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It’s time to help homeless pets in MA by demanding that the state follow the ASV (Association of Shelter Veterinarians) national best practice standards and stop burdening shelters with regulations that go against what is national best practices so we can get more homeless pets in homes.
Did you know that Massachusetts is the ONLY state that makes shelters isolate pets from out of state for 48 hours even though they come in with health certificates? This causes a huge financial burden to shelters and is against the national best practices because it causes undue stress on these pets with longer hold times in isolation before being allowed to be put up for adoption.
Did you know that when pet supply stores generously give a FREE adoption center within their building to shelters to bring in rescue animals to promote their adoption, the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture treats the animals as if they were owned by the pet supply stores and require shelters to pay for a vet exam every 7 days instead of what is in the shelter regulations? Why? These animals do not become pet supply store owned animals simply by being brought into the building. And no pet that has already been deemed healthy and ready for adoption needs to go to the vets every 7 days (instead of every 180 as is required in the shelter regulations). This puts another unnecessary burden on shelters for financial costs. These wonderful adoption centers in these stores are often a lifeline for shelter pets to get seen and adopted!
It is time for us to stand up for shelter pets. So many pets are being euthanized in overcrowded shelters in other states when they could come to shelters with space in MA but shelters in MA cannot afford the 48 hold isolation facilities that are required. No other state does this!
We want to see MA be like every other state in the country and welcome homeless pets into the state with a health certificate. These health certificates are done by a veterinarian and state that the pet is healthy and can travel. Every other state in the country accepts this without further burden of a 48 hour hold EXCEPT Massachusetts.
Shelter pet’s lives are at stake and we need to make a change. Please help! We need your signature today to demand change. The longer this goes on, the more pets sit in shelters longer or worse never get a chance.
You can read the shelter regulations on the state of MA website to see just how burdensome they are, costing shelters and you the adopters more money, causes shelter pets to sit in shelters longer and to risk additional stress related illnesses on the pets and prevents shelters from helping more pets. Shelters are now closing or on the brink of closing, free adoption space in pet supply stores go empty because they cannot afford these burdensome and unnecessary costs. This leaves less space for pets at risk of euthanasia.
Your signature TODAY could make all the difference to get attention on this fight. Shelters and rescues in MA live in fear of fighting back, animals need someone to fight for them, and this is the way we need to do it! Thank you for helping and please spread the word!
How you can help: 1) Sign the petition, 2) Share this petition, 3) Demand change from your legislators, and 4) Get the word out to help shelter pets!
Rabies Registration for Dogs & Cats
Rabies & Distemper Registration for Dogs & Cats
Microchip can be added at the time of service – cash only.
SAVE TIME – After you register, please email your rabies certificate to vetclinic@secondchanceanimals.org
Distemper and/or Microchip can be added at the time of service – cash only.
SAVE TIME – After you register, please email your rabies certificate to vetclinic@secondchanceanimals.org
These two sweeties named Bugs Bunny and Leif came to Second Chance from a crowded Georgia shelter. They are both suffering from a very painful eye condition called entropion. This is when the eyelid is rolled in, causing the haired portion to rub the surface of the eye. You can see that poor Leif, the black cat on the right, has it much worse.
When they arrived, both had developed secondary infections which we’ve been treating. Now they are ready for their life-changing surgeries so they can get their ‘second chance.’ They are being cared for by our amazing Almost Home team who tell us that Bugs Bunny loves to ride on shoulders.
Bugs was able to get his surgery this week, but may need an additional surgery to fully correct the painful condition.
Please help them get the surgeries they need so they can be the amazing family pets they long to be. If you are able, please consider making a donation to help Bugs Bunny and Leif, and pets like them, to get the care they need.
Fifty million pets in the U.S. experience a lack of access to even basic veterinary care. Rising costs and other barriers mean these pets struggle to access services such as spay/neuter procedures, vaccinations, and critical medical and preventative care. With as many as 70% of households now including pets, this issue affects families in nearly every community.
PetSmart Charities has committed $100 million over the next five years toward improving access to veterinary care. The “Accelerator” low-cost veterinary care grant program is a key part of this effort. These grants support the expansion of low-cost veterinary care by funding growth and operations for up to four years for nonprofit clinics looking to expand their services, serve their communities better and inspire other veterinary providers by sharing their experiences.
The grant made to Second Chance Animal Services in the amount of $200,000 will support the expansion of the nonprofit’s surgical center that provides lifesaving surgeries for animals. The anticipated impact on local pets and families includes saving the lives of more pets in need of urgent or emergency care who have nowhere else to turn.
“We are so grateful to PetSmart Charites for their continued support of our work to keep pets in their homes with the people they love,” said Sheryl Blancato, Second Chance CEO and founder. “Second Chance is a place that many turn to for lifesaving surgery to save their pet and to keep the pets with the families that love them.” Second Chance offers a two-tiered system of subsidized rates for pet owners at their four Community Veterinary Hospitals in North Brookfield, Southbridge, Springfield, and Worcester. Pet owners who are 150% of the poverty level received a subsidized rate lower than Second Chance’s standard rates. Those that do not fit in this category pay the standard low-cost rate. This helps to ensure access to care for all pets. Second Chance was able to help over 44,000 pets in 2022.
Overwhelmingly, people consider their pets important members of the family. Pets make a significant impact in the health and wellness of the people they love. This grant will enable more families to get the preventative and standard care that ensures their pets thrive at home and stay out of shelters.
“Our veterinary system is in crisis,” said Kate Atema, director of community grants and initiatives at PetSmart Charities. “Rising costs are putting standard veterinary care out of reach for as much as 50% of pet-owning families. We need innovative solutions that make veterinary care affordable for the families in every community who want the best for their four-legged companions but struggle to meet the cost of vet care. We’re inspired by the incredible work Second Chance is doing to create solutions that will build strong families and a healthy community.”
Blancato says she is heartened by the lifesaving stories her staff shares every day. “Blue is just one of the 44,000 pets we helped last year. He came to our North Brookfield hospital for emergency surgery to remove bladder stones that were blocking his urethra. He was seen at another hospital, but the cost of an emergency cystotomy was out of reach. His owner turned to Second Chance for help and the surgical team was able to remove the stones and get him on the road to recovery.”
Second Chance has been leading the way in providing access to care for almost a decade. Our vet hospitals offer subsidized rates for those that qualify, so all pets can get the care they need. For more information on Second Chance Community Veterinary Hospitals, visit secondchanceanimals.org/vetcare
To honor those who serve or have served, Second Chance is now offering a 10% discount for active military and veteran pet owners on veterinary exams, surgeries and dental procedures for your pets.*
To learn more or to schedule an appointment for you pet, call your local Second Chance Community Veterinary Hospital:
North Brookfield:(508) 637-1333
Southbridge: (774) 318-1101
Springfield: (413) 739-2343
Worcester: (774) 243-1234
*This discount cannot be combined with other discounts – ID required.
Second Chance is proud to announce that last month we performed our 70,000th low-cost spay and neuter surgery. This milestone is a significant achievement in our mission to reduce pet overpopulation and improve the welfare of animals in the community.
Spaying and neutering pets not only helps to control the population of stray and unwanted animals, but it also has numerous health benefits for the pets themselves. These procedures can prevent certain cancers and other serious health issues and can also improve pets’ behavior by reducing aggression and roaming.
Second Chance is dedicated to making these life-saving procedures accessible to all pet owners, regardless of their financial situation. We began our low-cost spay and neuter program in 2005 at the East Brookfield shelter to help stem pet homelessness in the surrounding community. Today, hundreds of pets come to our Community Veterinary hospitals each month for spay and neuter services in state-of-the-art surgical suites made possible by grants and generous donors.
We are so proud of the impact that we have made through these 70,000 surgeries. There is more work to be done. Our goal is to continue expanding our efforts to help as many pets as possible.
Second Chance encourages all pet owners to spay and neuter their pets to help address the issue of pet overpopulation and improve their pet’s health. Many of the emergency surgeries we see are female pets suffering from pyometra, a potentially deadly infection of the uterus. Routine spays and neuters can help protect pets from many life-threatening conditions including pyometra and testicular cancer.
To take advantage of this program for your pet, please fill out a S.P.O.T application.
Second Chance Animal Services helped a record-breaking 44,017 pets to live better lives in 2022. We credit our caring and compassionate staff, volunteers, and supporters, but also the great need for help from area pets for the astounding results and know that there is still much work to be done.
Second Chance CEO and founder Sheryl Blancato is deeply grateful to everyone who made this possible. “I am probably biased, but I think we have the most amazing team of employees and volunteers anywhere. Our supporters truly care about animals. Many people don’t know this, but I personally open nearly all envelopes that arrive at Second Chance, and I’m heartened to read the beautiful notes that accompany some donations. We couldn’t do all that we do without the support of these three groups.”
Unfortunately, there’s no time to rest. Given the current economic climate, we know the need will only grow this year. Many are facing what can be called economic euthanasia. When people’s finances are limited and an emergency arises, they may not be able to afford a necessary surgery to stop the suffering. Second Chance has amazing surgeons at our hospitals that can perform these surgeries and we offer subsidized rates for those that qualify so that everyone can have access to the care they need.
Second Chance aims to always be ready to help. We aren’t just committed to keeping pets in their homes whenever possible. We are also an emergency partner for several agencies. Last year we helped with natural disasters and pets rescued from medical breeding facilities and the meat trade. We must keep fighting for pets in need.
For anyone wishing to help, donations can be made online at www.secondchanceanimals.org/help or by mail to Second Chance, PO Box 136, East Brookfield, MA 01515.