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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.
Heather Petty - Operations Manager
Josh Franco -- Animal Care Provider and Adoption Counselor
Josh has lived near the Tetons for seventeen years. While happy to take care of cats (at least the ones that don't bite him) it is working with the dogs that makes him love his job. Scared or abused dogs that find their way to the Shelter have a patient, gentle friend to help them to adjust to their new surroundings and to help them find a new home. Josh lives in Victor with his girlfriend Jenna, and their three dogs.
Josh has lived near the Tetons for seventeen years. While happy to take care of cats (at least the ones that don't bite him) it is working with the dogs that makes him love his job. Scared or abused dogs that find their way to the Shelter have a patient, gentle friend to help them to adjust to their new surroundings and to help them find a new home. Josh lives in Victor with his girlfriend Jenna, and their three dogs.
Parker Fenger- Animal Care Provider and Adoption Counselor
Parker is a native to Teton Valley. He has owned pets for as long as he can remember. He loves to work with animals and provide them with a safe place.
Parker is a native to Teton Valley. He has owned pets for as long as he can remember. He loves to work with animals and provide them with a safe place.
Adrienne Nagy- Animal Care Provider and Adoption Counselor
Adrienne moved to Teton Valley from Indiana in May 2013 She has a background in working and volunteering in zoos, animal shelters, and wildlife rehab. When asked how she can handle the emotional aspect of working with so many homeless animals she wanted to share this story, and hope it inspires others to volunteer, foster, or adopt:
The Starfish Story
A young man is walking along the ocean and sees a beach on which thousands and thousands of starfish have washed ashore. Further along he sees an old man, walking slowly and stooping often, picking up one starfish after another and tossing each one gently into the ocean. “Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean? Don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it! You can’t possibly save them all, your efforts can't make a difference."The old man listened calmly and then bent down to pick up another starfish and threw it into the sea. "It made a difference to that one."
Adrienne moved to Teton Valley from Indiana in May 2013 She has a background in working and volunteering in zoos, animal shelters, and wildlife rehab. When asked how she can handle the emotional aspect of working with so many homeless animals she wanted to share this story, and hope it inspires others to volunteer, foster, or adopt:
The Starfish Story
A young man is walking along the ocean and sees a beach on which thousands and thousands of starfish have washed ashore. Further along he sees an old man, walking slowly and stooping often, picking up one starfish after another and tossing each one gently into the ocean. “Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean? Don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it! You can’t possibly save them all, your efforts can't make a difference."The old man listened calmly and then bent down to pick up another starfish and threw it into the sea. "It made a difference to that one."
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.
Eric Stevenson - Vice President and Treasurer has lived in Jackson Hole and Teton Valley since 1997. He had a 16 year old dog that was a precious part of his life. Eric has been a self-employed bookkeeper providing accounting services to numerous small businesses throughout both valleys since 1998.
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 to protect the environment, she enjoys spending time with her husband Dominic and their two 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.
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.
