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

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.

Did you know that by their second birthday, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have some form of periodontal disease? If you notice your pet’s breath is not so fresh, this may be the first sign.

That’s why every February, Second Chance offers discounts on our dental services. If you schedule a dental cleaning for your pet during the month of February, you’ll receive a 10% discount off the dental procedure.  Spots fill up fast, so make an appointment today and get your furry friend’s teeth cleaned!

Give us a Call to Schedule Your Pet’s Appointment:

North Brookfield: (508) 637-1333

Southbridge: (774) 318-1101

Springfield: (413) 739-2343

Worcester: (774) 243-1234

Recently we had the privilege to care for Chloe. She had developed a mass on her neck and her family was determined to get Chloe the help she needed to live her best life.

I can’t thank you enough for taking such wonderful care of our baby Chloe. As you know she is 13 1/2 years old, a Shih Tzu and full of life. When a cancerous tumor was detected in her thyroid gland and when other doctors said ” just let her live her life out because of her age and because she has a heart murmur” and another would charge double the amount for the surgery, you said it is a very risky surgery being close to major arteries but I can do this.

Even though you made me aware that there were no guarantees and it was a very complicated surgery, I saw that Chloe was very much at peace with you and your staff, instead of being her nervous self when going to the doctors. My husband and I had to give her a chance to live a longer life and have the surgery. The surgery was a success and we want to Thank you all again so much. She is happy and full of life. If she only lives a short time or another 4 years we are so grateful you said yes to helping her.

We are all so very happy that we could give her a “Second Chance”.

Last night we were humbled to be named Best Veterinary Clinic in the 2022 Best of Central Mass contest.  We are so very proud of all our Community Veterinary Hospital employees who give their all for pets everyday and we’re grateful to everyone who voted for us.