Second Chance: Is That Cat Really Lost? + Updates!

25 Jan Second Chance: Is That Cat Really Lost? + Updates!

Second Chance Humane Society’s Animal Resource Center and Thrift Shops have been serving San Miguel, Ouray & Montrose Counties since 1994. The shelter is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday 11 to 5:30. Community veterinary services are available by appointment.

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

Go here for more on Dr. Shari DePauw of Second Chance. Second Chance veterinary clinic is open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Call (970) 626-9713 or email clinic@adoptmountainpets.org

Donate here.

Go here for more options from Second Chance.

Did you know that fewer than 10% of lost cats are reunited with their owners? Here at Second Chance, our adult cats are either owner surrenders or were brought to us as strays. When we post a found cat, we often get comments and inquiries from people who lost their cat – sometimes months before. While the reunion of lost cats and their people is not common, everyone still holds out hope.

Caring pet lovers see cats in the neighborhood and want to help. When a cat is truly homeless, taking it to a shelter is the right thing to do. But is that cat you see a stray or homeless? It might be someone’s outdoor or indoor/outdoor pet. These cats often have routes they frequent. People along these routes may start feeding them (which reinforces the route for the cat). After seeing the cat come by repeatedly, someone may bring him/her to a shelter.

Before making the trip to a shelter, consider the paper collar tactic to learn more about the roaming kitty. This clever trick was created to help keep cats safe and in their neighborhoods while alerting the cat’s owner to concerns a neighbor may have about the cat’s outdoor escapades. In many places, free-roaming cats are against the law, so this may also help the cat’s owner avoid a fine.

Here’s how it works. Write a message on paper, (use bright neon paper if possible to make it more visible) fold the paper into a strip/collar, and secure it around the cat’s neck with tape. It is safe because it can tear if the cat encounters trouble. Here’s an example of what the collar should say:

This cat has been visiting us lately. If this is your cat, please call or text me: ____________________________________________

You may need to make a new collar if the first one comes off. If the cat returns and you haven’t received any calls, attach a new one.

After attempting to locate the cat’s people, if there is no response, you should have the cat scanned for a microchip. Most veterinarian offices and shelters will do that for free.

In addition, ask your neighbors if they know anything about the cat, put signs around your neighborhood, share photos of the cat at your local shelters and veterinary clinics, and share on Nextdoor.com, and your local Facebook page or group.

If you have a cat who sometimes goes out for adventures, having a secure collar with id tags is essential. Microchips are also essential for pet identification, but should never be the only id. Reading a microchip takes a special scanner that an animal control officer or shelter will have, but your neighbor down the street will not. Second Chance offers microchipping at our Vet Services Clinic by appointment. While you’re there, we recommend updating your cat’s vaccines and getting him/her spayed or neutered as well.

Ginger

My name is Ginger. I came to Second Chance when a kind person found me and brought me in. No one came to claim me, so I’m now waiting for my home. I am a young ginger-and-white girl who likes people, playing, and napping in high places.

AND… To continue the Second Chance Highlights section, we want to share the following:

We are happy to announce a new SCHS partnership with the local RSVP family (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) that will support and celebrate your community service through special perks and benefits!

RSVP is an AmeriCorps-funded program, organized locally by Region 10.

The purpose of the program is to engage and retain people 55+ in their community through impactful volunteer service. RSVP aims to reduce any barriers that could keep someone from being able to volunteer, and support them in their service by offering the following free benefits:

* Mileage reimbursement: From your home, to where you volunteer, while you volunteer, and back to your home at $.50 per mile.

* Meal reimbursement: $7.00/meal if you volunteer more than 4 hours in a day AND you are not offered a meal during your volunteer service.

* 3 kinds of free supplemental insurance while you volunteer: auto liability, medical liability, and personal liability insurance.

* Opportunities for training, offering feedback on your volunteer service, receiving thank you gifts, and more.

When you become a RSVP volunteer you can elect to receive these benefits while volunteering with SCHS. We invite you to join RSVP so you can receive the benefits while you are volunteering. This does not change how you currently volunteer with SCHS and just offers supplemental benefits.

It’s easy and 100% free of charge to become an RSVP volunteer:

1. Fill out your online application. Region 10 Volunteer Enrollment Form

2. Attend a 1-hour orientation. (In person or via Zoom – we will follow up with the options after filling out the volunteer enrollment form.)

3. You’ll log your volunteer hours as you go online with RSVP, which you can do easily from your phone or computer.

That’s it! Feel free to reach out to our volunteer coordinator with any questions.

We Need a Tractor!

Our maintenance crew at the ranch would love to have a tractor, mini excavator, or a skidsteer. Please let us know if you or someone you know has one that is not being used. Would be in-kind donation for tax deduction–