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2:03pm

Second Chance Animal Shelter Needs a Second Chance....

Featuring:

Lucy

The Second Chance Animal Shelter in East Brookfield, MA deserves a second chance, just as it gives second chances to all its four legged friends! I went to Second Chance Animal Shelter when I decided it was time for me to get another dog after having had to put my beloved Molly down 2 1/2 years ago. The people at the shelter were welcoming, but at no time did I think I was more important than the dogs I was looking at to possibly take home. Sheryl, Joe, Bob and Joe listened to me to find out what I was all about so that I could be matched with a dog that suited me well and that I suited well. There were two dogs I was very interested in; Bailey, a lovely big golden labrador and Buttercup, a cute bassett/beagle mix. The folks at the shelter gave me time with each dog in the fenced-in area and they allowed me time to walk with them. Since I knew I could only take one dog home with me, I had to leave them both because I really wanted them both and the decision was hard to make. I went back to the shelter a few days later. Sheryl and Joe along with some more shelter volunteers were there and they again welcomed me. This time I spent an extra amount of time with Buttercup for some reason. We were really drawn to each other. She was so darn cute. Again the staff talked with me while I had Buttercup near me and we chatted about conditions at my house and they asked questions like would Buttercup have room to run around, would she be alone a lot, are there any other animals in the house. They found out a lot about me without being intrusive and they gave me all kinds of information about Buttercup and how best to take care of her. I did decide to take Buttercup, now known as Lucy, home with me and she has been a delight....that is except for the first few weeks! She was trying to test the waters a lot to see if she could be the boss! Whenever I felt I needed a guiding hand, I e-mailed the shelter, in particular, Joe B. and he was always willing to lend an ear and offer advice. Very good advice I might add. Suffice it to say, my skills working with Lucy improved, Lucy's sometimes poor behaviors changed positively and Lucy and I are now part of the happiest forever home you will find! The shelter doesn't just stop at doing a great job matching up dogs and cats with potential forever homes, they are wonderful at fund raising (auctions, walk 'n wag, newsletters, etc.) to help the animals the very best they can. They promote their shelter so that people will know they are there for folks looking to have pets. The shelter people take absolute pride in making sure that the animals leave the shelter as healthy as they can possibly be. I know people who have gotten animals from other shelters and the poor animal has kennel cough or fleas or whatever. None of that happens at Second Chance Animal Shelter. Sheryl and her merry band of volunteers (of which I would love to be one someday) do all they possibly can with the space they have. At one time the space there was adequate, but not any longer. There are too many dogs and cats that the shelter is always willing to take in if need be, but they just don't have the room. The story about Bear finding his owner again, and of Dante and Frankie, the two poochies who were left at the shelter so matted and dirty that no one could tell if they were even alive, are just just examples of the great work this shelter does. I am so proud that the shelter made it into the top 20 of the Zootoo contest. Everyone worked very hard for it to happen. If the Second Chance Animal Shelter in East Brookfield, MA were able to get a "makeover" it would mean so much to so many animals....and it would make a lot of dedicated animal lovers very happy also.