HOV

Does the public know about the behind closed door policy of euthanizia at the HOV shelter??? I've been told many dogs are put to sleep, and I know in the old shelter, there were always many (100-200) dogs there all the time.  Now, maybe 21??  Where are all the dogs going?  I'd really like to know.  I've heard it called "heartless of the valley" by people who know, and thank god there's a new director ... maybe she won't do what the old one did.  but it's the same BOD ... maybe it won't change for the better at all.  and does anyone know who the director reports to?  Or the HOV in general?  Who governs them?  John Q Public should, and I think we need to tell everyone in the community that supports them just what is going on.

Permalink
tags: newsflash + add tags
savecancel
posted on Mon, Mar 08, 2010 10:51 AM
last updated on Mon, Mar 08, 2010 10:51 AM
CommentsRSS Feed
Want to leave a comment? Log In to your account
really? byindependent4 months ago (1 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
I was always told that HOV was a no-kill shelter. when did this policy change?
RE: really? byfrenchblu524 months ago (1 votes) (report abuse)
the policy available to the public is the no-kill policy. there is an organization in the valley that will take any and all dogs deemed unadoptable. She'll take them with their liability and turn them around if possible, and most are good dogs that just need the right interaction ... and adopt them from her organization. HOV will not use this non-profit. I know people that have worked at HOV. they put down 30 dogs in 45 days in the summer of 08. they will not put that on their web page, and they will not tell the public about it. Someone needs to find out who they report to, and if they are reporting the correct numbers ... who's going to be able to do that? I'm saying we need to find out. Don't be so naive as to believe everything they put out as true. Ever hard of propaganda??? It has to look good to the community so they get the support. They also get $4500 a month from the city of Bozeman regardless of how many animals they have on site. Bozeman wanted to pay them according to how many animals they have, but HOV fought that and won. Why not investigate???
RE: really? byChicken Dena4 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse)
You are incredible Bluey; not too sure why I am so irritated with your statements. You must have never been to a less humane shelter.... it can get pretty bad.
Yeah they have a real incentive to spread false propaganda, especially regarding euthanasia. You do realize that most of the people there get involved for their genuine love of animals? Plus I just did the math from their 2009 annual report and about 18% of the strays they took in were euthanized or died of natural causes. That is not too bad considering close to 2500 animals moved through their doors last year.
I won't argue this point anymore, it seems futile. But if you actually think that the HOV is a shyster operation, I encourage you to investigate it rather than make these wild, unsubstantiated claims.
When really? bycwrite4 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse)
I'd like to see a no-kill
policy for human babies like
the one advocated for pets.
Come on Guys byChicken Dena4 months ago (4 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
It's right there on their website. http://www.heartofthevalleyshelter.org/about/index.html

In more than one place. http://www.heartofthevalleyshelter.org/about/policy.html

Plus this has been featured in the BDC several times.

Please do not be so naive to think that they wouldn't put down an animal no matter what. That would be a stupid policy.
RE: Come on Guys byindependent4 months ago (1 votes) (report abuse)
I guess i wasn't specific enough. I'm not so naive to think that they wouldn't put down an animal no matter what, but according to the OP, they've gone from 100-200 dogs down to 21. That certainly signals a change in policy.
RE: Come on Guys byChicken Dena4 months ago (1 votes) (report abuse)
Highly doubt they have killed off all but 21 dogs. ever hear of fostering?
Also from the website:
2007 Statistics
Total animal intake: 2,286
Average daily animal census: 231
Pets reunited with their guardians: 569
Adoptions: 1,239

Also a must read from the website: http://www.heartofthevalleyshelter.org/pdfs/FAQ.pdf


I get what you are saying Indie but it is a bit disdainful when people don't do two seconds of research (original poster) and then put up this drivel about how it is "heartless of the valley" and basically slandering the place without even looking at their website. That is crazy.

I have no affiliation with HOV other than adopting a few pets over the years and retrieving a couple of wandering dogs. However I have seen other facilities around the country and how those animals are treated and Heart of the Valley is FAR from heartless. Plus they must be doing pretty damn well to be able to get the nice new facilities.
Realistic no kill policy byArt4 months ago (2 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
If you have ever been to the Heart of the Valley animal shelter to look at dogs, you have probably ran into the animal that you thought at the time had little or no chance to be adopted. It's a shame and it's probably seldom if ever the dogs fault they turned out the way they did, but the reality of it is that some dogs can't be adopted, or shouldn't be. I think the policy of no kill has to be with adoptable dogs.
Not the reality... bysproutslilsis4 months ago (2 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
To my understanding, the Heart of the Valley is a no-kill shelter; meaning that no animal has an "expiration" or adopt by date. They (unlike a lot of other shelters) do not euthanize just because an animal has been there for such amount of time. They do however euthanize if the animal has behavioral or health problems that cannot be turned around. HOV has their responsibility to the public to deem fit any animal that may or may not be adopted. If they were to adopt out an ill-tempered dog and that dog bit someone, HOV could be liable. I know it's a sad fate, but this is how the no-kill policies work. If you are still unsure about it, stop by and talk to them.
Just wondering? bycwrite4 months ago (1 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
Could animals be(being) shipped
to some other region where
a need to adopt is higher?
I've known of several people who
for one reason or another
do not adopt locally. They don't
seem concerned about over-population
of adoptable pets here.
RE: Just wondering? bytiredofbeingjudged4 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse)
heard on the news that shelters in california are shipping out those tinsy-winsy (toy?) chihuahuas to other states, seems there are just too many of the little guys
HOV Response byTweller4 months ago (3 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
Dear Readers,

This is not the first time that these issues have come forward, and it probably won’t be the last. In fact, because this community is so passionate about animals, we know these discussions “come with the territory.” That’s something we treasure about living here.

However, I wanted to set the record straight about our policies here at Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter. We are indeed a “no kill” shelter, but unfortunately that term is a confusing one. We operate differently from a “sanctuary,” where every animal, regardless of medical or behavioral issues, may live out its days. Here is how our policy –which has not changed – works on a day-to-day basis: We are an open door shelter, which means we accept any lost, abandoned or surrendered cat, dog or rabbit from anywhere, no questions asked. The animals arrive at our shelter for all sorts of reasons and in every imaginable condition. We accept them all. In many cases, we design “lesson plans” for animals that need more socialization or training; in other cases, we give animals extensive medical care, including major surgeries, dental extractions and treatments before we deem them adoptable. We’re always thrilled when we find an animal its “forever home.” And we never euthanize for space or length of stay at the shelter.

As vital as it is to re-home adoptable animals, we also have an obligation to the community to ensure we don’t send out animals that are sick or could be a danger to people. Nobody wants to live near an aggressive dog that could harm a child or another pet.

Heart of the Valley staff and volunteers want readers of this thread to understand our policy regarding treatment of animals at the shelter. Although on-line discussions can accomplish much, we invite anyone who is interested to reach out to discuss this important matter, face-to-face. Often, when animal lovers sit down and talk, something positive happens: We realize that we have more in common than we’d ever anticipated. We’d like everyone to support what’s going on here. We’re proud of our track record. If you haven’t ever visited the shelter, please do so soon, or call us at 388-9399. Thanks again for caring for animals. It’s work that really matters to us all.

Sincerely, Traci Weller, Executive Director, Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter
RE: HOV Response byfrenchblu524 months ago (3 votes) (report abuse)
Well, I used to work there when it was at the old facility, and I know dogs were put to sleep when they did not need to be. I also know they will not use the local rescue and rehab that takes all the behaviorally challenged dogs from ANYWHERE, works with them, and takes any behavioral liability with them, then adopts them out from her organization. It's a 501(c)3 also. She and her workers have had 100 percent success rate, with 26 really abused, vicious, aggressive, or feral dogs coming in and all 26 going out. One was not deemed adoptable, and he was kept until old age and cancer/diabetes claimed his quality of life. That makes the total 27 not including new ones she has now. I have done lots of research and talked to those who worked there about abuses of both policy and employees. Maybe with a new exe dir, it will change. I doubt it. If they're not willing to let anyone else help with the behaviorally challenged dogs, HOV claiming they know how to work them through it, and have the time for the employees to spend on each dog, then it's not changing.
You Are Simply Not Informed byBozeBoy4 months ago (3 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
Wow - uninformed speculation is a dangerouse thing. The canine census at HOV is down these days because they are getting fewer turn-ins and strays than they have historically, which means their educational programs are working, and their free spay-neauter clinics are working. They are, in fact, recruiting dogs from other shelters that have an overflow population so they can ease overcrowding and killing at other shelters, and so visitors to HOV can find a good companion. I'm a dog-walker at HOV who knows the stats, has seen how hard they try to work with dogs to make them adoptable, and know how much it pains them to have to put a dog down for severe medical or beahvioural reasons. The don't kill healthy, adoptable dogs; that's a fact. They have old dogs down there right now. They have a deaf dog. They have a dog who has been there for almost 3 years. They don't give up on dogs AND they live healthier, happier lives at HOV than some of the so-called sanctuaries around the valley. Get the facts. Uninformed speculation is mean-spirited and dangerous. Do yourself a favor; go volunteer there instead of spreading lies.
Thanks, Traci byArt4 months ago (1 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
Well said, Traci. Thanks. You too, BozeBoy
Uninformed opinons are dangerous! bybeany4 months ago (2 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
Thank you Traci for clarifying Heart of The Valley's policy - Speculation and uninformed opinions can be damaging. I would rather focus on the wonderful job that the shelter is doing, and I'm so proud of what the Shelter has accomplished. If you visit the shelter it's obvious of the commitment of the staff and the volunteers! Keep up the good work!