#GivingTuesday Is Here – Your Opportunity to Save Lives!

 

117 Days.

That’s how long an average cat waits for their forever home at Second Chance Pet Adoptions.

638 Days.

That’s how long Snickers, an angelic 6-year-old cat, waited for his forever home. Snickers had glaucoma, and while his vision was still great, it would eventually deteriorate and he would need his eyes removed, and until then, he would need his daily eye drops. This worried potential adopters, so Snickers was passed over time and time again. He was safe at the area’s oldest no-kill animal shelter, free to nap or play as he saw fit in one of our cageless community rooms, but he longed for humans to call his own.

Waiting since October 2015, Snickers met Krissy in June of 2017. She and her husband were looking for a sweet boy to bring together the female felines of their household. Krissy read his online profile, thought Snickers would be a perfect fit, and made an appointment to come and meet him. We were excited for our boy, but anxious that his heart–and our own–would be broken if Krissy opted not to adopt him.

But, our dreams came true: on the final day of National “Adopt a Shelter Cat” Month, Krissy brought Snickers home.

Snickers is one of over 12,000 homeless cats and dogs that Second Chance has rescued since our inception in 1987. He exemplifies the promises we make to our animals: to feed and shelter them as long as needed, to treat their medical conditions with the best care, and to give them the second chance they each deserve.

We cannot fulfill these promises alone. Cats like Snickers (and the dogs, too!) depend on our generous supporters to help them as they wait to meet their perfect families. With your help, we sent 483 pets to their adoptive homes in 2016; we are on track to surpass that number in 2017 and to exceed our goal of sending home 525 animals in 2018. Just how much we exceed that goal depends on you. Click HERE to become our partner in rescue today with an investment in our mission: to champion homeless cats and dogs until every animal has a home. 

But first, consider this: you can increase your impact on our rescue efforts with a convenient, automatic monthly donation by submitting HERE

There’s more! 

Until Dec. 31, 2017, you can be promoted to the position of Second Chance Elf (Santa Paws is hiring!) with complimentary merch to promote Second Chance around town! All new monthly donors will receive a Second Chance backpack, and those who donate $10-$14.99/month (or a one-time donation of $150-$224) will receive a Second Chance 30th anniversary t-shirt. Make it $15/month or more (or a one-time donation of $225 or more) and ALSO receive a 30th anniversary water bottle or travel tumbler while supplies last–HURRY!

Second Chance Welcomes New Dog Program Manager, Laura Honeycutt

 

Second Chance extends a warm welcome to our new Dog Program Manager, Laura Honeycutt. Laura grew up in Wake Forest, NC, and her first love (other than her parents and sister) was her pet dachshund, Kappy. Even now, at 29, she asks if she can pet every dog she sees. Laura studied Economics & Entrepreneurship at UNC-Wilmington, then served in the Peace Corps in Nicaragua as a Small Business Volunteer. It was there that she started rescuing dogs after seeing so many street dogs in need. Laura adopted 4 dogs while living in Nicaragua and brought home 10 foster dogs when her service was over in 2014.

 

After struggling to find good homes for her fosters, she joined Franklin County Humane Society, who took in all 10 and found forever homes for them. Since then, Laura has fostered for FCHS and, in 2015, became Dog Team Leader. While fostering dogs, she worked as a bi-lingual Employment Specialist at the U.S. Committee for Refugees & Immigrants. Since jumping head first into rescue, she’s dreamed of finding a full-time job dedicated to saving dogs and is ecstatic that her dream has come true with Second Chance. We are similarly ecstatic to have her join the team and look forward to meeting the many dogs we know she will work hard to save!

2017 Evening of Pawsibilities Draws 30th Anniversary Celebration–and Three Successful Fundraisers–to a Close

See our 2017 Evening of Pawsibilities “Meet the Animals” video!

 

The 17th annual Evening of Pawsibilities brought closure to our summer of celebration. Over the course of three decades, the staff and volunteers of Second Chance Pet Adoptions have rescued over 12,000 homeless and abandoned cats and dogs, an accomplishment that we officially began celebrating at the Family Reunion and Racing for Rescues in May. The dual event was record-breaking and our best 5K/2K yet, with 576 registered participants and over $45,000 raised!

 

Over the summer, you sent us hundreds of photos of your Second Chance pets in their forever homes–a project with which we built beautiful a Family Tree at our concluding auction event. We also launched the “$30 for 30” campaign and asked you to be a part of history by sending a gift in honor of the occasion. You surpassed our goal of $9,000 and then, when we raised our goal to $12,000, you kept giving and surpassed that goal, too!

 

Finally, summer came to an end, and with a bang–the Evening of Pawsibilities sold out with the highest attendance ever! The result? Thanks to our donors, sponsors, attendees, bidders, and those who purchased raffle tickets, Second Chance animals received $75,000–around 13% more than last year’s total!

 

Be proud of yourselves, Second Chance family. We challenged you this summer to invest in this rescue organization and confirm your commitment to the animals, and you stepped up. You renewed your promise to be there for the sick, the injured, the alone, and the abandoned. Because of you, precious cats and dogs will be rescued, will be healed, and will be loved. Thank you for being our partners in rescue.

 

Thank you for being our partners in rescue!

Triangle Law Group Upgrades from Silver Paw Sponsorship to Gold Paw

Second Chance is elated to announce that Triangle Law Group, formerly a Silver Paw sponsor of our rescue organization, is now a Gold Paw sponsor!

 

Owner Laurie Gengo adopted a Second Chance cat in 2006 and, upon visiting the facility in early 2017, adopted–with her colleagues–Peaches and Cream (pictured here). Peaches had been in the Second Chance program since 2008 and now happily roams the halls of the law firm, visiting each staff member throughout the day and entertaining them all with her antics.

 

Laurie and her team have been a consistent source of support for Second Chance animals and we are thrilled to deepen our relationship with Triangle Law Group through this upgraded sponsorship!

 

Thank you, Triangle Law Group!

Allison Paris to Leave Second Chance; New Dog Program Manager Hired

It is with mixed emotions that we share the news that Allison Paris, our Dog Program Manager, is leaving Second Chance. With her strong commitment to the welfare of the animals, Allison has made significant contributions across both the dog and cat programs. She has been responsible for the rescue and rehoming of over 1,000 dogs since she joined us in 2009. Additionally, she has been instrumental in the training of many volunteers and to the operation of the adoption center, and has been contributory to the successful execution of many fundraising events.  Quite simply, she has played an integral role in the success and growth of the organization over the eight years she has been on staff.  While we are sad to see her leave us, we are supportive and excited for her as she strikes out on an adventure towards something new and different.  Her last day on duty will be October 11. We wish her our very best and she has our deepest thanks.

 

To build on the foundation that Allison has laid, we are pleased to announce that Laura Honeycutt will be joining Second Chance as our new Dog Program Manager. Laura has extensive experience in animal rescue, most recently in a volunteer capacity as a Dog Program lead for the Paws for Life rescue group based in Franklin County.  Laura will be joining us November 6.

 

Should you have any matters relating to the Dog Program between October 11 and November 6, please direct them to Lisa Imhof.

 

Lisa Imhof                                              Dave Ballesteros

Director, Operations                            President, Board of Directors

Lisa@SecondChanceNC.org               DaveB@SecondChanceNC.org

Dog Days Vendor Application Deadline Extended to Oct. 4!

Around 1,000 people–including children–will come through with their dogs at Dog Days of Cary at Bond Park on Sat., Oct. 7, 2017 (9am-1pm). Affordable vendor spaces still available–$30 for a 10′ x 10′ space! Be a part of it: email Rachel@secondchancenc.org to reserve your spot by October 4!

2017 Pawsibilities Glover Photo Booth

2017 Evening of Pawsibilities: Glover Photo Booth Pictures

2017 Pawsibilities Glover Photo Booth

This year, we had OVER 235 PEOPLE attend the 17th Annual Evening of Pawsibilities – making this year a record breaker! We had a photo booth for fun and in celebration of our 30th Anniversary (thanks, Glover Corporation!) and here are photos of all the Second Chance family members who stepped inside. View the pictures HERE!

2017 Pawsibilities Video

2017 Evening of Pawsibilities: Meet the Animals

If you weren’t with us Saturday night, we’re bringing our auction video to YOU! Meet some of the animals we have rescued this past year and see some of their amazing transformations. Thank you for making it possible to stand by them in their time of need.

2017 Evening of Pawsibilities

Congrats to the Carolina Ale House Gift Card Winner!

Carolina Ale House

Congratulations to Claire H. for winning the $25 Carolina Ale House gift card by purchasing an Evening of Pawsibilities ticket by last night’s deadline! We are looking forward to seeing EVERYONE Saturday night!

The Companion September 2017

The Second Chance Companion – September 2017

The Companion September 2017

Welcome to another edition of the Companion!

Topics included this month:

  • Tickets are limited for Evening of Pawsibilities!
  • Many Auction Items Have Been Revealed!
  • Get Your Raffle Tickets to Win Big!
  • Dog Wash Saturday!
  • Help Animals Through Workplace Giving!
  • Meet Cindy Lou
  • Bring Us Home for $30 for 30 So We Can Bring Them Home
  • Special thanks to our Evening of Pawsibilities sponsors!

Click here to read the entire issue!