Second Chance: Phase 2, Dog Den + Flash & Lilly

10 Jul Second Chance: Phase 2, Dog Den + Flash & Lilly

Flash

Second Chance Humane Society is really digging into Phase Two of its capital campaign, “Building Second Chances,” for the construction of new dog facilities on its 52 acre Angel Ridge Ranch in Ridgway.

Angel Ridge was purchased in October 2011, the result of a successful Phase One of the campaign, and having already raised almost 57% of the $535,000 to build the new facilities Second Chance is geared to complete this project – if all goes well – by year end.

Phase Two, The Dog Den, is now considered a priority as the existing dog housing (a barn renovated to temporarily accommodate the dog populations until new facilities could be built) significantly limits capacity to about half of the permitted quantity of 25 dogs. Additionally, the barn is not designed as a dog shelter and presents varying challenges and inefficiencies. 

To date, the focus of Phase Two has been to design facilities that increase capacity and provide for efficiency, affordability, and comfort to reduce stress and increase adoptability of the dogs being housed at Angel Ridge. The facility will increase capacity from 12 to 25 dogs, enable a future build out to house 35 dogs, and is designed to:

•Be more suitable and health-promoting for dogs in terms of proper air flow/ventilation and temperature control;
•Replace the caged housing system with “real-life” rooms;
•Provide for staff and volunteer workplace efficiencies;
•Be energy efficient, including geothermal capable;
•Allow for separation of intake or ill dogs from adoptable dogs;
•Increase outdoor accessibility for dogs;
•Be more adaptive to creating a communal environment for dogs; and
•Result in a greater adoption rate and more lives saved.

Further, the new buildings will free the existing space currently used for housing dogs for program expansion, something our organization has not been able to provide over the years due to space restrictions. Examples? High volume animal emergency/disaster relief and onsite prevention and education services. Particularly intriguing: an onsite medical facility, to develop accessible public spay/neuter clinics as well as treatment for shelter pets, which would dramatically reduce  operational costs.

With $68,000 residual from the Phase 1 campaign, $113,000 from the sale of property formerly slated for its new shelter, plus $125,000 in grant funding from the Telluride Foundation and the Denver-based Animal Assistance Foundation, the timeline is to raise the remaining roughly 43% of the project funds through additional capital grant awards and private donations. The goal: project completion by year end.

By doubling dog intake as well as increasing the adoption rate and offering accessible and affordable spay/neuter clinics, Second Chance will be dramatically improve its ability to impact the regional pet overpopulation problem while promoting the human-animal bond.

Additionally, The Wags & Menace Foundation (in Denver) has already pledged to purchase all the medical equipment for the Second Chance medical clinic as soon as the space is available. So we have entered another exciting era for Second Chance. A positive response to this capital campaign will enhance our ability to offer the region a focal point for a variety of animal welfare needs, something in which the communities we serve have a very strong interest.

Lilly

Second Chance will be hosting some public presentations for those wanting to know more.

Learn more at: www.adoptmountainpets.org or call 970.626.2273.

Now… our pets of the week…

FLASH MARTIN:
Yo, Flash Martin here.  Don’t ask how I got here. Just know I would rather be in a home of my own. They say I am a Maine Coon mix, but I don’t really care for lobster. Those antennae. Creepy.  I am maybe one year old, but young anyway, with a big personality, gorgeous hair, and captivating eyes. You will certainly, ahem, flash a smile or two at my antics and outgoing nature.  Hope to see you, well, in a flash.

LILLY:

My name is Lilly. I am not really a flowery kind of girl, but I do think I smell good. I am a Boxer Spaniel mix only one year young and I LOVE to play with people, dogs, bubbles, water, mud, my tail, you name it. I think life is fun and I make it more fun. Adopt me if you love fun too.

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 now living at the no-kill shelter, Angel Ridge Shelter, a dog and a cat, hoping to find them loving permanent 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.

By the by, there is no better place to park your pup than Cottonwood whenever you head out of town (for locals) or are heading to town and staying somewhere that does not allow pets. Consider joining Ted’s Very Important Dog (VID) Club for added benies. (Details on Ted’s website.)

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 the shelter pets and services online: www.adoptmountainpets.org.