Keep 250 Pets Out of Shelters

You may know that Second Chance pioneered access to care in Massachusetts to help keep people and pet’s together, but did you ever think about how that works?  Access to veterinary care can make a huge impact on a pet’s life.  Pet’s instinctively hide their discomfort, but veterinarians are trained to notice things a pet owner may miss. Catching and treating issues early, before they become a serious and costly emergency, can add comfort and longevity to a pet’s life – helping to keep them with their family. A recent study found that 69% percent of pets in underserved communities have never seen a vet at all.  For pet owners living on a fixed income, even a minor veterinary emergency can be catastrophic.  

Second Chance has four Community Veterinary Hospitals in Massachusetts communities where pets and pet owners need the most help, offering subsidized rates for those that qualify - but we also have programs that bring help out into the community.  Last Friday, we brought a FREE pet vaccination clinic to the town of Palmer.  Located between our Springfield and North Brookfield hospitals, this one-day clinic helped area pets get caught up on two lifesaving vaccines - rabies and distemper.  Covid made it difficult for pets to get veterinary services and the wait can still be long when pet owners call to schedule an appointment.  The pet owners we met were so grateful for the help.

We are so grateful for your support which helped make this vaccine clinic possible, in addition to a generous grant from Petco Love that provided the distemper vaccines.

Chiquita is a 10-year-old poodle who takes her job very seriously.  She goes to work with her owner every day to greet customers.  One day her owner noticed she wasn't quite herself.  She wasn't greeting customers and was lethargic. 

An x-ray revealed a linear block in her intestines. She needed emergency surgery, but the cost was too much for her owner's budget.  Her owner searched everywhere for help. Finally she found Second Chance.

They made the four hour trip to Massachusetts from New Jersey.  Second Chance veterinarian's removed most of her small intestines to save her life.  Without help, she would not have survived another day.

Chiquita made a full recovery and is back to work. 

This is why Second Chance is leading the way in access to care...so every pet can get the care they need. 

Chiquita is just one of the many pets we've helped thanks to the the support of our generous donors.

Thank you!

Links:

• Chiquita's Story