News Archives - Page 6 of 12 - Second Chance Animals

Register for a Free Pet Vaccine Clinic May 19th at Gary Rome Hyundai

Holyoke area pet owners – registration is open for a FREE pet vaccine clinic at Gary Rome Hyundai on Friday, May 19th. The event is open to all cats and dogs, regardless of residency. Please pre-register today to reserve your spot:

Rabies Registration – Dogs & Cats

Distemper Registration – Dogs & Cats

Rabies & Distemper Registration – Dogs & Cats

To qualify for 3yr status, proof of a prior rabies vaccination must be uploaded when you register or emailed tospringfield@secondchanceanimals.org

Thank you to Gary Rome Hyundai for hosting this important event to help keep pets healthy. They will be conducting a supply drive in conjunction with the event from May 19th to June 2nd.

Join the Rare Gems Foster Crew

Have you ever wanted to help a shelter dog, but you aren’t ready to take on the lifelong commitment? We are looking for fosters to join our Rare Gems Foster crew! This can be a great way to make a huge difference in the life of a shelter pet by fostering for a short time at no cost.

What is a Rare Gem? It’s a dog who has been at the shelter for longer than usual due to specific needs. They are diamonds in the rough who need just a bit of time, patience, and polishing!

Living in a shelter can be a stressful experience for dogs, no matter how wonderful the shelter. Space and activity are limited compared to a home, and they are exposed to all the activity and noise of their neighbors. For older dogs or dogs who are stressed by the presence of other animals, this can be even more challenging.

Many wonder whether it would be more stressful for a dog to go into a foster home, only to be brought back. The opposite is true. Research has shown that cortisol levels (stress hormones) drop when shelter dogs spend as little as 24 hours outside the shelter. When the dogs returned to the shelter their cortisol levels increased but are still below their baseline levels. Some dogs were also reported to have improved behavior and more relaxed demeanor upon returning to the shelter.

In a home environment shelter dogs can decompress and get more sleep and individualized attention. Another huge benefit is the opportunity to learn more about the dog. This information makes it easier to find the right permanent placement. This is especially important for dogs who already may have barriers to getting adopted, such as being a senior dog, a shy dog, or needing to be the only pet. A foster family can also help the dog learn house manners and improve their social skills if needed.

Pecan is one dog who would really benefit from some time in a foster home. She can be a nervous girl but attaches to her caretaker and then settles down. Pecan is a high-energy dog who has learned some skills and would love someone to keep working with her. Socialization is so good for her, and lots of exercise would help tire her out. She would like a dog friend, but kids might make her nervous. She is a super smart girl and might like to be an agility dog. A foster situation would give staff the information they need to help find her a forever family.

We are also looking for a foster home for the aptly named rare gem RUBY! Ruby is 9.5-year-old English setter/bulldog mix. Her ideal weight would be around 50 pounds, but she is currently underweight and receiving care to reach a healthy weight. Ruby needs a foster home with no other pets or children in the home. Her ideal home would also include a comfy dog bed (or couch!) to snooze on, and a fenced yard to stretch her legs in because she still gets zoomies. Most of all…a gentle patient foster parent who gives Ruby space to be herself.

8-year-old Houston also needs a foster. He’s mostly likely a Lab/boxer/terrier mix and weighs about 70 pounds. Houston knows several commands and appears to be housebroken. His foster should have experience with large dogs and have no other pets or children in the home. Houston loves to chase toys and carry them around and hopes for a comfy dog bed for naps and a fenced yard for exercise.

Being a Rare Gems foster can be a great opportunity for students taking dog behavior classes to learn and practice what they are learning. Rare Gems fosters should live within 45 minutes of one of the Second Chance vet hospitals so they can easily receive continued veterinary care. Anyone interested in becoming a Rare Gems foster should email raregemsfoster@secondchanceanimals.org for more information.

Why I Volunteer at Second Chance

Special guest blog post by Morganne, Second Chance Volunteer

As a volunteer, I package pet food that gets delivered to (human food) pantries and, in some cases, I package donated pet toys for fundraisers. I even fold newsletters for upcoming fundraisers. To make all those cats and dogs out there happy, that’s why it’s done.

In many instances, it helps the owners too. There are people out there who can’t afford to feed their pets or themselves at times, and it’s truly heartbreaking because of the sacrifices those people make to keep their furry companions around. Sometimes, their pets are all they have.

Pets are like loved ones, losing even one is very painful, no matter how old you are. Even animals have feelings for their human companions, so it’s important that we give them the support they need to be happy and healthy.

Although bagging food or toys can be a little tedious, I do it because it feels good to help animals and humans alike. They need us, as much as we need them. That’s why I keep coming back every week and feel honored to be providing this service for the greater good.

Click here for more information on volunteering at Second Chance.

Dog Grooming Now Available in Southbridge

Grooming Comes to Southbridge Second Chance Veterinary Hospital

Subsidized Rates Now Available for Grooming Services

Grooming is not just about making your furry family member look good. It can also play a vital role in their overall health and help prevent a wide range of issues that can affect their quality of life. We are now offering dog grooming services at our Southbridge Community Veterinary Hospital with subsidized pricing for those that qualify.

While grooming needs vary by breed, grooming can be a very important part of keeping pets healthy. Regular grooming helps remove loose hair, dirt, and debris from your dog’s coat, preventing matting and tangles that can lead to skin irritation and infections. It also stimulates blood flow to the skin, promoting a healthy, shiny coat.

Second Chance has taken in many long-haired shelter pets in dire need of grooming. The before and after photos are remarkable, but what really stands out to me is how grooming can bring out the spunk in so many pets. Grooming can also help prevent painful conditions like ingrown nails, ear infections, and dental problems and helps detect any unusual lumps, bumps, or skin changes that may indicate an underlying health issue. Catching these issues early on can help prevent more serious problems down the line.

It’s for the latter reasons that we’ve added subsidized rates on grooming services to help pets live better lives. All our hospitals have been offering subsidized rates for veterinary care as part of their mission to keep pets in their homes and out of shelters. We recently added grooming to our Southbridge educational hospital so Bay Path Vocational/Technical High School students in the veterinary science program could learn about grooming alongside experienced groomers.

Hospital Director Shellina Meixner is thrilled to be able to offer affordable dog grooming. We’ve also added walk in nail trims for only $10 during our grooming days – dog owners must provide a valid rabies certificate for all grooming services.

Overall, regular dog grooming is a crucial part of pet care that should not be overlooked. Whether you do it yourself or take your pup to a professional groomer, the benefits are clear: a happy, healthy, and well-cared-for furry friend. Pet owners who would like to take advantage of Second Chance’s grooming services can call 774-318-1101 to schedule an appointment.

Walk-in nail trims are also available Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8am to 4:30pm at the Southbridge vet hospital, 700 Worcester Street, Southbridge. For more information and pricing, visit our Grooming Page.

Dogs Who Faced a Certain Death Ready for a Second Chance

Helping Dogs Rescued from the South Korean Meat Trade

To look at one-year old Liam, an adorable Labrador retriever mix, you would be hard pressed to guess all that he’s been through in his short life. Liam eyes every visitor to the dog room at the Adoption Center and barks to make sure he’s got your attention. Liam is one of five dogs that we brought back from a Maryland rehabilitation center last month. They were part of a group of approximately 120 dogs rescued from the South Korean Meat Trade that were being cared for by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

Second Chance has long partnered with the HSUS as an emergency placement partner and we are often called upon to help with cases like this. South Korea is currently contemplating a dog meat ban and the farm where Liam and the other dogs came from is transitioning to growing cabbage and other crops through the Humane Society International/South Korea’s “Model for Change Program”. We are proud to work with the HSUS to give these dogs the best start at a new life.

All five dogs are doing amazing. They’ve obviously been through a lot in their short lives, but the dogs have made great progress. They were so shy when we first met them, and we have been in awe watching them get brave enough to explore our play yard and begin to come out of their shells.

Since they’ve never had the chance to be a dog, they will need patient families who can help with things like walking on leash who are ready to give them the great life they deserve. Liam is currently available for adoption. Jackson, Star and Buttons are still at the our Almost Home facility in North Brookfield where shelter pets entering Massachusetts complete their state-mandated 48-hour quarantine and receive any care they may need before they are ready for adoption. They are just waiting for kennel space to open up at the adoption center so they too can find their forever homes. The fifth pup is being fostered and we suspects he has already stolen his foster’s heart.

If you are interested in adopting one of these special pups, you can find the available dogs’ bios on our adoptable dog page or come visit during adoption hours: Monday through Friday – 10am to 3pm, Thursday evenings from 5 to 7pm and Saturdays from 11am to 4pm.

Want to help more pets like Liam get their second chance? Your donation can save lives! Thank you.

A Call for Change to Help Homeless Pets in Massachusetts

Your Help is Needed – Sign the Petition Today!

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!

Thank you for helping shelter pets!

Bugs Bunny & Leif Need Your Help

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.

$200,000 Grant from PetSmart Charities Helps More Pets Get the Vet 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

Read the Winter 2023 Newsletter

Second Chance Looks Back at a Record-Breaking Year

READ NOW

70,000th Spay/Neuter

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.

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