Community Veterinary Services are Back!
We are happy to announce the reopening of our Community Veterinary Clinic to the public. Appointments are available on a first-come, first-served basis for a range of services*. Pets of low-income families can receive low-cost services at the clinic in Ridgway, and we will continue to offer mobile vaccine and wellness clinics in Nucla, Montrose, and other underserved communities. Spay/Neuter/TNR clinics will be scheduled in the coming months.
Executive Director Nicholas Gilman says, “We are so excited to offer affordable veterinary care for community pets. Second Chance is dedicated to keeping pets with the people who love them. Healthy pets in happy homes is one of our core goals.”
Veterinary care at Second Chance Humane Society began in 2016 and was solely focused on the stray, abandoned, and owner-surrendered animals that came into our care. Over the next few years, we realized that many of our surrender requests were due to families not being able to afford veterinary care. That’s what motivated our decision to open a clinic to serve pet parents who were struggling financially, adding more days and more services. In 2020, we opened our clinic doors to all, with affordable fees. We served many dogs and cats in our community with our clinic services.
In 2023, our staff veterinarian left for an opportunity on the Front Range, and our services to the public were no longer feasible without a full-time vet. Dr. Mike Cavanaugh (a retired veterinarian on our board of directors) filled in part-time, ensuring our shelter pets were treated and cared for.
This spring, we recruited and hired a professional, compassionate, skilled veterinarian, Dr. Hannah Coenen. Dr. Coenen joined Second Chance Humane Society on June 4, 2025. Her most recent experience was at the city shelter in Albuquerque, New Mexico. There she treated up to 50 animals per day. With her training in veterinary medicine and a specific focus on shelter medicine, Dr. Coenen is already proving to be a valuable asset to Second Chance Humane Society and the community. In her first few weeks on the job, she volunteered her services to treat pets on Native American reservations on her days off, which is a great example of her heart and dedication. She’s made a huge difference at our shelter since her arrival in June. From helping sick shelter pets to spaying and neutering 75 cats at a recent clinic, Dr. Coenen has made a difference from day one on the job.
She says, “I am so excited to join Second Chance Humane Society! The community and beauty of Ridgway are part of what drew me here. I’m realizing how dedicated and forward-thinking the Second Chance team is, and I feel very fortunate to be a part of it. Second Chance is an outstanding organization, and I’m excited to see where we go and the impacts we continue to make in this deserving community.”
*Services offered at the clinic include: spay/neuter, feral cat TNR, dental cleanings and extractions, sick/well exams, vaccinations, microchipping, deworming, nail trims, ear cleaning, anal gland expression, flea/tick/heartworm prevention, bloodwork, digital radiography, ultrasound, euthanasia and cremation, soft tissue surgeries, limited orthopedic surgeries, and wound repair. To schedule an appointment, call (970)626-9713.
Since 1994, the Animal Resource Center and the Shops of Second Chance Humane Society have been dedicated to serving animals in Southwestern Colorado. Our adoption hours are every day from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. We are located at 177 County Rd 10, Ridgway, CO. You can view our shelter pets and services online at secondchancehumane.org