For The First Time Ever, Montana Is Now A “No-Kill” State

Montana Gets Some Good News

I know I can’t be the only one lately who feels like reading the news has turned into a nonstop stream of doom and gloom.

So it was actually pretty refreshing to come across some good news for a change, especially here in Montana, as we recently became the 6th “no-kill” state in the country.

What A No Kill Animal Shelter State Means

If you’re not familiar with the term, “no-kill” basically means animal shelters across the state were able to save every healthy and treatable pet for 12 straight months.

And it wasn’t just shelters making this happen either. In 2025, Governor Greg Gianforte even declared April 9 “Montana Loves Shelter Animals Day.”

Montana officially reached the milestone in February after saving an impressive 95% of shelter animals over that 12-month stretch.

Why No Kill Shelters Are Not Always 100 Percent

The CEO of Best Friends Animal Society had this to say after both Idaho and Montana reached the milestone:

"Idaho and Montana achieving this milestone creates the kind of momentum that changes what people believe is possible. Not only do we celebrate these states becoming no-kill, but also the shelters, rescue groups, staff, veterinarians, elected officials, volunteers, donors and community members who committed to changing these pets' lives for the better."

Now, you might be wondering why a “no-kill” state isn't sitting at 100%. The reality is there are some animals brought into shelters that are either severely injured or have dangerous behavioral issues that make rehoming impossible. In Montana’s case, that accounted for the remaining 5%.

Source: Morningstar