Seeing Bacio today, it’s hard to imagine the pain he once endured.  His days are filled with sunshine, snuggles with his cat siblings, and the joys of living with a loving family. But his journey to this happy ending started with heartbreak.

Bacio, then known as Pogo, came to us with a devastating injury. This sweet, gentle cat had been shot.  We may never know how or why, but we knew one thing:  He needed urgent care.  Our medical team acted fast to relieve his pain.  Second Chance surgeons were not able to save his injured leg. But we could save him.  And through it all–through surgery, recovery and rehab–this resilient cat never stopped being sweet and trusting.  His spirit carried him through.

Once he had healed, the next step was finding him a home. It didn’t take long. His new family saw the same spark in him that we did.  They gave him a new name: Bacio, the Italian word for kiss, in honor of the kisses he likes to give.  And most importantly, they gave him a new life filled with affection, companionship, and second chances.

Today, Bacio is thriving with his new family. He’s a reminder of why we do what we do.

Every year, Second Chance helps thousands of pets just like Bacio—animals with stories that didn’t begin happily, but can still have a joyful ending.

Watch Bacio’s journey in this short video: