Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter — Local services in Billings

Insulted by hostile Staff concerning a lost cat: I've been feeding a stray tabby colored cat breakfast and dinner every day for the last 4 months, she sleeps over a lot, but I have no official papers or vet visits, I had just recently ordered her a collar online, etc., she's a happy cat and I let her live a free life outdoors on her own schedule. Yesterday she disappeared, missed her meals, and I worried she got picked up and dropped at the shelter, I hate to think of her or any animal living in a cage. When I went to Yellowstone I didn't find her, but came across a restless, agitated, obviously unhappy young cat that desperately wanted out of it's cage. When I offered to adopt I was weirdly rebuffed and judged with a hostile and snide attitude by a staff member, as if I was some kind of criminal trying to do something wrong to the cat. I explained the details of my lost-stray-cat situation but the snide young ladies, including the manager, were accusatory, insulting and sanctimonious. Abusive judgmental administrators. They would rather their cats sit in cages than be adopted by caring people... The staff were appalled that I would offer to help one cat while also looking for my lost cat-friend. I said "having good motives for both things are not mutually exclusive", but I was told by staff the two together are bad, and because I had not exactly described the cats color, it was proof somehow that I am a bad, untruthful and untrustworthy person. I showed staff a photo of the cat (she said it might help with her judgments of me). Absolutely obnoxious was every word out of this girls mouth. I did receive one actual explanation, albeit given with hostility: "what if you find the missing cat and the two don't get along" - So, okay, a cat sitting in the shelter in a cage for over three weeks, pacing and crying, could have been freed immediately from lock-up and adopted into my stable caring environment, instead stays locked-up...because another stray cat that likes to roam may return, and I say okay, that's your opinion and your "job", still, why be so nasty about it? To cap off the episode, I was now curious just how far gone into delusions these girls were, so I asked the manager what the period of time was that I would have to wait to adopt, and staying with the vindictive tone of the whole affair, she told me it would be some unknown probationary period of scrutiny of at least a few "months"! And then, if and when they deem me acceptable I can then again be considered to adopt a cat - who do these people think they are? A cat could have gotten out of a cage today but they preferred rather to insult and make themselves authorities of some sort. Nasty all the way. Yellowstone Shelter, You were obnoxious, hostile, and insulting today,...

I would give this shelter and the rude lady who didn't assist me zero stars if that were possible. I agreed to care for an employer's cat while he was "out of the country" for 6 months. I was promised compensation for the work I had already done and supplies to feed and care for this animal. I am an animal lover and also try to help others if I'm able to. After bringing the cat with me, I was notified by his contact in Arizona, his supposed business partner, that she wanted nothing to do with him, the situation, and me and whatever employment I was promised. She informed me that he wasn't out of the country; he was in jail, waiting to go to treatment. She advised that she wouldn't be sending money for anything, not even this cat. I tried unsuccessfully to find a home for him. I'm unable to support another animal while I'm searching for suitable employment. Also, I'm staying with a friend, haven't been able to pay rent, and can't really expect her to have another animal in her home. I explained this to the young girl working the counter. The fact that I tried to place him in a home instead of dropping him by the first day made him "my cat" and since he was mine, I had to make an appointment to surrender him. I was then handed a list of shelters by the SHELTER, to call them for help. I feel terrible for this poor cat. 😞 Luckily, a friend of mine offered to take him while we searched for a suitable home. You take donations of money, food, pet items, and the time of volunteers. You should be ashamed of yourself for turning an animal out into...

One of the most sketchily ran shelters I have ever interacted with in my entire life. We tried to schedule a surrender for today, the 8th. We were not given a time. Just a date. So we showed up after work to do the surrender. Upon arrival staff claimed they “called and left a voicemail” with us to confirm the appointment today and could prove it. I asked the lady behind the counter to do that because neither of us has a missed call or voicemail from the shelter and she immediately changes the subject. I know you have room. You just did a waived adoption fee weekend. You’re just using this as an excuse to not take him, trying to cover for yourselves claiming you called. We packed him food, leash, collar, harness, bowl, toys… everything to try to ease the process. The whole reason for this surrender in the first place is because this dog was thrust upon us to begin with by an old roommate that moved out in the middle of the night and left him behind. We tried to take care of him, but he is too rough on our 12 year old lab which, oh , we actually got from you guys! So we’re trying to defend the dog we took in from your shelter and you’re refusing to help us. Trying to pass responsibility to any other shelter in town, which I’ve already stated won’t take him. Normally I wouldn’t go to the trouble of making a big stink like this, but if there’s one thing I hate in this world it’s being lied to, and my time wasted. Great communication. Really nailed...