Caring for some very special pets.

CHANCE

One-year-old Chance came to Second Chance in need of so much help. This poor pup was so uncomfortable.  He was born with entropion – a genetic abnormality that made his eyelids curl in, causing hair to rub on the surface of his eyes. He was so uncomfortable.  He also suffered from ear infections his whole life, which scarred his ear canals so badly that we could not even fit a q-tip into his ear canal. His ears were very painful from the scarring and recurrent ear infection.

Second Chance surgeon Dr. Kristen Cormier has been helping Chance – performing surgery to correct the entropion followed by  a total ear canal ablation surgery. This TECA surgery involves the complete removal of the ear canal, leaving only the flap (pinna) to make Chance much more comfortable.

Update from Chance’s surgeon, Dr. Cormier.

“Chance went to his foster home yesterday! Before he left I went to say goodbye and he gave me his paw and held it there as a thank you 😊 It’s hard to see but it was so sweet and sincere. He is much more comfortable and playing like a puppy now.”

    
Chance’s surgeries were extensive but seeing this sweet dog so happy yesterday makes it all worth it and is a perfect example of why we do what we do.

TURNER

Two-year-old Turner recently came to Second Chance from an overcrowded shelter in Georgia. Dr. Jackie tells us he also suffers from entropion – his lower eyelids are curling in so hair is rubbing on the surface of his eyes. He is very sweet, despite how uncomfortable he must be.

He’s scheduled him for surgery next week so he can finally be free of pain from this condition. After recovery, he will be available for adoption.

We are so grateful to be able to help pets like Chance and Turner thanks to the support of generous donors.  You can help give a pet with extensive medical needs a ‘second chance’ by making a donation today.

Here’s a chance to get a signed copy of Walking Off Leash mailed to your home.

Sheryl & Joe were planning to host their first book signing at Second Chance’s now postponed annual dinner auction. With 300 copies ready to go, they are making these copies available as a special fundraiser to help pets in need right now.

It may be the holiday, but we’re helping two special pups who need a ‘second chance.’

Emma came to Second Chance in December after both her owners passed away and family was unable to keep her. This sweet girl is facing some serious health challenges. She will need to undergo surgery to have several masses removed and then undergo treatment for heartworm disease before she can find her forever home.

UPDATE:  Emma had her surgery and is doing well.  She will be heading home very soon with her new foster to adopt family! When Emma completes her heartworm treatment, she can be officially adopted.

UPDATE 2/13/21:

Please donate now to help give Emma a ‘second chance.’

Dimples is a sweet 3 month old puppy with a dislocated and broken hip. She was rescued from an overcrowded shelter in Alabama that did not have the means to help her. She flew to Massachusetts so Second Chance can help give Dimples a ‘second chance.’ We are hopeful that our surgeons can repair the joint at our North Brookfield hospital. We won’t know how extensive the damage is until we perform the surgery. Dimples may need additional care from a specialist.
Her surgery is scheduled for Monday, December 28th.

UPDATE:

Please donate now to help give Dimples a ‘second chance.’

Special guest blog post by Mike, Second Chance Volunteer

If you know me, you know I have a few passions, I love music, vegan food and most of all I love animals.  I have been volunteering and working with animals for most of my adult life.  Working at shelters, farm sanctuaries and tabling events as an advocate for animals.  So, when Diane asked if I would like to write a post about what it is like not being able to volunteer at the shelter during these insane times. I thought it would be therapeutic at least.

Let me first tell you that I am in an essential business, the plumbing sales industry, so I have been able to get up and go to work up until recently when we had a positive test of an employee. I am now in quarantine, so until recently I have not had a lot of downtime.   That said, not being able to volunteer has been dreadful for me.  Besides the obvious things like feeling good about doing good or the sense of purpose that it gives me, I just simply miss getting to know the different animals at the shelter.  I feel like I make a group of friends every time I walk in the door. Every dog I walk or kitty I pet, its like a level of socializing I just don’t get any other way.  And though my cats Harry and Millie are extremely happy with my constant attention, I know how well they have been treated their whole lives. They have it pretty good.  But connecting with a dog that has trouble trusting people or seeing dogs like Rocco and Yogi finally find a home, these are experiences you can’t get in any other way.   To not have this in my life has been extremely difficult.  I used to visit the shelter on Wednesdays on my day off and I can honestly say I can feel it every Wednesday when I wake up, because I can sleep a bit later now.  I will lay and bed thinking at this time I would be walking a dog or playing with a kitten or even listening to the stories from the other volunteers or staff about their animals.  Because, face it we could all talk about our pets for hours with no one even listening.  So, again saying this has been a difficult time for me and I know many others would be a massive understatement.

I know that someday this will be over, and we can return to some version of “normal” and with so many challenges ahead I know this, I will not take the opportunity to help the voiceless for granted.  Because they are not voiceless to me.

I wanted to close with this.  I work with some older guys and some of them say that they don’t want to retire because “they wouldn’t know what to do with themselves”.  I usually laugh at them. This is something I cannot relate to because I know exactly what I would be doing with all that time.  I would be doing what I wish I could be doing with all this time now.  Volunteering.  Walking Dogs, petting kitties and doing my best to make sure all of them get a Second Chance.

I hope all of you are safe and healthy and know that we are all in this together…

Be Well!

Mike, Harry and Millie

Second Chance is weathering the COVID-19 crisis and remains committed to the pets in our community.

We urgently need your help! Our hospitals remain open for emergency, urgent and chronic veterinary care. Our adoption center remains open to take in pets in need. Our pet food pantry remains open to supply much needed pet food to local food pantries.

So many of you reached out asking how to help. Your compassion is amazing. Right now, monetary donations are needed most, allowing us to quickly meet the most urgent needs of pets in our community. Your support will help pets now and after this crisis.

Up to $10,000 of donations will be matched by a generous donor, to help the pets that need help right now.

Thank you! ?❤️

Last weekend, looking for a way to help, Dr. Park found a  a pattern online to make cloth masks that we could use at Second Chance. We shared the pattern with volunteers who are making additional masks, allowing us to donate our supply of disposable masks to Harrington Hospital.  Dr. Park created a tutorial for anyone looking to help create more masks.  Download the tutorial here:  Instructions for face mask with binding tape ties

Masks can be dropped off at our North Brookfield vet hospital, 372 N Main Street, North Brookfield in clear plastic bags marked MASKS.

Thank you to everyone supporting this effort.  We are grateful to find a small way to support the healthcare professionals in our community who are on the frontline, caring for patients affected by COVID-19.

We need your support in Seresto’s Circle of Love grant contest over on Adopt-a-Pet.com‘s social media channels! We are one of two finalists and you can help decide if we get the biggest prize! Please, please. please show your love for Second Chance!!  

Your support can help us care for more pets in need.  Thank you!!