Now Offering a Military Discount
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.
Record-Breaking 44,017 Pets Helped in 2022!
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.
Make a Resolution to Help Pets
It’s that time of year again when we choose to participate in activities to better ourselves or to do something to help others. Why not make your resolution to help the animals this coming year! Here are some great ways you can help pets:
ADOPT A SHELTER PET – You can give a pet a great life by welcoming them into your life. Visit our website to see available pets.
VOLUNTEER or FOSTER – Second Chance is always welcoming volunteers and fosters to help care for pets. To learn more, visit our volunteer page.
DONATE – Donating money or supplies can help more than you know! You can view our wishlist online or make a donation now.
BECOME A MONTHLY DONOR – You can help pets all year long when you become a monthly donor.
Already a monthly donor? Thank you! We are so grateful to all our Pet Pal Champions. Your support saves lives all year long.
Walks with Socks
She lead the way across the open field heading back to the parking lot when I saw a man waving at me. He asked if he could say hi to my dog and we approached a couple on a morning walk. “We just said good-bye to our dog of 15 years” he told me with that crack in his voice that I know all too well. “I could see her looking at us and I just needed to say hi.”
“She’s not my dog. She lives at Second Chance Animal shelter,” I told the older couple that wanted to introduce themselves to my little black companion. “They call her Socks, I call her Nelly or Nell.” She approached the man and rose on her hind legs and gave him a hug. He smiled and laughed and hugged her back. I told her down, she sat down in front of him. I made a click sound with my mouth and she turned and came to me. I gave her the hand cue to sit. She sat. I gave her the hand cue to lay down. She did. I told her to come up, she came up and got a treat. “She has me trained well.” I smiled at them.
“She is such a good girl,” they said. “She’s so smart,” they noticed. She sat beside me as we spoke and then she approached the woman and startled her as she jumped up to give her a hug too. She laughed and petted her and hugged her back. “She is so sweet.”
“She’s a hugger,” I said, grinning.
I told them I take her out a couple times a week. We discussed her life at the shelter and the training and conditioning we have been doing together. They told me I was a good person for doing what I was doing. What they did not know is that this girl has done as much for me as I have done for her. Nell came into my life and into the shelter at a time when I needed her and I knew that she was going to need me. And so, she became “my girl” from that day until the day she goes to her new home.
So, because of the amazing program at Second Chance called ‘Dogs Day Out’ this girl and I have spent so much time together these past few months. We have hiked a lot of miles in the summer heat, playing in the autumn leaves and walking briskly through the winter snow and wind. I took a week off from work at the beginning of the fall and spent it with her and we hiked almost 50 miles in 6 days at about 10 different locations. She is truly a great companion. She is a great friend. She is a great dog.
I’ve been volunteering at SCAS for years now and every pup I have met is amazing in their own way. Some I only meet once and never see them again and some stay longer so I get to know them better. I get dogs, I just get them. And now and again I meet one that just gets me. And this girl gets me. You see, eventually I plan to work with dogs/animals full time; so behavior and training are things I am constantly studying and reading about. I’m always trying to develop my conditioning methods and skills so, finding a girl like Nell that is so intelligent and emotionally complex was like finding a real hidden gem. A true diamond in the ruff!
I started this blog with the story about the couple mourning the passing of their beloved dog and wanting to say hi to Socks/Nell for a reason. I tell that story because it is not the only time it happened. There have been several times where someone asked if they could say hi to her. Because she was looking at them like she wanted to say hi. And she walked over and hugged them, and they smile and laugh and embrace her and tear up and with that crack in their voice that tells me that they just lost their dog. Coincidence? Maybe. Or does she just have a sense? I don’t know but it has happened enough that it makes me wonder.
If I had the home and the yard that she needs and deserves she would be my girl forever. There is no question about that. But I have made a promise to her. I promised her that with all my heart, the staff and I would find her the perfect people to take her home for good and give her the Second Chance that she deserves.
If my girl sound like the friend you are looking for come by and say hi and maybe we can all go for a hike. Or maybe just stop in for a free hug.
Mike -long time SCAS volunteer
For the Animal Lover who has Everything
If you’re scratching your head and trying to come up with holiday gift ideas, consider making a donations to Second Chance in the names of friends and family members. When you provide the gift recipient’s name and address, we’ll let them know how your thoughtful gift is saving lives and keeping pets in their homes.
Make a Holiday Gift
Holiday Pop-Up Shop
Still looking for the perfect gift for the animal lovers in your life? We just received a huge shipment of full zip sweatshirts, hoodies, long sleeve shirts, blankets and limited edition beanies. Visit our Pop-Up Shop in Southbridge! Every purchase helps pets in need.
Monday Dec. 12 9-4
Tuesday Dec 13 10-6
Wednesday Dec 14 10-6
Thursday Dec 15 9-4
Friday Dec 16 9-4
Second Chance Community Engagement Center
700 Worcester Street, Southbridge
Keep Your Paws Crossed for Prancer
Keep your paws crossed for this little guy. At 5 weeks old, Prancer has quite the tale to tell. He fell through a grate onto a cement pad one story below, fracturing his femur. He was surrendered to Second Chance so he could get the care he greatly needed.
It was a clean break and one of our vets surgically pinned the limb to aid in healing. One of our doting vet tech is fostering him while he recovers. If all goes well, he should be fully healed in 4-6 week so he can get ready to be adopted.
Check out Prancer getting a little TLC from his foster.
Want to help pets like Prancer get their second chance?
Reminder – Second Chance pets are not available for adoption until they are cleared by our veterinary staff and listed on our website. We do this because health can be fragile for some pets, especially the very young, and we never want to break any hearts unnecessarily. We also do this so no pet sits waiting for an adopter who’s changed their mind and forgotten to tell us. Thanks for understanding.
GivingTuesday THANK YOU!
We are so grateful to all our GivingTuesday supporters.
Thanks to Tito’s Handmade Vodka match of $15,000, together we raised over $31,000 to help more pets. Your gift:
- helps homeless pets like Marley find a home.
- keeps pets in their home with the people they love by giving pets access to the highest-quality veterinary care at one of our four Community Veterinary Hospitals that offer subsidized rates to underserved communities.
- feeds hungry pets whose owners are facing financial struggles through the Second Chance pet food pantry program.
This year’s GivingTuesday fundraiser is more important than ever. With so much financial uncertainty, we need to be there for all the pets who need help. We can’t do it without your help!
Make a gift to help keep pets in their homes with the people they love
Husky with Special Needs Gets a Second Chance
Blue was just a young husky pup when he was surrendered to Second Chance by a local animal control officer. He was clearly uncomfortable and pawing at his red eyes. Upon closer examination, our vets found he had limited to no vision, possibly from birth. He needed to start daily eye medication right away and needed an experienced foster so he could begin treatment. Thankfully Second Chance works with many rescue groups. A contact that had worked with a husky rescue for years was able to temporarily foster this pup and helped find a long term foster while Blue’s medical needs were addressed.
Blue found a true champion when he met his foster. She had adopted rescue huskies for many years, most had been abused or neglected. She’d never had a blind dog before, but she was determined to help Blue and did some quick research.

Eye drop time for Blue
She ordered blind toys like meat scented fetching balls & squeaky toys and also ordered a scent kit to put certain scents with certain things. The food and water bowls got one scent, dangerous areas like stairs got another scent.
“Mostly, it was just spending time with him and teaching him that when I say, “wait,” he needs to stop until I say something else. I.E.- I say, “wait” at the top of the stairs, and then I say, “step” for each stair he needs to walk down. In all honesty, he figured out my house and yard very quickly based upon his own trial & error. The eye doctor said he’s very adaptable because he’s been blind for most of his life. I really thought he’d require much more work.
He’s smart and sweet. The real secret for Blue was the same as every husky, daily exercise. Our beach walk keeps him very satisfied for the rest of the day. My husband passed from cancer in March and my two 13-year-old huskies passed within the last year, so frankly Blue has done more for me than I for him.”
We are happy to report that this foster has fallen for Blue and last week he was officially ADOPTED!

Blue and his owner out for their morning walk.
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