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.

When we receive a stray cat, sometimes they are obviously someone’s pet. We post photos to social media with the location where they were found, and some general descriptions of them. Sometimes, their family comes to get them. Although this is the best outcome, it’s not typical. Year to date, only 10% of stray or found cats that have come to Second Chance are reunited with their family. That is lower than the national average, likely because we are rural, and our service area is so large.

With 1000 prior entries, our blog/Pet Column has covered everything from the dangers of hot cars to why your cat might chirp at you. To kick off our next 1000 columns, we’re sharing words from our Board of Directors and Executive Director about why Second Chance is such a special organization and what we plan for the future.

Since 2006, we’ve covered everything from the horrors of puppy mills to the importance of spaying and neutering to why your dog might scoot his butt on the ground. Entries have been funny, warm, sad, and even a little bit angry. Always, we have strived to inform and enlighten pet families.

Our hearts go out to those in our community whenever there are wildfires, floods, or other natural disasters. In those cases, you are likely thinking and planning for “what if”. When planning, don’t forget to have a plan for your pets.

Every year, Second Chance Humane Society and other animal welfare organizations warn about the negative impact of July 4th fireworks on pets. More pets go missing on Independence Day than on any other day. Shelters see numerous frightened dogs and cats who have escaped due to the loud noises and strange smells of fireworks. Those that end up in shelters are the fortunate ones; others may be hit by cars, remain lost, or get injured while trying to escape.

There’s evil lurking in the weeds. An invasive plant can make a simple walk with your dog dangerous. Foxtail is a grass-like weed found in the western US and is very common in our area. It has barbed seed heads that can work their way into the skin of your pets.

Taking the right steps to properly introduce a new cat to existing cat(s) in your home will let the cats get comfortable slowly while hopefully avoiding litterbox issues, stress, or fights.

Roscoe is a border collie, corgi, cattle dog, aussie, pit, lab mix. We’re ninety-nine percent sure he is smarter than you. Like most incredibly smart beings, he can be a bit quirky. Think Sheldon Cooper.

Scratching is normal, healthy feline behavior, not misbehavior! Cats scratch to sharpen and maintain their claws, mark territory (visually and with scent glands in their paws), get exercise, and relieve stress.

We all want our dogs to be loyal and attached to us. But what happens when your dog has separation anxiety and can’t stand to be away from you? Separation anxiety is a common behavioral issue in dogs, characterized by excessive stress when left alone.

It might be time to adopt a new cat into your family! The transition from newcomer to treasured family member can take some time. Here are some tips to help you read the signals your cat is giving to make the transition smoother.

Imagine calling your dog or puppy, and they abandon whatever they’re doing, their eyes locked on you, tail wagging, and sprinting back with joyful enthusiasm. That’s the power of a solid recall.

Teaching a dog to walk politely on a leash is a journey. Leash pulling is natural for dogs and changing this behavior takes time and consistency. Some dogs will grasp the concept quickly, while others need more patience and repetition.

We get questions like this: “Do you have any dogs under 15 pounds for adoption?” The answer is: Rarely. And, usually, small dogs that come to us are senior dogs. Small breed dogs who end up in a shelter are quickly adopted, leaving behind dogs who have waited months for someone to be interested in them.

There are many reasons why a family surrenders a pet. Economics, lack of pet-friendly housing, illness, and behavior challenges are the most common. For the past few years, we’ve had a waitlist for people who want to surrender a pet to us.

Cruz was surrendered to Second Chance when his person lost their housing. He’d been passed around to several homes before that and was over ten years old. He had some food sensitivities and a thyroid condition. He also had the cutest frosted face. Our staff fell in love, but we knew he was not the most “adoptable” guy. Senior dogs are often overlooked, and his breed made it even more challenging.

We’ve been talking a lot about dog DNA lately with the results of Roscoe’s panel being shared (and surprising many of us). While we understand the urge to pick a purebred dog or specific mix based on past experience or expectations, there may be someone even better out there for you. Here at the shelter, we have one-of-a-kind dog breeds to consider.

We’ve all seen situations where someone clearly has taken in too many cats. But what is that number? Where does the scale tip from several beloved cats to being overwhelmed? There are things to consider when you are a multiple cat household.

How long does it take to know if a dog or cat is the right fit for your home? Adopting a rescue dog or cat is an exciting time. You decided to add a new family member, you fell in love, and now it’s time to bring her home. Sometimes it goes smoothly, but there will likely be an adjustment for you and the animal.