Humane Society Tries Different Approach

Everyone at the Humane Society shelter here hates the thought of killing the animals they’re trying to protect.

So they don’t kill them anymore.

The policy went into effect several months ago, and it seems to be working.

“It drove the staff to tears to kill an animal,” said director Sam Rotellini.

Previously, the shelter would hold an animal four days, and then the staff would decide whether it had prospects of being adopted. If not, they killed it with a lethal injection.

Now animals are not killed unless they are aggressive or are so badly injured or so sick that they can’t recover, Rotellini said.

The 11-member board of directors must give permission for the killing of any animal.

The Bozeman shelter is the only one in the state with such a policy, Rotellini said. It will take strong community support to make it work, he added.

Former shelter director Melody Dirks pinpointed the crux of the issue: “It’s a great idea if there’s enough turnover and space.”

Rotellini said 120 animals were adopted in July, but the shelter population now is only six fewer than in July.