Happy Tails Inc.

Helping cats that are unwanted and abandoned.

About

Happy Tails started in 2019. There was little rescue activity happening in Glendive and a lot of stray and loose animals roaming town. We wanted to make life better for animals in our town and started one cat at a time. In 2025 our rescue program has closed however, we still operate programs to help people keep their cats in-home and decrease the number of unwanted litters. Our programs are TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return), SNAP (Spay, Neuter Assistance Program) and pet food pantry. We are completely ran by volunteers and funded by people in our community and fundraising.

Our mission is to reduce the number of stray and feral cats by providing a Spay & Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP) and Trap, Neuter Return program (TNR). We strive to help families keep their pets in home with programs to assist in caring for the pet and by promoting responsible pet ownership and education in our community.

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Every dollar helps save lives

About

Save a Life

Available cats

Find your perfect family member.

Foster

Find out how you can foster to help save kitties lives.

Adopted cats

Cats that found their furr-ever home!

Adopt/Foster

Feline Herpes Virus

  • Signs of Feline Herpes Virus 
    • Nasal congestion 
    • Eye discharge (Watery to thick consistency, Yellow to green in color or even clear)
    • Sneezing
    • 3rd eyelid inflamed (sometimes even raised)
  • How do they get it?
    • Direct contact (when cats make contact with infected saliva, eye, or nasal discharge)
    • Breathing in sneeze droplets from an infected cat
    • Sharing food bowls or litter boxes
    • Living in an environment that has been contaminated (grooming tools, bedding, etc.)
    • Transmission from mother to kittens during their first few weeks of life
  • How to help my infected cat feel better?
    • Ensure your cat can access fresh water and a clean bowl every day 
    • Follow directions from your veterinarian and administer medications or eye drops as prescribed. 
    • Clean discharge daily, make sure to wash your hands if you have any other cats in the household
  • How to prevent Feline Herpes Virus 
    • Vaccinate (will not completely prevent an infection if your cat is exposed to the virus)

Information on declawing

  • Definition: 
    • Surgical amputation of part of a cat's toe bones, including the nail bed and claw 
    • It's like removing their first "knuckle"
  • Risks: 
    • Possible complications include infections, chronic pain, behavioral changes, and nerve damage. 
    • Lameness
    • Paw tenderness
  • Alternatives: 
    • Nail trimming 
    • Scratching posts
    • Soft nail caps 
    • Feliway Spray and diffusers
    • Positive reinforcement training
      • Instead of yelling at your cat for scratching the sofa or curtains, reward them with a treat or catnip toy when they dig their claws into their scratching post. 

Urinary issues

Helpful information/tips
  • Peeing everywhere?
    • Stress or various environmental can be factors 
  • Urinary issues 
    • Accidents in the house 
      • Could be a sign of several common urinary conditions that often are manageable with the hip of your vet
    • Yowling when urinating
      • Straining to urinate or is making pain, uncomfortable noises in their litter box, check with your vet immediately
        • Bladder stones
        • Urethral plugs (Neutered male cats)
    • Blood in urine
      • Could be related to bladder stones, a urethral plug or a variety of other causes and should be evaluated by a veterinarian. 
    • Frequent urination
      • More time in the litterbox than usual with the absence of urine or only small drops of urine should be assessed by your veterinarian immediately 
        • Could be a sign of urethral obstruction (which is a medical emergency) Happens in neutered males 

Fun fact about cats

  • Primordial Pouch 
    • Loose flap of skin that runs along the length of the cat's belly (more pronounced towards the rear)
    • Function of the pouch 
      • Acts as protection to the internal organs during a fight or attack
      • May allow cats to stretch out when running at high speed or jumping 
  • Difference between obese cats and primordial pouch 
    • Obese cat's belly has an overall rounded shape, that will not jiggle from side to side the way the skin of the primordial pouch does
    • You should be able to feel the ribs when you run your hands along the cat's sides
  • Large cats 
    • Yes, lions, cougars, leopards, and tigers all have a primordial pouch
  • Not all cats have a primordial pouch

2025 SPONSORS

Cheshire Cat Friends & Hello Kitty Members

Helpful Tips and information

Be a part of the solution

Fundraising & Grant Writing

Fundraising & Grant Writing

We need volunteers to help come up with ideas for fundraising and to execute them. Grant writing is another avenue to raise funds.

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Trapping

Trapping

Help trap for TNR

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Vet transportation

Vet transportation

Taking cats to and from vet appointments.

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2025 SPONSORS

Saving cats from being abandoned or unwanted one program at a time

TNR

TNR

Trap, Neuter and Return

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SNAP (spay, neuter assistance program)

SNAP (spay, neuter assistance program)

Help spaying and neutering

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Pet food Pantry

Pet food Pantry

Need help feeding your pet?

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Volunteer

BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION

BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION

Learn More

Services

Services image
We are a proud partner with Petco Love Lost to help reunite lost and found pets with their owners. Go to this link to report a pet lost or found.

Petco love lost

MEMBERSHIP

Our dedicated volunteer leaders

Robin Kolling

President and C.E.O.

Robin has always grown-up loving animals and has been rescuing cats with her husband, George for over 17 years. In her free time, she loves to take walks with her dog, Maggie, read, and cook/bake.

Brenda Baer

Treasurer/Secretary

Brenda is married and enjoys camping, fishing and spending time with her family. She loves cats and has a few rescues of her own. She works full-time at Mid-Rivers Communications.

Hope Opie

Board Member

Hope is employed at the Dawson County Veterinary Clinic and is attending school to become a Certified Veterinary Technician. She loves animals, so that is why she works in the field she does. Some of her hobbies include: working with large animals, spending time with her animals, and planting her garden in the summertime.

Charlotte Egeness

Board Member

Charlotte was born and raised in Glendive. She retired from Albertsons after working there for 22 years. She has 3 grown children, 3 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren. She now happily shares her home with 2 cats, Violet and Leroy, adopted from Happy Tails. She also helps feed 12 to 18 neighborhood cats that have all been through Happy Tails TNR program. Charlotte agreed to join the board as a way to show her appreciation for all that Happy Tails does. When she is not taking care of her feline friends, Charlotte loves to crochet, paint rocks, and she is a demo lady at Albertsons

Visit PetCO LOVE LOST to find or report your lost pet

Please reach out

  • Glendive, Montana, United States