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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.
Josh Franco - Operations Manager
Josh has spent the past twenty years living near the Tetons, enjoying the skiing, fishing and hiking. Past careers have included the restaurant business, fishing guide, and selling outdoor gear. It took a while to figure out that taking care of the homeless cats and dogs of Teton Valley is the job he was always looking for. Much of his training took place in the quarantine kennels at the TVCAS. Sitting on one end of a kennel armed with patience, compassion, and a package of hot dogs, with a scared dog on the other end, they figured it out. He had some good teachers. Josh currently lives in Victor with his dogs.
Josh has spent the past twenty years living near the Tetons, enjoying the skiing, fishing and hiking. Past careers have included the restaurant business, fishing guide, and selling outdoor gear. It took a while to figure out that taking care of the homeless cats and dogs of Teton Valley is the job he was always looking for. Much of his training took place in the quarantine kennels at the TVCAS. Sitting on one end of a kennel armed with patience, compassion, and a package of hot dogs, with a scared dog on the other end, they figured it out. He had some good teachers. Josh currently lives in Victor with his dogs.
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.
Patty Jaksha - Director
Patty has lived on both sides of the Tetons for over 25 years. She is a small business owner with a background in accounting. In 1989 she started one of the first pet sitting businesses in Jackson. Since she was a small child Patty has always had a deep love of animals. She is a passionate advocate for animal welfare, and is always encouraging shelter adoptions.
She hopes that by serving on the TVCAS board she can be a voice for all of the cats and dogs waiting for their forever homes. She currently lives in Victor with 3 dogs, 13 cats, 2 horses, and a parrot. All either rescued or adopted.
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 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.
Adrienne Nagy - 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: human partner Matt, hound Eddy, and feline golden girl Blanche.
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: human partner Matt, hound Eddy, and feline golden girl Blanche.
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.
