres Pet Resort
- B Bar Ranch
- Berkshire Hathaway Home Services
- Buffalo Restoration
- Cilla Mae’s Old Fashioned Fudge
- City of Livingston
- Crazy Peak Brewing Co.
- Dean's Zesty Beverages
- First Interstate Bank
- Gardiner Market
- The Help Desk Livingston
- Help Every Pet of Hardin
- Landmark ERA - Brooke Weimer
- Mark's In & Out
- Montana Gift Coral & Copper Horse
- Montana Title & Escrow, Inc.
- Neptune’s Brewery
- Outhouse Heating and Plumbing, LLC
- Ri Mason Photography
- Security Title Company of Montana
- Shane Lalani Center for the Arts
- Stacey & Darren Raney, Berkshire Hathaway HSM
- Vellinga Auction & Real Estate
- West Paw
- Yellowstone Appliance
Cool Cats
$300+
- A.E. Nobel & Associates
- All Service Tire & Alignment
- At Home on the Range Pet Cemetery
- Bank of the Rockies
- Big Timber Ace Hardware
- Black Dog Rehab
- CN, LLC Bookkeeping - Christina Nelson
- Citizens Bank & Trust of Big Timber
- Coffee Crossing
- Colmey Veterinary Hospital
- The Firehouse, Inc. Big Timber
- First West Insurance
- Franzen-Davis Funeral Home
- Graybeal’s All Service HVAC
- H & R Block - Steffanie Haring
- High Country Wildlife
- Huppert, Swindlehurst, & Woodruff PC
- Insty Prints
- Livingston Ace Hardware
- Livingston Health Care
- Livingston Home Outfitters
- Logan Auction Services
- Montana Farrier Supply
- Oie Motor Company
- PetCo
- PetSmart
- The Spur Line
- Western Glass Company
- Windy Way Rock Shop
- Wood's Rose Market
Veterinary Partners
We are proud to have financial and operational support for our mission from the following Veterinary professionals:
Alpenglow Animal Hospital
Animal Care Clinic, Dr. Sherrie Nash
Colmey Veterinary Hospital
Cottonwood Veterinary Hospital
Paradise Valley EquineP.E.T.S Bozeman
Sleeping Giant Animal Clinic
Granting Partners
Thank you for funding SAS in 2021-2023
AMB West Philanthropies
ASPCA
Best Friends
Bissell Pet Foundation
City of Livingston
Community Closet
Cross Charitable Foundation
Give A Hoot - Park County Community Foundation
glassybaby foundation
Greater Gallatin United Way
Greater Good Charities
HSUS, USA
Mildred Manion Charitable Foundation
Mutt Nation Foundation
Northwestern Energy
Pet Smart Charities
Petco Love
Subaru USA
Sweet Grass Community Foundation
The Rieschel Foundation
Yvonne Mansfield Fund for Animal Welfare
ASPCA
Best Friends
Bissell Pet Foundation
City of Livingston
Community Closet
Cross Charitable Foundation
Give A Hoot - Park County Community Foundation
glassybaby foundation
Greater Gallatin United Way
Greater Good Charities
HSUS, USA
Mildred Manion Charitable Foundation
Mutt Nation Foundation
Northwestern Energy
Pet Smart Charities
Petco Love
Subaru USA
Sweet Grass Community Foundation
The Rieschel Foundation
Yvonne Mansfield Fund for Animal Welfare
Tax Exemption, Financial Information & Transparency
Stafford Animal Shelter is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization EIN-36-3432468: Click to view our 501(c)(3) nonprofit designation letter. We are dedicated to financially sound accounting practices and transparent accountability. We are a proud Gold Transparency member of GuideStar.org, Shelter Animals Count and Shelter Pet Data Alliance. We publish our latest financial data, insights on financials, leadership, mission, animal statistics and more. If you have additional questions, please reach out to our Executive Director.