AniMeals BFF Project

05/11/2022

The Need
We currently reside in a building which has recently been sold. While it is a great warehouse space, it is not conducive to animal sheltering. As with any warehouse, there are concrete floors, no windows, and no cooling or air exchange systems. We have no isolation/observation/quarantine/receiving room for animals coming into the shelter. Our 10 day quarantine period is done in the kitchen which doubles as our Intensive Care Unit, intake room, food preparation area, shelter food storage, and grooming facility. With no ventilation this area is a potential breeding ground for bacteria and air borne viruses which could possibly infect the entire population of the shelter. Our cat housing consists of 10x10x6 foot dog kennels that we have topped with deer wire. We also house kittens in ferret cages due to lack of space. Opportunities for community engagement/education are lost because we have no place to meet or sit down.
The Impact of a New Shelter/Food Bank
With an improved facility, and a high visibility location, adoptions are expected to increase by 40% which would allow us to save more lives by making room for more at-risk animals. Designated isolation and intake areas as well as proper ventilation will prevent the spread of infectious diseases. A complete medical suite where we could host low cost spay/neuter clinics would create a much needed additional resource for our community.
Our resident cats would benefit both emotionally and physically by having access to natural light, fresh air and stimulation on outdoor “catios”. A Climate controlled food bank would allow us indoor storage where our food stores would not be subject to the A Conference room/Orientation/Community Engagement/Education/Classroom is essential for training purposes and community outreach, teaching responsible companion animal guardianship, TNR, Kids Camp, and Volunteer workshops. We believe that an informed community is an engaged community.
A new facility will meet the needs of the animals, staff, volunteers and visitors allowing us to provide improved services to the community and help further our lifesaving mission for homeless pets in Missoula and the surrounding counties. Our goal is not to increase the capacity of the shelter, but to increase our adoptions and efficiency.
Our Request
We will need the support of our entire community to assist us in this endeavor. Gifts both large and small are essential in order for us to accomplish this. Please consider making a tax deductible donation today by mailing a check to AniMeals at 1700 Rankin Street, Missoula, MT 59808. (Make sure to put “The BFF Project” in the memo line)
If you are in a position to either help us by donating funds or property that is centrally located in Missoula, please contact AniMeals at 721.4710. Your contribution would mean the world to us and the animals we serve. Together we can make our little corner of the world a better place.
Please share!

04/14/2022

Our Foster Program

Kitten season is the time of year when our shelter is flooded with homeless litters, starting in the Spring and ending in late Fall. This high volume of babies presents many challenges for our staff and the kittens we are caring for.

It is critical that these babies are placed into temporary homes because of a condition known as “failure to thrive”. A kitten’s odds are greatly diminished when their first days are spent in a shelter. They NEED to be in a home.

Our Foster Program doubles the amount of lives we can save.

AniMeals pays for all of the food and supplies that our foster families need to ensure the survival of their tiny charges.

Our Foster Program saves an average of 200 kittens annually.

04/14/2022

Thank you April A. for your wonderful donation for our new building project! We are very grateful!

11/22/2021

Please consider making a tax deductible donation today. With your support we can make the AniMeals BFF Project a reality for the kitties in our care while they wait for their forever families to find them. You can donate on line at www.animeals.com or mail a check to 1700 Rankin Street, Missoula, Montana 59808. Be sure to write BFF Project in the memo line. Thank you for your compassion and your support!

AniMeals is here to save the hungry, the helpless, the lost and the little ones just struggling to survive. To house and feed as many animals...

11/09/2021

The irresistible lure of a living display of autumn...

11/09/2021

Thanksgiving, the time of year we pause to give thanks to all of our wonderful volunteers & supporters that have made AniMeals successful. Your generosity and caring encourage and inspire us. We could not do this without you. God bless you all...and God bless the animals.

10/28/2021

The Need

We currently reside in a building which has recently been sold. While it is a great warehouse space, it is not conducive to animal sheltering. As with any warehouse, there are concrete floors, no windows, and no cooling or air exchange systems. We have no isolation/observation/quarantine/receiving room for animals coming into the shelter. Our 10 day quarantine period is done in the kitchen which doubles as our Intensive Care Unit, intake room, food preparation area, shelter food storage, and grooming facility. With no ventilation this area is a potential breeding ground for bacteria and air borne viruses which could possibly infect the entire population of the shelter. Our cat housing consists of 10x10x6 foot dog kennels that we have topped with deer wire. We also house kittens in ferret cages due to lack of space. Opportunities for community engagement/education are lost because we have no place to meet or sit down.

The Impact of a New Shelter/Food Bank

With an improved facility, and a high visibility location, adoptions are expected to increase by 40% which would allow us to save more lives by making room for more at-risk animals. Designated isolation and intake areas as well as proper ventilation will prevent the spread of infectious diseases. A complete medical suite where we could host low cost spay/neuter clinics would create a much needed additional resource for our community.
Our resident cats would benefit both emotionally and physically by having access to natural light, fresh air and stimulation on outdoor “catios”. A Climate controlled food bank would allow us indoor storage where our food stores would not be subject to the A Conference room/Orientation/Community Engagement/Education/Classroom is essential for training purposes and community outreach, teaching responsible companion animal guardianship, TNR, Kids Camp, and Volunteer workshops. We believe that an informed community is an engaged community.
A new facility will meet the needs of the animals, staff, volunteers and visitors allowing us to provide improved services to the community and help further our lifesaving mission for homeless pets in Missoula and the surrounding counties. Our goal is not to increase the capacity of the shelter, but to increase our adoptions and efficiency.


Our Request

We will need the support of our entire community to assist us in this endeavor. Gifts both large and small are essential in order for us to accomplish this. Please consider making a tax deductible donation today by mailing a check to AniMeals at 1700 Rankin Street, Missoula, MT 59808. (Make sure to put “The BFF Project” in the memo line)

If you are in a position to either help us by donating funds or property that is centrally located in Missoula, please contact AniMeals at 721.4710. Your contribution would mean the world to us and the animals we serve. Together we can make our little corner of the world a better place.

Please share!

10/27/2021

07/12/2021

Here's lookin' at you my fabulous friend!!! Thank you so much for the wonderful donation to our new home!

04/07/2021

Thank you Chuck M. for your wonderful donation to the kitties future home!!

03/10/2021

Thank you Bonnie B. for your continuing contributions and commitment to our future home! You are so appreciated! Kitty kisses to you!

01/25/2021

Thank you Carol R. for your fabulous donation to the kitties! We are more than grateful!

01/25/2021

We are so grateful to Susan C. for your wonderful donation to the BFF project! Kitty kisses to you!!

10/22/2020

10/13/2020

Kitty kisses and a big thank you to you Bonnie!!!!!

09/17/2020

Our kitties want to say THANK YOU AGAIN BONNIE!!!

08/05/2020

Thank you Bonnie B. for your generous donation to the BFF Project. The kitties are dreaming of their new home, and you just keep making their dreams come true.

07/14/2020

Thank you sooooo much Bonnie B. for your kind support for the kitties!

06/25/2020

Please make a tax deductible donation today!

05/14/2020

~~We have some extremely exciting news~~

As many of you know we have been working on getting into a new building-- if you did not know that you do now.

Last year we created a committee of eight people to get this project started, we are calling it the BFF Project (Building for Our Friends); we expect it will take 3 to 5 years to complete. Back in January we hired a professional Consulting firm by the name of Shelter Planners to do an unbiased needs assessment of our dream to get into a building that would improve our adoptions as well as make the cats lives more comfortable. The final report for step 1 is done, and it did confirm the need.

We will be going to cage less housing except for the quarantine/medical area. All the cat housing will be done as rooms/pods with an attached Catio to the outside so they can get some fresh air. We also will be adding a medical suite so we can do low cost Spay/Neuters for the public.
The next step is to work on the concept drawings of the building and floor plan which Shelter Planners will be doing for us as well, then onto some serious fundraising 😊

We would love to share the 31-page Needs Assessment report with anyone who would like to read it. We would be happy to email, print or mail a copy just need to let us know. We are extremely excited about making this dream a reality for AniMeals.

**The pictures below are just a few of the ideas we had as well as what is depicted in Shelter Planners Report.

04/07/2020

There you go again, being awesome! We can't thank you enough Bonnie B.! You hit us right in the heart!

03/31/2020

Thank you Bonnie B.!!! for your continued support of the BFF Project! You are awesome!

03/25/2020

Many thanks to Eleanor D. for your thoughtful donation! We appreciate you!

03/25/2020

Home Bound Disabled Program

This program is designed specifically for the pets of the elderly, disabled and home bound members of our community.

A companion animal is sometimes the only "family" member they have, providing friendship, joy, and a reason for living.

Every week AniMeals provides food to local seniors and homebound disabled households.

We work with fourteen different social service agencies that refer these people to us. We have 100+ seniors currently signed up to receive pet food.

At times the cost of pet food can be an insurmountable obstacle for individuals living on a fixed income. It can mean the difference between keeping their beloved family member and feeding them applesauce, or surrendering them to an unknown future. Many seniors give up their food to feed their cats and dogs. Supplying pets with adequate daily meals makes it far more likely that everyone in the household is eating their own nutritious food.

03/24/2020

Our Seniors for Seniors Program

Senior pets and senior citizens are truly a match made in heaven. Research tells us that companion animals can help improve physical and mental health. By adopting and spending time with a pet, you can experience the benefits of lowered stress levels and blood pressure. Pets provide friendship for lonely individuals, and open up opportunities for interacting with others which an older person may miss if family is far away.

The company of a beloved pet has been proven to reduce depression. The quiet and doting home of a senior citizen is the perfect match for an older animal looking for a new home.
Senior animals offer gentler, calmer companionship.
Our seniors for seniors program matches animals over 11 years old with people over the age of 62.

No adoption fee for approved applications.

03/24/2020

Thank you Ellen B. for your donation! The kitties are so very grateful!

03/04/2020

Our Critical Care Program

Many of the homeless animals that come to us are in need of urgent care. Many suffer serious illnesses from neglect and harsh weather. Many have broken bones and life threatening injuries. Many require immediate, emergency veterinary care.

When these situations present themselves and speed is essential to saving a life, no matter what time of the day or night it is, the cost is usually very high. It is important to get these animals stabilized as quickly as possible as shock alone can kill them.

These expenses are not your average every day medical expenses, they are always emergency situations requiring extraordinary measures including life and death surgeries.

02/27/2020

Our Barn Cat Program was created as a placement program for cats that cannot live as household companions, yet are an excellent addition to farms, stables, plant nurseries, feed stores and/or warehouses. These low maintenance, independent “working” cats (the original form of pest control) are healthy, spayed/neutered, vaccinated for rabies, and ear tipped.

The program requires that cats are adopted in pairs, are provided a safe outdoor home where shelter from the elements and harsh weather are easily accessible, as well as daily fresh food and water. Our adoption program gives them what they need; forever homes where they can live happily with limited human interaction.

A home where they are wanted, valued and cared for.

02/10/2020

Thank you once again to our wonderful supporter Bonnie B. for your donation to the kitties! You are truly the best!