Hello again friends!

            Spring is here (although the weather outside surely has me fooled!) and it*s so nice to hear the birds singing once again and the crocuses
trying to welcome the season. We have had a fairly *normal* winter as far as Second Chance activities. Our energies have been on animal rescue
situations and transport, along with continuing our GrandPaws and Compassion programs.

            Of course, the support of our members and networking with other animal caregivers continues to provide the funds and energy needed to
continue with our mission. We have assisted the local PSPCA with transportation of several animals throughout the winter months to new homes
or rescues. We have also served an integral role in several situations where there seemed to be no hope. (See related article on page 3). We are
proud and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of giving these animals a ‘second chance’, which they so sorely deserve.

            Our upcoming activities include the Taste of Tioga on The Green in Wellsboro on Saturday, May 19th. We will be selling a large variety of homemade dog biscuits as well as our original cookbook, Good Bites. We will also be offering information and education at the annual Health Fair
on The Green in Wellsboro on Saturday, June 9th.

            As the season approaches, I expect we will once again receive numerous calls of unwanted kittens/momma cats, stray dogs, etc. If you would
be interested in fostering any of these animals temporarily, please contact us. We never have too many animal caregivers. The rewards are enormous!
Also, if you would be willing to bake some dog biscuits for our taste of Tioga event in May, please give us a call at 570-724-7919 and we’ll provide
the details and recipes.

            Have a wonderful warm spring and I hope to see you at one of the events!

                                                                                                Susan Cook, President

 

 

 

 

 

Kasey's Kat Kolony

Feral Cat Colony Update  March 27, 2007

 

            Last summer I had to take a break from trapping my feral cats.  In an ironic twist, while I had been trying to prevent the birth of more feral cats,
I was bringing into this world the next animal activist.  Our daughter Kaylee was born on August 4, 2006.  After a winter of settling into mother routines
(Is being a mother ever routine?) I was ready to start aggressively trapping those crafty little cats.  Although I had not been trapping the cats, I was still making my daily trek up the road to feed and water the colony.  So I had a pretty good idea that there were a few new additions that needed to be neutered
or spayed.

            My current goal is to trap at least one cat a week and so far I have accomplished that goal.  I have trapped three females thus far, preventing approximately 30 kittens from being born to this colony in one summer (figuring two litters each cat, five kittens per litter).

            My other goal is to enlist the help of other feral cat groups that would be willing to help me conduct a mass trapping and transport them all to
a clinic that would neuter or spay all of the cats in one day.  I may have found such a group that would be willing to help me in the early summer. 
I will keep you all updated on this event.

 

 

           

 

Large or small…	It’s good	To be
	Home again. Thank you for adopting!!!

 

 

 

 

 

A Dog with no Name

 

            We don't know the story of his past. We don't know the series of events that left him sniffing at a stranger's door. We don't know why his
family left, or even failed to search, or possibly left him alone.

            We do know that when he came to a stranger's door the strangers opened the door and let him into their lives. He received food, love, warmth,
and a new name, Buster.

The strangers helped this 'dog with no name' with the black and white ancestral 'mostly basset exterior' and friendly disposition. They searched the neighborhood countryside and knocked and knocked on doors and asked for help locating Buster's owners...but to no avail. They contacted the SPCA
in hopes of a phone call from Buster's lost family...but again to no avail. They contacted Second Chance Sanctuaries, met with us, and continued the
search.

            From Second Chance the search broadened. Fostering help, protective injections, and a network of care followed. Buster still does not have
a permanent home....but he will. This loveable dog with the soft eyes and ability to melt hearts will find another chance, thanks to two lovely people
who opened their home and hearts to help a lost little dog with no name.

 

 

Buster

 

P.S. Buster HAS found a new home. Thank you, Bob!

 

 

Life's Tears

            Last week I had a friend. I was born and soon afterward found my friend at my side. He was a few years older, smaller than me, but still my
best friend. We played together, explored together, ate most of our meals together, and shared a family together.

            Last week I had a friend but my world began to change. The woman of our household had become ill. Her husband was even worse, possibly
with only a few weeks left to live. My family, mostly due to their declining health, needed to move far away. Their life change dictated that I and my
best friend had to stay behind. I sensed this, yet I still had my best friend.

            Last week I had my friend but we were on our way to a new home and hopefully a renewed start on life..possibly together. Things were
happening so fast last week I almost forgot my best friend. We went for a check-up and immunizations on our way to the new home. And it was
there I lost my best friend.

            Last week I didn't understand so I searched and searched hoping to find my best friend and the comfort we had shared since I was born. I'm still searching but I find only memories. I still miss my best friend. I will never understand.

            This week I still miss my best friend but others are helping me recover. They treat me well and I know will find me a new and great home.
Some day, maybe years from now, I will find my old friend and play together and tell him how much he meant to me. I'll let him know how much
I missed him.

 

            We witnessed the above story in the eyes of Digger and the eyes of Buck, his best friend who was euthanized due to severe health conditions.
We witnessed this as Buck's mistress, herself and her husband in unsteady health, cried for Buck and cried for Digger. We witnessed her heartache
as she made decisions no heart would wish to make. We witnessed her being turned by the fates of life and return home to tell her two children and
 her husband.

            We witnessed this tale through tears. We witnessed the love of animals, the love of families, and the strengths that rise from the even those
worst trials of life.

            We also knew that the hand we gave allowed this family the space to make their decisions. We know that Digger, who continues to be under
our care, will be given the best second chance he deserves....even sadly without his best friend, Buck. We know that the young boy whose hand
waved a slow thank you as we left with his best friends, not knowing their fate, trusted our care and compassion. We again kindled our mission
that each decision we make at Second Chance must be for Diggers, and Bucks, and families and the waving hands that seek and trust us.

 

 

Healthy Pet Food Practices

 

To minimize the risk of food poisoning in pets, the following simple guidelines have been established:

    * Do not allow the pet access to garbage or carrion     

    * Cover and refrigerate unused portions of wet food    

    * Be vigilant for the presence of molds in dry foods left out

      for free feeding  

    * If the temperature is greater than 50 degrees, discard

      uneaten wet food after 2-4 hours    

    * Use stainless steel bowls and utensils and clean them

      after each use   

     * If home cooking pet food, use only human grade ingredients

      that look unspoiled and unblemished. Cook all foods to a measured temperature of 180 degrees for a minimum of 10 minutes.     

 

 

 

PET-FOOD INGREDIENTS

    * Meat: Clean muscle meat, or flesh from the tongue, diaphragm, heart or esophagus.

    * Beef tallow: Fat extracted from cooked-down animal carcasses, bones and scraps.

    * Meat byproducts: The non-rendered clean parts from the animal other than meat, including lungs,
spleen, kidneys, brain, livers, blood, bone, stomachs and intestines. Does not include hair, horns, teeth
and hooves.

    * Meat and bone meal: Rendered from animal tissue and bone with the moisture and fat removed.
Only 10 percent moisture (unprocessed meat is 75 percent water). Does not include added blood, hair,
hoof, horn, hide, manure, stomach and rumen contents.

    * Animal digest: Flavoring made from animal tissues treated with heat, enzymes or acids to form
concentrated natural flavors.

 

Find books and read. Making your own pet foods will be a healthy choice for you, challenging,
fun to do...and your pets are sure to hang around and help!

(Second Chance has a terrific dog biscuit cookbook. Dee the website!)

 

Record your vet's number and keep it in an obvious location in case of any emergency.