SECOND CHANCE: OLDIES, GOODIES, MAX + BELLA

24 Apr SECOND CHANCE: OLDIES, GOODIES, MAX + BELLA

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. In her weekly blog, executive director Kelly Goodin profiles 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 is sponsored by Ted Hoff of  Cottonwood Ranch & Kennel, who from time to time exercises his skills as a dog whisperer, partnering with Kelly and her staff to help train a particularly challenging animal. Several posts ago, we featured Ginger, a case in point. When we dropped off Gina the Dog at Ted’s place, we got to meet Ginger, who is now a happy, obedient animal from a sad critter who did not want to be touched and could not be around other dogs. For Ted, miracles like that occur every day.

There is no better place to park your pup than Cottonwood should you be heading out of town for the off season like us. You also might want to consider Ted’s Very Important Dog (VID) Club for added benies. A post about that is up in our rotating banner right now

Take a Second Look for Second Chances

As most know, Second Chance Humane Society does not euthanize adoptable pets – although some homeless pets have to wait longer than others for new homes.

Despite the fact Second Chance regularly promotes the benefits of adopting a senior pet, in general older pets tend to get overlooked. And now we are seeing a trickle down effect: middle-aged adult pets are also challenged to find new families, including animals that are only five or six years of age, the very best years for many pets as far as temperament, behavior, and companionship. So we make an extra special effort to promote pets that have been with us for extended periods of time.

During the Wine & Whiskers live auction, for example. we promoted a few such pets. (Folks were bidding to sponsor, not adopt.) That brought great attention to our lovely feline Sasha who, because of her “advanced” (cough cough) age of six had been waiting for her home for over a year. Sasha got adopted and we just received a report that she is starting to really blossom in her new home. Amen.

Our partner, Denver’s Wags & Menace Foundation, also understands the importance of promoting age-challenged animals.  To help out, they offered to sponsor a full year of medical and food costs for one of our current shelter dogs, Rusty.

Rusty has been with us for many months now. He is late-middle age and has a slight foot deformity, so he is continuing to  have a hard time finding a new home. We hope that someone with a space in their heart and home for this cuddle-bug dog will come and whisk him away soon.

Another demographic that tends to have a harder time finding a home is black cats and dogs. And as fate would have it, we had a surge of black cats entering the shelter recently, all healthy, energetic, and fun-loving cool cats. To encourage adopters to take a closer look, we are offering up to 75% off adoption fees. Some call these adoption incentives or perks. We call them adoption beacons, because these promotions draw attention to the pet’s wonderful innate qualities and charm, overlooked because of age and other factors.

Bella, Italian for “beautiful.”

BELLA:

My name is Bella. I am blogging in this particular column because I am nine-year-old feline of gentle nature who has been hanging here at Second Chance for far too long. (Since last August.) I have only one request. Next time you are ready to adopt, please consider taking a closer look at animals like me who have been overlooked.  Sometimes all it takes is a few moments to realize that what we lack in youth (or appearance, perfect health, etc.), we more than make up for in spirit, love, and hope…

MAX:

Max, for MAXimum love

And although I am young, handsome, and healthy, I am still homeless, which makes me feel less than whole.  My name is Max and I am working very hard to be your new family member as my last family just didn’t have the time to devote to a young dog like me. Although I am youthful and energetic, I really want to be a good boy and show off my good manners too. I love people and cookies and as a Boxer, I enjoy the Rocky movies series.  “AAAAdriennnnnnnnnnnnnne!”  That scene always gets me….

Is there an Adrienne out there for me?

Note: 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.