The Great Falls Animal Shelter is planning to install a new outdoor kennel and play yard for dogs this summer.

At their June 17 meeting, City Commissioners approved a $54,054 contract to Williams Fencing to material and labor to install a 6-foot chain link fence and kennels on the side of the existing shelter building.

In a release, shelter staff they’d secured the funding and construction was set to begin this summer and be completed by September.

The expanded outdoor area includes 20 individual 10-by-10 kennels, two large group play kennels and two medium-sized kennels for dog meet and greets, training and behavioral evaluations.

The new space will also feature seating areas for staff, volunteers and potential adopters, offering comfortable spots to observe dogs during playgroups, training sessions, or meet-and-greets.

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The project was funded through a grant from the ASPCA Northern Tier Shelter Initiative, which was awarded specifically to help reduce kennel decline and behavioral euthanasia among medium and large breed dogs, which made up 82 percent of the city shelter’s 2023 dog intakes.

Earlier this year, city shelter staff completed Dogs Playing for Life, a nationally recognized group-play training program provided at no cost through a partnership with the Bitterroot Humane Association.

The training allows staff to safely and effectively manage group play, assess behavior in dynamic environments and increase the socialization opportunities that are crucial for successful adoptions.

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“Currently, our dogs spend a significant amount of time indoors in their kennels,” Joseph Parchen, city shelter spokesman, said in a release. “The opportunity to enjoy fresh air, natural sunlight, playgroups, and enhanced training resources won’t just benefit them while they’re with us—it will better prepare them for success in their future homes.”

Parchen told The Electric that the shelter has had to euthanize dogs in the past due to kennel decline and behavioral issues, which the ASPCA is designed to address.

“While we can’t definitively say that the new outdoor kennels and play yards would have changed the outcome for those individual dogs, our goal is to give every animal the best possible opportunity to succeed. With additional space and improved enrichment options, we can better manage behavior, reduce stress, and increase each animal’s chance of adoption,” Parchen said.

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As of July 1, Parchen said there were 13 dogs and puppies in the shelter.

The number fluctuates daily as animals are brought in or adopted out.

The shelter currently has 21 double-sided kennels, designed to provide a separate space for living and waste.

But then the shelter is over capacity, they are “forced to use them as single-sided kennels, which can significantly increase stress for both the animals and staff. The new outdoor space will help alleviate this pressure and allow us to provide a more humane and enriching environment,” Parchen told The Electric.

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The shelter keeps data specific to euthanasia due to kennel decline or behavioral issues, but Parchen said it would require substantial review and analysis to provide.

Parchen provided the overall euthanasia numbers for dogs and puppies, for all reasons, including court orders, health concerns and behavioral issues:

• In 2023, the shelter had 561 dog/puppy intakes and 25 euthanasias
• In 2024, there were 454 intakes with 17 euthanasias
• As of July 1, 2025, there have been 24 intakes and 9 euthanasias

The shelter has received a no kill shelter designation in 2023 and 2024.

Parchen said the shelter had just been notified of the 2024 designation, which reflects the shelter’s ongoing effort to reduce euthanasia and improve outcomes for the animals in their care.

“We understand the importance of addressing behavior and stress related euthanasia, which is why the upcoming outdoor kennels and play yard are such a critical step forward in improving animal welfare at our facility,” Parchen said.