Yellowstone Billings Animal Shelter & Control: Adoption 2026
If you searched for “Yellowstone animal shelter Billings MT,” the adoption organization you probably mean is Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter (YVAS), now operating at 5056 Jellison Road, Billings, MT 59101. Its main shelter phone is 406-294-7387.
The part that changed in 2026 is Animal Control. YVAS is a private nonprofit shelter, not the City of Billings Animal Control Division. Billings Animal Control remains a City/Police service, while YVAS handles adoption and many shelter/community programs from Jellison Road.
*Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Wednesday is closed. Saturday and Sunday are 12–5 PM.
Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter Hours 2026
These are YVAS public hours at the current Jellison Road location. Adoption and meet-and-greet activity ends one hour before the building closes.
| Day | Public hours | Latest adoption / meet-and-greet planning |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 12:00 PM–7:00 PM | Adoption activity ends around 6 PM. |
| Tuesday | 12:00 PM–7:00 PM | Arrive well before 6 PM for a pet meeting. |
| Wednesday | Closed | Use online listings and call on the next open day. |
| Thursday | 12:00 PM–7:00 PM | Adoption activity ends around 6 PM. |
| Friday | 12:00 PM–7:00 PM | Check the animal listing before leaving home. |
| Saturday | 12:00 PM–5:00 PM | Plan to begin the process by about 4 PM. |
| Sunday | 12:00 PM–5:00 PM | Weekend closing is earlier than weekdays. |
How to Adopt From Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter
YVAS uses an application and matching process rather than a simple first-click checkout. You can complete the application before visiting or at the shelter.
Check current adoptable animals
Start at the official Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter adoption page . YVAS lists dogs, cats, working cats and other animals.
Availability changes quickly, so make a short list rather than assuming one particular animal will still be available when you arrive.
Complete the adoption application
You can complete an application ahead of time or at the shelter. The application gives staff information about your household, lifestyle and the kind of pet you are hoping to adopt.
Confirm that every adopter is at least 18
The person signing the adoption agreement must be 18 or older. Bring a government-issued photo ID.
If you rent, confirm the pet policy before visiting
Check landlord/property restrictions first. YVAS specifically asks renters to verify that the intended pet is permitted at the residence.
Plan household and dog meet-and-greets when applicable
YVAS has on-site meet-and-greet yards. For a dog adoption, household members and resident dogs may be part of the matching process so everyone can meet on neutral ground.
YVAS strongly encourages family meetings for cats but does not require the same process for every cat adoption.
Finish the paperwork before the adoption cutoff
YVAS says the final paperwork takes about 30 minutes. Because adoptions stop one hour before closing, do not arrive at the end of the public day.
Pay the adoption fee and applicable Billings license
YVAS’s adoption page says it accepts cash or credit card for adoption payments. If the animal will live inside Billings city limits, an applicable City license is also required.
Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter Adoption Fees 2026
Current dog fees
| Dog age | Current fee |
|---|---|
| 6 months & under | $200 |
| 7 months & up | $160 |
Current cat fees
| Cat age | Current fee |
|---|---|
| 6 months & under | $100 |
| 7 months–7 years | $50 |
| 8 years & up | $15 |
What the Dog or Cat Adoption Fee Includes
Spay or neuter
YVAS says adopted dogs and cats are sterilized before adoption.
Microchip
Adopted dogs and cats are microchipped. Keep your registration contact information current after adoption.
Age-appropriate vaccination
YVAS states that adopted dogs and cats receive age-appropriate vaccinations before placement.
Can You Put a YVAS Pet on Hold?
Adult-animal hold
YVAS currently allows an approved adopter to place an eligible adult animal on hold with a $20 non-refundable hold fee.
If the adoption is completed, the $20 is applied toward the adoption fee.
The hold is limited
YVAS does not currently accept holds for puppies or kittens. Adult-animal holds are generally only through the end of that business day.
Lost Pet in Billings: Search and Reclaim Quickly
YVAS currently publishes a 72-hour maximum reclaim hold for lost/stray animals in its care before the animal may be evaluated for adoption.
Check YVAS lost/found listings and file a report
Use the official YVAS Lost & Found page . If your pet is not listed, submit a Lost Pet Report.
Call YVAS at 406-294-7387
Ask whether an animal matching your description has been brought to the Jellison Road shelter.
Also check Billings Animal Control if the pet disappeared inside City limits
Billings Animal Control: 406-657-8226. The City may be involved in pickup or impound routing.
Visit in person for a likely match
YVAS recommends checking in person rather than relying only on one online listing or telephone report.
Bring reclaim documents
Bring government-issued photo ID, proof of ownership such as photos or veterinary records, the rabies vaccination certificate when applicable, and a payment method.
Found a Stray Animal? City and County Routes Are Different
YVAS does not operate a roaming pickup service. Location determines which government agency should be called.
Call Billings Animal Control
Use this route for stray pickup, injured strays, animal bites, dangerous animals, cruelty/neglect, noisy-animal complaints and other City Animal Control issues.
Call YCSO non-emergency
Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office currently lists this route for county animal complaints, injured animals, stray/at-large dogs and livestock.
County Animal Control does not provide routine stray-cat pickup.
Emergency & Important Billings Animal Contacts
| Contact | Number | Use this for |
|---|---|---|
| Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter | 406-294-7387 | Adoption, YVAS pets, lost/found reports, reclaim, surrender appointments and community programs. |
| Billings Animal Control | 406-657-8226 | City animal-control complaints, bites, dangerous animals, injured/stray animals, cruelty/neglect and field response. |
| Billings Police / 911 Communications non-emergency | 406-657-8200 | Non-emergency public-safety routing, including situations outside normal Animal Control office access when police/dispatch assistance is appropriate. |
| Yellowstone County Animal Control / YCSO | 406-657-8200 | Animal complaints outside Billings City limits within Yellowstone County, including stray/at-large dogs and livestock. |
| Emergency | 911 | Immediate threat to human life or an active emergency requiring police, fire or EMS. |
| RiverStone Health Public Health | 406-247-3305 | Yellowstone County public-health communicable-disease and rabies-exposure questions. |
| RiverStone animal-bite reporting questions | 406-247-2129 | The current RiverStone Animal Bite Report form lists this number for questions about reporting during business hours. |
Animal Bite or Possible Rabies Exposure
Get medical care when needed
Wash and care for the wound as directed by medical professionals, and seek prompt evaluation for serious bites or possible rabies exposure.
For a Billings incident, contact Animal Control
Call 406-657-8226 and provide the exact location, time, animal description and owner information when known.
Public-health reporting may also be required
RiverStone Health is the local public-health agency for Yellowstone County. Its current Animal Bite Report form lists 406-247-2129 for reporting questions.
Preserve vaccination and animal information
Keep the biting animal’s rabies documentation, owner information, description and location available for Animal Control and public-health follow-up.
Owner Surrender at Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter
YVAS accepts owner-surrendered companion animals by appointment only. Billings Animal Control does not operate as a normal owner-surrender counter.
Call 406-294-7387 first
Schedule an appointment before bringing the animal. YVAS says appointment intake helps the shelter plan space, staffing and medical resources.
Current surrender fee
YVAS currently lists a $20 surrender fee per animal, unless another arrangement is made with a manager.
Review rehoming alternatives first
Open the official YVAS Rehome a Pet page . YVAS also offers Shelter Skip for direct home-to-home placement.
Schedule the surrender appointment
Call 406-294-7387. Do not assume the shelter can accept an owned pet as an unscheduled walk-in.
Bring the required paperwork
YVAS asks for government-issued photo ID, the surrender form, the correct behavior profile and any veterinary records you have.
Be completely honest about medical and behavior history
Accurate bite history, medications, triggers, handling needs and veterinary conditions help staff make safer care and placement decisions.
Billings Dog & Cat License Fees
Billings City ordinance requires dogs and cats kept within the City to be licensed. Proof of rabies vaccination is required, along with proof of spay/neuter status when purchasing an altered-animal rate.
| License type | 1-year fee | 3-year fee |
|---|---|---|
| Spayed / neutered dog or cat | $7.50 | $15 |
| Unaltered dog or cat | $30 | $80 |
Prepare rabies and alteration proof
Have the current rabies certificate and spay/neuter evidence available before applying for the discounted altered rate.
Use the official City licensing page or approved seller
Review the official Billings Dog/Cat Licensing page . Licenses can be purchased through Animal Control and other approved locations, including the animal shelter when applicable.
YVAS Vaccines, Microchips, Spay/Neuter & End-of-Life Help
YVAS has a shelter medical team and offers several community-facing veterinary programs, but it should not be treated as a full-service public emergency veterinary hospital.
$10 vaccines
At YVAS low-cost vaccination clinics, current posted prices are:
- Rabies — $10
- Distemper — $10
- Bordetella for dogs — $10
Clinics are offered as scheduling allows. Pre-registration is required and walk-ins are not accepted for normal vaccination clinics.
Microchip
Current vaccine-clinic information lists microchipping at $20.
The same clinic information lists a single-dose dewormer at $5.
Spay & neuter clinics
YVAS offers low-cost spay/neuter clinics as scheduling and staffing allow.
Some 2026 clinic registration pages listed $85 for dogs and $55 for cats, but these are event-specific clinic prices. Confirm the active registration page before relying on them.
Free TNR services
YVAS offers Trap-Neuter-Return support for eligible feral/community cats in Yellowstone County. Community Cat clinics are currently described as free, with donations appreciated.
Cats must follow current live-trap and eligibility rules.
Public euthanasia service
YVAS currently lists appointment-based euthanasia at $75, subject to Medical Team availability.
Aggressive dogs have an additional $25 charge. Communal cremation is included.
Do not assume same-day care
Vaccine, surgery and end-of-life programs have different appointment and eligibility rules. Use the current service page instead of arriving as a walk-in.
Open the current clinic page
For vaccinations, use the official YVAS Vaccinations page .
For surgery/TNR, check current availability
Use the official YVAS Spay & Neuter page for current appointments, waitlists and community-cat rules.
Verify that your pet is eligible before paying
Age, weight, breed/airway risk, health status and clinic capacity can affect whether a pet can safely be accepted.
YVAS Veterinary Leadership
Dr. Lisa Brinlee
YVAS’s current staff page lists Dr. Lisa Brinlee as Director of Veterinarian Medicine.
This is an organizational medical-leadership role. It does not mean Dr. Brinlee personally sees every public clinic patient or has a published individual appointment schedule.
Clinic staffing changes by program
YVAS also lists a Head of Veterinary Services and veterinary technicians on its staff roster.
Because YVAS does not publish a doctor-by-doctor public appointment timetable or universal exam-fee chart, this article does not fabricate one.
Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter Map & Visit Planning
5056 Jellison Road
Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter
5056 Jellison Rd
Billings, MT 59101
Main phone: 406-294-7387.
Monad Road is the City route
Current City pages list Billings Animal Control at 1735 Monad Road.
That is not the current YVAS adoption address. If your issue involves impound, Animal Control or a found City animal, call first.
Official Yellowstone Valley & Billings Animal-Service Links
The practical information is already summarized above. Use these official pages for live animal availability, active clinic registration, forms and same-day changes.
Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter FAQ: Top 10 Questions
1. Where is Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter in Billings now?
Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter currently operates at 5056 Jellison Road, Billings, MT 59101. Its main shelter phone is 406-294-7387. The former Monad Road location should not be used as the current YVAS adoption address.
2. What are Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter adoption hours?
YVAS currently lists Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 12 PM to 7 PM; Wednesday closed; and Saturday and Sunday from 12 PM to 5 PM. Adoptions and meet-and-greets end one hour before closing each day.
3. How much does it cost to adopt a dog from YVAS?
Current standard dog fees are $200 for dogs six months and younger and $160 for dogs seven months and older. Dogs are spayed/neutered, microchipped and age-appropriately vaccinated before adoption.
4. How much does it cost to adopt a cat from Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter?
YVAS currently lists $100 for cats six months and younger, $50 for cats seven months through seven years, and $15 for cats eight years and older.
5. Is Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter the same as Billings Animal Control?
No. YVAS is a private nonprofit animal shelter. Billings Animal Control is a City of Billings Police Department service. The current Animal Control phone is 406-657-8226. The separation became especially important after Billings sheltering arrangements changed during 2026.
6. What should I do if my pet is lost in Billings?
File a lost-pet report with YVAS, check shelter listings repeatedly and call 406-294-7387. If City Animal Control may have picked up the animal, also call 406-657-8226. YVAS currently publishes a 72-hour reclaim period for strays in its care, so act quickly.
7. Who picks up stray animals in Billings?
YVAS does not operate a roaming stray-pickup service. Inside Billings city limits, call Billings Animal Control at 406-657-8226. Outside the City but within Yellowstone County, the Sheriff’s Office currently routes county animal complaints through 406-657-8200.
8. Can I surrender my pet to YVAS without an appointment?
No. YVAS currently requires an appointment for owner surrender. Call 406-294-7387 first. The current surrender fee is $20 per animal unless another arrangement is approved by a manager.
9. Does YVAS offer low-cost vaccines and microchips?
Yes. As scheduling allows, YVAS offers pre-registered low-cost vaccination clinics. Current published prices are $10 each for rabies, distemper and dog Bordetella vaccines, $5 for a single-dose dewormer and $20 for a microchip. Normal vaccine clinics do not accept walk-ins.
10. Who handles animal bites and rabies reporting in Billings?
For a Billings Animal Control response, call 406-657-8226. RiverStone Health is the local public-health agency for Yellowstone County; its current Animal Bite Report form lists 406-247-2129 for reporting questions. Call 911 for an immediate life-threatening emergency.
Animal Shelter Action Planner: Lost Pet, Found Pet, Adoption, Reclaim & Surrender Helper
Use this free tool to create a practical next-step plan before visiting or contacting an animal shelter, humane society, rescue, or animal control agency. It does not search a live shelter database, but it helps you prepare the right documents, questions, safety steps, and official-source searches.
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Select your situation and location. The tool will create a general action plan, search links, call questions, and a copyable checklist.
Lost pet recovery checklist
Check the steps you have completed. This helps you stay organized during the first urgent hours and days.
Found pet safety decision helper
Use this when you find a stray or loose pet and need a safe next step.
Adoption readiness checker
This helps adopters prepare before visiting a shelter or rescue. It is not a guarantee of approval.
Pet reclaim document checklist
If your pet may be at a shelter, prepare proof before visiting. Exact requirements and fees vary by agency.
Owner surrender preparation helper
Surrender rules vary. Many shelters require appointments, proof of residence, behavior/medical information, and may offer alternatives.
Animal control contact decision helper
Choose the situation and get a general USA-wide contact path. Local rules may differ.
Adoption and first-month budget planner
This is a planning guide, not a shelter fee database. Always confirm adoption fees and included services with the shelter.
Your generated shelter plan
Your action plan, search links, call script, checklist, or budget guide will appear here.
Start with the Planner tab
Select your state, city/county/ZIP, pet type, and goal. The tool will create a practical USA-wide shelter action plan.
Privacy note: this tool runs in your browser. It does not send your entries to animal-shelter.org.