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Teton Valley Community Animal Shelter
TVCAS is a local non-profit animal shelter located in Driggs, Idaho. We are funded through grants, private donations and through contribution from our local municipalities. TVCAS opened its doors in June 2011 in an already existing facility. We have successfully operated the Shelter since that time and look forward to many more successful years ahead.
We take in on average about 500 animals a year. This includes animals that are lost and get returned to their owners. We strive to keep our adoption rates high and our animal population at the shelter manageable for staff and comfortable for the animals.
We take in on average about 500 animals a year. This includes animals that are lost and get returned to their owners. We strive to keep our adoption rates high and our animal population at the shelter manageable for staff and comfortable for the animals.
Meet the Board
Keith Gnagey- President has lived in the valley since 2009, but has been visiting the valley for over thirty years. He has one Bernese Mountain dog, Montana, who loves the weather, especially the cold and snow. Keith is currently the CEO of Teton Valley Health Care.
Heather Petty- Treasurer Heather, a Wyoming native, moved to Jackson Hole in 1988 and made the shift to Teton Valley in 2008. A love of animals has always been a passion and working as Operations Manager of TVCAS from August 2014 to April 2016 fulfilled a life-long dream. She is carefully managed at home by 6 rescued cats and one very patient dog, Mouse.
Andrea Santarsiere- Secretary . Born and raised in Massachusetts, Andrea moved to the West in 2006 and has lived in Teton Valley since 2011. She attended Vermont Law School, where she was president of the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund, earning a J.D. with a focus in environmental and wildlife law in 2005. When Andrea is not working with the Center for Biological Diversity to protect the wildlife, she enjoys spending time with her husband Dominic, their dog Bella adopted from TVCAS, and their 2 adopted cats, Cali and Ganessa.
Sheriff Tony Liford - Director has lived in Teton Valley since 2006. Six years ago he rescued his first cat and now has 4. His professional career has been law enforcement since 1976.
Adrienne Rigsby - Director Adrienne, originally from Indiana, moved to Driggs in 2013. She sought out the local animal shelter, getting a part time job. Her background includes zookeeping, animal shelters, animal control, doggie daycare, vet assistant, and wildlife rehab. She found herself settling Teton Valley and relishes in the beauty and magic of the mountains. Her goal is to continue to help raise awareness for the shelter and invite the community to join the efforts of working with homeless animals. She is grateful to live with her supportive family: Husband Matt and Hound Eddy.
Liz Nobman - Director Liz is a small business owner in the beautiful Teton Valley, Idaho, where she also lives with her husband Derrick, two human children, one very geriatric cat Morgan, and one Lab-ish mix Mesa. After adopting her first rescue dog in 1996, she became committed to the principle of ‘Adopt Don’t Shop’ and has lived that ever since with a constantly rotating cast of rescues, fosters and adopted animals. While attending college, Liz worked for the world’s largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization as a Veterinary Technician, and has tried to stay involved in animal rescue ever since.
TVCAS "no-kill" policy
People often ask us what the parameters are for our no-kill policy. "No-kill" shelters are mostly defined as a facility where all adoptable and treatable animals are saved. However, because we do not euthanize for space, a better way to describe our facility is "limited admissions". We will only take in as many animals as we can safely and humanely hold.
Teton Valley Community Animal Shelter will not utilize euthanasia as a means of population control.
The following conditions are used as criteria for determining that an animal is unadoptable. In these cases we feel it is better to humanely euthanize the animal rather than let it suffer through a terminal illness or be forced to live it's life in a cage:
1. Those animals that despite treatment or training, could pose a health or safety risk to people or other animals in a normal adoptive home.
2. Animals that have manifested signs of disease, injury, or a congenital condition that adversely affects the health of the animal or that is likely to adversely affect the animal's health in the future.
3. Animals with a chronic or terminal infectious disease that pose a risk of spreading illness to the general pet population.
Behavior and medical evaluations are conducted for each animal that comes into the shelter. The Operations Committee, which consists of veterinary and animal training professionals, are responsible for these evaluations.
Teton Valley Community Animal Shelter will not utilize euthanasia as a means of population control.
The following conditions are used as criteria for determining that an animal is unadoptable. In these cases we feel it is better to humanely euthanize the animal rather than let it suffer through a terminal illness or be forced to live it's life in a cage:
1. Those animals that despite treatment or training, could pose a health or safety risk to people or other animals in a normal adoptive home.
2. Animals that have manifested signs of disease, injury, or a congenital condition that adversely affects the health of the animal or that is likely to adversely affect the animal's health in the future.
3. Animals with a chronic or terminal infectious disease that pose a risk of spreading illness to the general pet population.
Behavior and medical evaluations are conducted for each animal that comes into the shelter. The Operations Committee, which consists of veterinary and animal training professionals, are responsible for these evaluations.
