Cut Bank Animal Shelter Reunites Pets With Owners, Finds New
Homes For Animals

By Melissa Paul, Western Breeze Staff Writer
Published Tuesday, June 28, 2005
 
Lost and bewildered, a dog was found at the summit parking lot at Glacier National Park and ended up in the care of the Cut Bank Animal Shelter. Animal Control Officer, Joseph Gauthier
and his wife, Tina, a shelter volunteer, made it their mission to locate the dog's owner. Through the animal's identification, he was traced to a Washington man who was hiking the park. Joe and Tina sent word in with the pack company that was resupplying the hiker on his trek across the
park that his pet was safe and sound and in the care of the shelter. Owner and dog were reunited a few weeks later. This is just one of many happy endings for animals that find themselves at the Cut Bank Animal Shelter. The shelter has started scanning all dogs coming in for microchips using
equipment donated by AVID. Microchips serve as a permanent, invisible dog tags and microchipped animals can be traced back to their owners if they become lost and end up at the shelter. In addition to reuniting lost dogs with their owners, the shelter also finds homes for surrendered, abandoned and stray animals. "In 2004, 52 dogs and 20 cats were placed in loving
homes. So far we've adopted 96 dogs and 41 cats to loving homes. It may not sound like a lot but we are proud of the numbers," said Tina.
The Cut Bank Animal Shelter charges a nominal adoption fee to adopt an animal and the animal control officer checks the home of a prospective owner. "Most of the animals that come into our program have either been abandoned, neglected, abused or surrendered for some reason or another. We do not want to see these animals suffer again. This next move in their lives needs to be a permanent one, their "for always" home," Tina said. "Dogs will be part of the family, not chained outside, and homes need to have an adequately fenced yard, large kennel
or trolley."
"The State requires that all animals adopted from a shelter by spayed or neutered," reminded Tina. "We have all new owners provide with a certificate from their veterinarian within 30 days of adopting an animal. We do have some assistance available for low income people, though and we welcome spay/neuter donations, too."
Adopted dogs also come with the gift of Sheltercare pet insurance provided by www.Petfinder.com, good for 30 days. "We sanitize with bleach on a daily basis and most of the animals are current on their shots before they are adopted out," Tina said. "But this is sort of an extra health guarantee." Tina volunteers much of her time posting the shelter's animals on the internet on the at www.cutbankairport.org/cbshelter and at www.petfinder.org. "The internet has really expanded our horizons," Tina remarked. "We have people adopting pets from our shelter from all over." Tina also posts adoptable animals for other animal rescue organizations. "We all try to work together and help each other out," she said. "The Cascade County Humane Society has been a tremendous help to our shelter with food, adoption forms and all kinds of things. It’s great the shelters help each other." Along those lines, sometimes an animal needs to be transported between shelters or to a new home in another area. The Gauthiers participate in a pet rescue transportation program. Volunteers will take an animal for a leg of the journey, sometimes a few hundred miles and hand the pet off to another volunteer. "One of our special needs adoptions, a tripod [three legged dog] was transported this way," Tina added.
Tina has also been the driving force behind fund-raising efforts at the shelter. Last year, she applied for five grants and the Cut Bank Animal Shelter was awarded two. A $1,000 grant from PetCo and $5,000 from IAMS and the Helen Woodward Animal Coalition through their Home for the Holidays program. "It was a onetime only grant, but the Cut Bank Shelter was one
of only 20 to receive the grant." The shelter has also had items donated such as heated water bowls and pet beds. "We always can use donations, even things people can pick up at the grocery store, like bleach, hand sanitizer and dog toys. Every gift is appreciated, no matter how big or small," said Tina. The gift of time is also welcome. "We love our volunteers," she commented. "We have puppies and kittens that need socialization and anyone who wants to come and walk dogs or play with the little ones are encouraged to come."

The Cut Bank Animal Shelter is a 501(c)3 organization and all donations are tax deductible. Dog and cat food, puppy and kitten food, kitten milk replacer, bones and treats, bleach, hand sanitizer and kitty litter are also needed. Have an old ink cartridge? Don’t throw it out, give it to the dogs. The shelter participates in a program called CC for Cash, recycling used ink jet and laser cartridges and cell phones. $50 has been received for vaccinations from this program. "We
also could use stuffed animals for socializing the puppies. They smell like people and a great tool," Tina added. Appointments to visit the Cut Bank Animal Shelter to see the animals can be made with the Animal Control Officer by made by calling 406-391-2273 or 406-873-4624 after hours and weekends. More information is also available on the shelter’s websites or by emailing Tina at cutbankanimalshelter@hotmail.com.