Joe B.

Richard and the Zoo Too Team... I want you to know that you will in all likelyhood continue to see Rescue Shelters that are all in desperate need of something. Whether it is a new roof, a new air-conditioner, even new litter scoops. That, unfortuneatly … Read more

Richard and the Zoo Too Team... I want you to know that you will in all likelyhood continue to see Rescue Shelters that are all in desperate need of something. Whether it is a new roof, a new air-conditioner, even new litter scoops. That, unfortuneatly is the world we all live in. We are supported only by the generous donations of our community, friends of the animals, the tireless work of volunteers who expect nothing in return except a big wet kiss from the dogs and the fund raisers that we all put on every year to keep the shelters open and saving animals. For us, this is not about the physical things that are all obvious, it is about being able to go further, to do more, to educate more, to reach out further than our MA community and to one day, in our greatest dream, make the need for Rescue shelters non existant. But there is something here at Second Chance that you will not likely see in your other visits. That is the pure, heart driven passion with which every volunteer here feels for our animals, for those that we cannot reach, for those that we were too late for and for the endless our work. I, personally, retired from Corp. life two years ago to fullfill the deeply rooted calling in me to do something for the poor helpless creatures that cannot speak for themselves. Being at the shelter with the animlas and with the humans who have the same burning devotion to doing whatever it takes to save another animal from a life of deprivation, abuse, neglect, or abandonment is just the most rewarding experience one can imagine. There is no reward needed except the sight of seeing our "homeless" friends leave our shelter in the kind, caring and loving hands of their new forever families. I can not tell you how pervasive the passion and committment is here. I have volunteered at other shelters here in MA in my past, and it is a given that shelter volunteers feel strongly about their mission wherever they are. But the sense of love, careing and devotion at Second Chance goes infinitely beyond that. It is a deep and boundless motivation that comes from the deepest parts of our spirits that has allowed this tiny shelter to accomplish what it has accomplished since it's humble inception in 1999. If you had a way of seeing into our hearts and our souls your decision would be very clear. The animals are the reason that we loose sleep at night, the reason that we spend the countless hours doing what we do, the reason that we light up when see our successes and reason that we all shed tears when we see the never ending hardship that our animals have endured. We all wish that we could be like the animals and live only in the present, but our humanality doesn't allow for that. We feel their pain. I hope you had a chance to see what I am talking about in our eyes and our hearts and that it came through loud and clear in the words that we spoke to you. This type of genuine committment and passion and love for God's creatures is what sets this tiny shelter off of Podunk Road apart from the others. Read less