The Humane Society of Western Montana, founded in 1963 in Missoula, is a no-kill shelter that has kept a placement rate above 98 percent since 2010. It takes no government funding and runs adoption, low-cost spay and neuter, a pet food bank, and a free behavior helpline. Here is how adoption and its services work.
Founded in 1963 as the Missoula Humane Society, the Humane Society of Western Montana is a no-kill, limited-admission shelter that has maintained a placement rate above 98 percent since 2010. It is an independent nonprofit that receives no government funding and relies on donations, memberships, events, and grants.
It is separate from Missoula County Animal Control, the tax-funded agency that handles stray pickup and complaints. The shelter adopts out around 1,400 pets a year and takes in animals through owner surrender and transfers from other shelters.
Adoption fees are published and tiered by age and species, and each adoption includes spay or neuter, a microchip, initial vaccinations, deworming, and a general health check.
| Animal | Adoption fee |
|---|---|
| Adult cat | $50 |
| Kitten, 5 months or under | $150 |
| Adult dog | $100 |
| Puppy, 5 months or under | $225 |
Owner surrender requests a monetary contribution for owned animals, while strays are accepted at no cost with donations welcome. The shelter also takes in animals from other shelters that are short on space.
The organization runs low or no-cost spay and neuter as grants and staffing allow, plus vaccine and microchip clinics open to the public; in 2023 it provided about 6,000 vaccines and 2,190 spay and neuter surgeries. A free behavior helpline and dog training classes help owners work through problems and keep their pets.
It also runs a pet food bank, an emergency foster program, lost-and-found services, trap-neuter-return for community cats, and cremation. The Humane Society of Western Montana holds a four-star rating from Charity Navigator with a 100 percent score, and its EIN is 81-0290933.
Dogs, cats, and other animals in Missoula.
Surgery as grants and staffing allow, plus vaccine clinics.
Phone help and dog training to keep pets in homes.
Food assistance for owners in need.
Temporary homes for animals in crisis.
Trap, neuter, and return for feral cat colonies.
Sources: Humane Society of Western Montana (myhswm.org) and its FAQ; Charity Navigator (EIN 81-0290933); Best Friends Network. Some adoption-process details were not published and are omitted. Retrieved June 2026. We are not affiliated with Humane Society of Western Montana and receive no compensation for this listing. Spotted an error? [email protected]
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