New director takes over Mission Valley Animal Shelter

The Mission Valley Animal Shelter’s new Director Filip Panusz has enjoyed an eventful first few weeks on the job.

Since taking over for Jill Simpson in late April, Panusz has watched multiple shelter stories culminate in near fairytale endings.

From Harry, a golden retriever that was returned to his original owners after a yearlong adventure, to Pumpkin, a kitten who has recovered quickly from an abusive life on the streets of Ronan, the shelter has produced a string of stirring outcomes that Panusz said speak to both the facility’s past and future.

A former animal control officer in Missoula, Panusz said he jumped at the opportunity to work in the Mission Valley, where he adopted his own dog 10 years ago.

“It was an easy decision,” he said. “This felt so right.”

While working with animal welfare on the Flathead Reservation presents a new set of challenges, Panusz said he recognizes the cultural and societal elements at play.

“There’s a different approach and relationship with animals,” he said.

Through continued community outreach and vaccination services, Panusz said he hopes the shelter can cut down on some of the issues such as strays and diseases.

A major component of this involves pursuing grants to hire additional staff. Panusz said the shelter recently hired an office manager and is currently looking to add a shelter manager for the first time in the facility’s history. The extra help will come as relief for Panusz, who’s currently working 12-hour days to keep up with the shelter’s many tasks.

“Things should start settling down,” he said. “I hope to become more visible in the community. Right now I’m relying on people to come to me.”

Panusz said he also aims to broaden the shelter’s financial portfolio, which currently consists mainly of the Seconds 2 Go thrift store in Polson.

“A healthy nonprofit should have a diverse funding base,” he said.

Panusz said he benefited greatly from shadowing former Director Jill Simpson prior to taking over. During her four years at the shelter, Panusz said Simpson laid the groundwork he hopes to build upon.

“Jill brought us a lot further than before,” he said. “She put many pieces in place.”

Reached by phone before embarking on a “semi-retirement” road trip, Simpson said she’s glad to have left the shelter in good shape.

“He doesn’t have to reinvent the wheel and start from scratch,” she said.

Simpson said she’s particularly proud of the work she accomplished with local schools.

With Panusz at the helm, this legacy is likely to live on.

Sitting in his office on a recent weekday morning with Dallas, a rambunctious greyhound mix that was too nervous to be housed in the kennels, Panusz said he looks forward to building the shelter’s presence in the community.

“This is my passion,” he said. “I really care about animals.”