Second Chance: “Power of Pets, Breaking Barriers”

21 Aug Second Chance: “Power of Pets, Breaking Barriers”

The Telluride community was inspired and moved during the recent No Barriers Summit, a three-day event geared toward supporting people with disabilities. The goals of the weekend were to empower and transform individuals toward the “no barriers” mindset. Not only was the goal for participants realized, the event staff and volunteers and the community as a whole also benefitted.

Second Chance was invited to participate in the Summit for the purpose of highlighting how animals support, inspire, motivate, and help us live longer healthier lives. To prove our point, we hosted a booth during the Innovation Village evening, partnering with Telluride’s enthusiastic EMTs to offer free blood pressure readings to illustrate the health benefits pets bring to us just by hanging close. We took blood pressure readings of many passersby when they first arrived at the station and then again while interacting with a loving, adoptable pet. Every single person experienced a blood pressure drop of between 10-20 points after petting our beautiful Aussie, Sawyer, or the two, two-legged pups, Kandu and Lucy. We often hear about the health-promoting qualities of pet ownership (from physiological to mental and emotional), but to see the impact up front and close was quite exciting.

Led by vivacious Second Chance board member Janie Goldberg, Second Chance also organized volunteers to chaperone service dogs so that Summit participants could be involved in activities such as kayaking and horseback riding, all off-limits for their valuable pet companions. Janie was very moved by the responses she has received from participants whose dogs were cared for during the No Barriers weekend.

We are grateful to the No Barriers organization, the Towns of Telluride and Mountain Village and to the Telluride Adaptive Sports Program for bringing this enlightening event to our region. And we feel encouraged and energized because the role of pets in our lives was clearly recognized and embraced during the event. And that recognition furthers our organization’s goals and purpose.

And now a few words from our pets of the week…

Ross

ROSS:

My name is Ross, one of many young kittens waiting here at Second Chance to save your life – or at least help out. I am a very playful super happy little guy, especially when I am around my friends Rachel, Monica, Chandler and Joey. (Please adopt me with Rachel!!!) So whether you have high blood pressure or low mood swings, I am your here to bring endless possibilities back into your life…

ZOIE:

Zoie

And I am Zoie. I have quickly developed a reputation here at Second Chance for being just as sweet and loving as a dog can be. I am an 18- month Cattle Dog Hound with a tendency towards shyness, but I don’t plan on staying that way once I get a comfortable home and a new family. I have only lived with one family before, but they just traveled often without me. That really wasn’t the best thing for my sense of security. So now I am looking for a family that is understanding and patient as I grow into a confident happy girl again. I grew up with children and like to play with the the calmer dogs here at the shelter. Basically, I am low maintenance and easy going. A good friend you can rely on.

Editor’s note: It’s no secret. The Telluride region is dog heaven. Well, pet 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 at least one, generally 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.