Dedman Foundation


Front Entrance from south	Front Entrance from north

Kitty Room	Kitty Room

Backyard

2400 High Street
PO Box 1282
Fort Benton, MT 59442
Phone: (406) 622-5657
Fax: (406) 622-5657
Email: dedmanf@mtintouch.net
Hours of Business: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and by appointment any other time.

Our Adoptable Pet List

Click here to see our Happy Tails!

News

Since our last visit, the Florence Dedman Animal Shelter has found homes for many dogs, cats and also, some beautiful birds. The Internet has proven to be a wonderful tool to help place these deserving animals with new families. Many have found homes outside of Chouteau County and even, Montana. More and more people are becoming aware of the Florence Dedman Animal Shelter and have helped in so many ways. Families, who have lost loved ones, have remembered the shelter with memorial gifts. We experienced the generous donation from a young boy who chose to give his birthday money as his gift to the animals. His family adopted a beautiful retriever from the shelter and it was his way of saying, thanks for making Kate a part of their family. A special “thanks” to the family and the individual in Chouteau County, that every month, remember the animals with a check. Animals come to the shelter for a variety of reasons. Some have been found, abandoned, neglected or the owner can no longer take care of them for one reason or another. They all deserve a second chance and when a new and loving family adopts one of these pets, it is a wonderful experience for everyone involved. If a pet is in your future, please open your heart and your home to a shelter animal. At least come for a visit and see who is waiting for you. The animal boarding has proven to be a very needed and successful service for the community. Several boarders have been with us 2 and 3 times. If you have need for this service, be sure and call early as space is limited. Everything is furnished, but if you have a special requirement or diet, you can bring your own. If you have a pet that needs insulin, etc. this can be handled. We charge $12 a day for a dog and $10 a day for a cat. You will need to show proof your animal is current on vaccinations including Bordatella or kennel cough. Our “Trip of the Month” ticket sales has been very successful. Nearly all, 300 tickets have been sold. The funds earned over and above the trips awarded will help the shelter pay expenses for this coming year. For the past 3 months we have managed to meet all our expenses from monies received from surrender and adoption fees, aluminum-cans, money banks around town and from generous donations mentioned above. We have stocked our shelves with cat food, dog food, and kitty litter, along with some pet accessories provided by Target, Wal-Mart and Sam’s from broken or damaged bags. They have also been generous with soap, paper products and cleaning supplies. We have had to purchase very little. The dryer quit and we replaced it with a used one and it’s doing a good job. At Christmas, some generous people in the community brought to the shelter, chew bones, treats and lots of used towels and bedding. If you are replacing blankets, please keep us in mind. We can always use bedding so when you are replacing these items, think animal shelter. As the only full-time employee, Kris Brink, our Shelter Manager continues to do an outstanding job in her position. Corina Holcomb is helping Kris a few hours a week and as board members, Jackie Campbell and myself help out when we are needed. We have relied on the other board members to make sure the outside work is handled. Tim Kalanick, along with Ed Havens completed the siding on the building. We can always use help taking the aluminum cans to Great Falls, so if you are going that way and have room, please stop by and get a load. There is an account set up at Pacific Steel and one just needs to drop the aluminum off. The 13 ½ by 29 foot building with the overhead door will be for rent as a storage unit. You may also purchase your Fort Benton City license at the shelter. The fee is $3.00. Our, spay and neuter coupons to help you with the expense of neutering, are available, thanks to a grant from the Sands Foundation. Also, the Benton Vet Clinic continues to provide us with 2 free spays or neuters a week. Please come visit the shelter. We have several animals that are just waiting for companionship. There are four very special dogs and each one is unique. They are healthy, playful and all very loving. Special attention is given to insure all the animals are handled and socialized. Even if you are not looking for a pet, please come see and visit them. Again, our hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1:00 to 4:00 P.M. If this is not convenient for you, just give Kris or any board member a call and we will meet you. The number for the shelter is 622-3296. Board Member numbers are also posted. Sincerely, Joanne Witt Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms. ~George Eliot

Who We Are

The Dedman Foundation of Fort Benton, Montana was established in 1993 at the bequest of animal lover Florence Dedman. It was her wish that the Foundation "construct or obtain facilities for an animal shelter in Fort Benton. The remainder of this bequest shall be used for the maintenance, upkeep, and continued operation of the animal shelter for as long as possible . . . I make this devise for the reason that I love all animals and hate to see any of them suffer needlessly."

A small house on Main Street was purchased and the facility opened on June 1, 1998. The Board of Directors and staff of the Dedman Foundation Animal Shelter developed a comprehensive approach to the animal control problem in Chouteau County. Their goals were to (1) provide immediate care for abandoned, homeless, and unwanted pets in the county, (2) to promote long-term solutions for the larger, unlying problem of pet overpopulation, and (3) to educate the community on the principles of responsible pet ownership and a humane attitude toward all animals.

The former Axtman Farm Equipment building at 2400 High Street was purchased in 2006 and was a tremendous upgrade for our resident animals. At our new location we have the capacity to house and care for 10 dogs and 20 cats. The new facility includes a spacious cat room complete with cat trees and all sorts of cat walks, an isolation room, two offices for humans, a veterinary care room, a kitchen, storage areas, and a complete bathing and grooming area. The dogs stay in our lovely fenced "backyard" during the day and have clean comfortable indoor kennels for nights. We also have a pet groomer on site and have sponsored dog obedience classes for the community.

To date the Foundation has adopted out well over 600 dogs, cats, birds, fish, guinea pigs, rabbits, and even flying squirrels! Our shelter is a unique and loving place for both people and animals. We believe that Mrs. Dedman would be pleased and proud of the Foundation and its positive impact on the animal and non-animal residents of north-central Montana!

Adopting a friend

Our dog/cat adoption fee is $80/$50. This fee covers spaying/neutering and all vaccinations.

Come Visit Us!

Dedman Foundation
2400 High Street
PO Box 1282
Fort Benton, MT 59442
Phone: (406) 622-5657
Fax: (406) 622-5657
Email: dedmanf@mtintouch.net
Hours of Business: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and by appointment any other time.

Website updated 4/8/2008
Click here for a list of pets at this shelter

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