Animal Planet’s Dr. Jeff Films 2 Episodes with Second Chance Humane Society

16 Jul Animal Planet’s Dr. Jeff Films 2 Episodes with Second Chance Humane Society

About 1.3 million people across the nation were able to take a look at some of Second Chance Humane Society’s outreach services. The most watched series on the Animal Planet Channel, Dr. Jeff Rocky Mountain Vet, partnered with Second Chance to provide free spay-neuter and medical clinics in Nucla and Ridgway. One of two episodes filmed with Second Chance was aired Saturday, July 7th. The episode with Second Chance set in Nucla (which will include some other surprises the show’s producers have asked them to not yet share), is scheduled for August 4th.

Last fall the show’s film producers and crew filmed Dr. Jeff and his team of vets and vet techs at Second Chance Shelter’s free spay/neuter clinic in Ridgway. The team also spent a day for a separate episode at the Nucla Fire Station filming another free clinic that Second Chance organized for the remote and underserved community. Seventy-eight pets went through the spay/neuter clinics and additional pets also received special medical care (from pulling rotten teeth to removing masses and treating ear infections). All services were provided free of charge with the exception of a $5 fee for vaccinations.

Second Chance Executive Director Kelly Goodin stated: “In addition to bringing Dr. Jeff to Ouray County, we had selected Nucla as one site for the free spay/neuter clinic because residents there do not have easy access to veterinary care – many of the attending pets had never had vet care before.”

Goodin continued: “It was a pleasure to work with this team of veterinarians who clearly embrace an incredible passion for saving lives through spay/neuter programming. When we were in Nucla word got out that the veterinarians were there and some folks were just driving up and asking for treatment for their pets. Dr. Jeff didn’t even hesitate to treat these pets, nor would he accept any payment for his services.”

Dr Jeff is based out of his clinic, Planned Pethood Plus, in Denver where he has 100,000 clients. The weekly show is in its 5th season and, although many shows are filmed at his clinic, he likes to travel to different locations every few months to offer his services to those most in need. Dr. Jeff and his team have travelled to various Native American reservations and other underserved areas including Mexico and Romania.

“As a passionate advocate for spaying and neutering pets, Dr. Jeff has performed more than 165,000 of these population-controlling procedures that improve long-term health,” explains the doctor’s website.

Second Chance was selected to participate in the show because of its strong partnership with National Mill Dog Rescue in Colorado Springs, featured on Dr. Jeff’s show twice.

Goodin shared: “We were excited to bring this show to our region not only to push the Second Chance mission of saving lives and promoting the human-animal bond, but also to bring greater accessibility to our community members to spay/neuter their pets. Although Second Chance offers regular low cost spay/neuter clinics, we do not have the resources to offer them for free and that was a huge draw to pet owners attending these clinics.”

Mustang Maddy, who is based in Ouray County and works with mustangs doing educational clinics to promote the human-horse connection, even attended Second Chance’s medical clinic with her two zebras that she has been training.

“It added a true ‘reality TV’ appeal to the show in addition to being historical for Second Chance – it definitely being the first time we ever had zebras on the property” Goodin proclaimed.

Goodin also emphasized her deep gratitude to the Second Chance staff and volunteers for all their hard work in making these events a success: “We had an incredible team and it couldn’t have happened without them. Our shelter manager Elizabeth Kirwin spearheaded this entire project and our staff and volunteers made it all come together – I am so very grateful to everyone involved.”

Vetting the Vet: Dr. Michelle Dally, DVM, J.D. is Medical Director of Second Chance Humane Society. She also has a private practice, Dally Veterinary Medicine, 333 S. Elizabeth Street, Ridgway, Colorado. Her service area is  San Miguel Mesas, Placerville, Ridgway, Ouray, and Montrose. For more on Dr. Dally, go here.

Michelle & Wallowby