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Missoula’s AniMeals is Moving to Its New Home on Dec. 7, 2026 and It Needs Your Support
A new animal shelter is coming to Missoula! AniMeals that is, moving to its new, permanent home next month in a new location! The AniMeals staff and board say it’s going to be a bright, new day for homeless cats in Missoula as AniMeals packs up and gets ready for its move to a newly renovated shelter in the heart of Missoula by mid-November.
“Just in time for the holidays, for our biggest fundraising period of the year, we will be in our new home next month and we need our community’s support now more than ever,” says Janet Rose, executive director of AniMeals.
The shelter, according to shelter manager Josie Rodgers, who oversees day-to-day care of the cats with a team of adoption counselors and ICU staff will be closed starting November 25th as they begin their move on November 30th and reopen to the public December 7th. But she adds, if you have something to donate, you can still do so by coming to the current shelter at 1700 Rankin Street off of West Broadway behind Gull’s RV and Boats. On December 7th, AniMeals will reopen in its new shelter at 2036 Mullan Road.
This time frame, Rodgers says, will give the cats in their care, time to settle into their new digs and give the staff time to set up programs and rooms, from intake and ICU to the food bank, one of the largest pet food banks in the region. The AniMeals Pet Food Bank provides food for those who are homebound, disabled, or anyone having financial difficulty feeding and caring for their pets in the Missoula area.
“This is going to be a wonderful change for the cats, for the community, for the staff, for Missoula pet owners, and for the neighborhood on Mullan Road off West Broadway,” says Rose. “We have been renovating what’s known as the old barn and it will be a place that is welcoming to all – a happy, cheerful, safe and comfortable space. It will be a permanent home, with a multipurpose room for education and meetings, a medical suite, an intake room, all in an environment that will be good for one and all,” says Rose.
Founder and board president, Karyn Moltzen, who started AniMeals more than two decades ago says she’s over the moon about the new location but adds that it took more time, money and renovations than they thought it would. “Right now, funds are tight and we hope the community and generous donors at all levels will step in to help – $1000, $5000, $10,000, every dollar will go a long way.”
AniMeals says it found structural challenges that were unexpected, which led to higher costs. Rose adds, “Keeping the shelter going with food, veterinary care and taking care of the staff, volunteers and fosters, is just as important as getting the building completed and paid for — both are critical to our future and the needs of the animals we care for. But we know it will be a great addition to the neighborhood around Mullan and West Broadway.”
Where the current shelter on Rankin Street has always been hard to find, the organization says that come November, you won’t be able to miss the new headquarters with images of cats everywhere, outside and in. Moltzen says the building and business community from Lowes to Vemco, Carpet Garage to Fencecrafters, and so many more have been so generous, “we couldn’t have accomplished what we have without them!”
Josie Rodgers says the new shelter will provide even better care for the cats. “We’re excited to make this move, into a more professional, welcoming space, while maintaining the charm and hominess we are known for. We will have more room for growth, a greater ability to assist the community we love, and get more cats through the shelter into their permanent homes.
Rose points out, “This is the start of the holiday giving season and our community and far beyond have always been very generous. This year, however, our needs are greater than ever and double what it has been before. Now we are not only taking care of the shelter, the day to day caring for and feeding cats and community pets, but we are also trying to complete the purchase of a permanent home.” Rose adds, “It’s a bit of a catch-22 but I know we can do it and we won’t do it alone. Our animal community and all of our donors are kind, caring and generous. They understand the need and purpose of AniMeals. I’m optimistic and hopeful, everyone will give and become part of a new chapter in the lives of so many animals and in the future of AniMeals.
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The AniMeals mission –To save the hungry, the helpless, the lost and the little ones struggling to survive; to house and feed as many animals as possible;
to ease the suffering of the weak and unloved.
New Location Starting December 7th:
2036 Mullan Road
Missoula, MT 59808
Current Location until November 24th:
1700 Rankin Street
Missoula, MT n 59808
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Contact: Janet Rose
Email: [email protected]
Cell: 406.880.0683
