Heart of the Valley, Inc. (HOV) is a private 501(c)(3) non-profit animal shelter located in Bozeman and serving the Gallatin and Madison valleys.  Our primary service territory encompasses the area between West Yellowstone, Three Forks and Livingston.  HOV also has contracts to serve as an impound facility for animal control officers for Gallatin County, City of Bozeman, City of Belgrade and the Town of Manhattan.

HOV handles more than 2,500 cats and dogs every year.  The average daily census in the summer is about 290 animals (200 cats, 90 dogs).  The average daily census in the winter is about 195 animals (130 cats, 65 dogs).

HOV has an open door policy and does not euthanize for space or length of time.  Being an “open door” shelter means that HOV accepts any lost, abandoned or surrendered companion animals (cats or dogs) from anywhere.  The animals arrive at HOV for all sorts of reasons and in every imaginable condition.  No matter the circumstance or condition, HOV accepts them.

All incoming animals are given both a medical and behavioral evaluation.  If they are deemed adoptable with reasonable medical and/or behavioral treatment, then they are held until they are adopted.  If they are deemed unadoptable, then they are humanely euthanized.  Animals are re-evaluated regularly to ensure that they remain adoptable and are maintaining a reasonable quality of life.  Animals are never euthanized at HOV after an arbitrary number of days or for space.

As important as re-homing is, HOV also takes seriously its obligation to the community to ensure it does not send out animals that are sick or a danger to the community.  Nobody wants to live near an aggressive dog that might bite a child or kill another dog or cat.  HOV is committed to the concept that every animal that leaves HOV for a new home must be an ambassador, not a liability, for other homeless animals waiting in shelters to be adopted.

Last year HOV reunited 551 pets with their families and found new homes for 1,469 animals.