SECOND CHANCE: HIDALGO AND KEKE

17 Oct SECOND CHANCE: HIDALGO AND KEKE

Editor’s note: It’s no secret. The Telluride region is dog heaven. Unless you are one of our furry friends who gets caught in the maw of neglect and abuse. Then heaven is on hold until Second Chance Humane Society comes to the rescue. Second Chance is the region’s nonprofit dedicated to saving animals’ lives and promoting responsible pet parenting and human-animal bond. Every week, executive director Kelly Goodin will choose to profile two of the many animals from the no-kill shelter, Angel Ridge Shelter, a dog and a cat, hoping to find them loving homes. The column will be sponsored by Ted Hoff of Cottonwood Ranch & Kennel, who from time to time exercises his skills as a dog whisperer and partners with Kelly and her staff to help train a particularly challenging animal.

As outlined in the past few weeks of TIO posts, the foundation, development, and evolution of Second Chance Humane Society has been the story of a true grassroots organization. The growth of Second Chance as the region’s primary animal welfare organization would never have been possible without the purchase and development of our Thrift Shop back in 1998.  Through this facility, located on Sherman Street in Ridgway, Second Chance has generated 65% of its rising operating costs throughout the years.  It is this Thrift Shop that enables Second Chance to maintain its pace, in step with the growing animal welfare needs of the region, and withstand the recession and other challenges that non-profit organizations face, to remain a healthy and mature organization.

Most patrons and donors to our Thrift Shop recognize that their contributions transfer to the bottom line, as we do not have mortgage payments and limit our occupancy cost to that for routine maintenance.  Additionally, our Thrift Shop serves 3,000+ customers per month. Although monthly revenue averages $30,000, the average item price is less than $2.50.  (woah! – our staff work hard for our money).

The Thrift Shop has also established itself as a major regional source for recycling and green sustainability.  Not only is our facility solar powered but our efforts to recycle cardboard, metals, electronics, plastics and textiles has reduced our monthly landfill deposit by over 50 cubic yards (more that 6 extra-large dumpsters).  We thank our patrons and donors for making this all possible.

Hidalgo

Reminder: please join Second Chance staff and volunteers this Saturday October 20th from 1-4 PM at Angel Ridge Ranch in Ridgway for our Second Annual Howl-O-Ween Party and Open House.  Like last year we will be hosting property tours, costume contests, pumpkin carving, apple bobbing, candy scavenger hunt and more.  Partake in some howling fun and meet adoptable pets like Hidalgo and Keke introduced below.

Hidalgo: Although my name, Hidalgo, suggests lineage of Spanish nobility, the local vet believes that I am more German or English (either a mix of German Pointer and/or English Springer Spaniel).  The important thing is that I am the dog of your dreams.  I mean where else can you find wit, brains, athleticism, and dashing looks all in one package?  My last family, who abandoned my best buddy Marly and me, clearly didn’t recognize how good they had it.  But now you get to benefit from their loss because I can be yours (and you can be mine) today!

Keke:
Hi my name is Keke and like Hidalgo the origin of my name (Korean) does not necessarily reflect my lineage. It does reflect, however, who I am; its meaning is laughter.  The reason that I am here at Second Chance is not anything to laugh about; at 5 and a half years of age, my owners had to give me up because they developed allergies.  But it is laughter that I will bring to your life if you adopt me. Not necessarily the deep bellied convulsive laughter that a showboat goofy cat is always trying to elicit from its family but a laughter of the heart – the kind that makes your soul smile.  Thus, I would do great in a nice laid back type of home – one that is slow enough to recognize such graceful laughter.  As a bonus, I get along really well with other kitties so if you already have some at home – no problem – I can teach them to laugh from the core too.

Keke

The Second Chance Humane Society Animal Resource Center and Thrift Shop are both located in Ridgway but service San Miguel, Ouray & Montrose Counties.  Call the SCHS Helpline at 626-2273 to report a lost pet, learn about adopting a homeless pet, or about the SCHS Spay/Neuter, Volunteer, Feral Cat, or other Programs.  View our shelter pets and services online: www.adoptmountainpets.org.