Welcome to the Mountain Animal Welfare Summit!

Mountain Animal Welfare Summit | Humane Society of Western Montana

The Mountain Animal Welfare Summit brings together animal welfare professionals, Tribal leaders, veterinarians, advocates, policymakers and community partners from across Montana and beyond to tackle the real challenges, and real opportunities, facing animals and the people who care for them.

This gathering is grounded in practical experience, respectful partnership and evidence-based approaches. We focus on what actually works in rural and mixed-resource communities: building trust, expanding access to care, strengthening systems and supporting the people doing the work every day.

One of the things I am most proud of is the caliber of speakers who have joined us. Our presenters are nationally recognized leaders, deeply knowledgeable practitioners and thoughtful teachers. They are all engaging and generous with their expertise. My biggest problem will be selecting which sessions to attend! These are people who understand the realities of the work, are willing to be honest about what’s hard and know how to share insights in ways that are practical, relatable and fun.

The Summit is intentionally designed to move beyond theory. You will hear directly from Tribal leaders, frontline responders, shelter and rescue professionals, veterinarians, legal experts and national voices shaping the field. Through keynotes, concurrent tracks and hands-on training, we will explore how policy, practice and collaboration intersect and how community-informed strategies lead to better outcomes for animals and families alike.

At its core, this Summit is about shared responsibility. By learning from one another and working across disciplines, we can build humane, sustainable solutions that reflect both the realities of our communities and the values we share. I cannot wait to see you all in Missoula. 

Marta R. Pierpoint
Executive Director
Humane Society of Western Montana