Ready to adopt a dog or a cat?

Welcome to Second Chance Humane Society, located in Southwest Colorado and home to Ouray, San Miguel and Montrose County's lost or abandoned lovable pets. Since 1994 we have been saving lives through our shelter services while developing effective education programs and events. Come meet our cats and dogs and find out how you can get involved — also come visit us at one of our Thrift Shops which support our life saving programs and services!

About us

Upcoming Events

We Believe

Pets & People Live Better Together

Services we offer

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Our Mission

Connecting Pets, People & Community While Saving Lives

Human Animal Bond

We Believe Pets & People Live Better Together

Learn more
Adopt a dog

Adopt Love & Kisses into Your Life...

Meet our dogs
Adopt a Cat

Adopt Purrs & Cuddles Into Your Life...

Meet our cats
Community Services

Explore our Community Services & Outreach Programs

Learn more
Get Involved

Discover the Many Rewards of Volunteering

Volunteeer
Events

We host fun and mission-driven events all year round!

Upcoming Events
Make a Difference

Support Second Chances with a donation today...

Learn more

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR TRI-COUNTY EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAMS:

Pet Pantry
Community Medical Program
Pet ID Program

If you need help with providing food, medical care or behavioral training for your pets call us at 970.626.2273

Second Chance is committed to keeping our community's pets together with their families.

We're Here to Help

Take a virtual tour of our tri-county programs and services and all that we do with your support - Click Here!

Events & Media

Expanded medical care services now offered!

Living Better Together

To support families in keeping their pets happy and healthy for their lifetime we (with Dr. Shari Depauw, pictured above left) are offering low cost veterinary services for pets of low-income families.

Free Medical Exams
Spay/Neuter - starting at $40
Vaccinations starting at $8
Dental Care starting at $150
Micro-chipping - $15
End of life care
And a variety of other medical services at similarly low costs (bloodwork, diagnostics & medical treatments)
Call for pricing on pets over 70 lbs or in heat.

Second Chance Shelter - 177 County Rd 10, Ridgway - No emergency care provided at this time.

Call 970.626.2273 for eligibility requirements and an appointment.

Walk-In Mobile Clinics in Nucla - Upcoming Clinic Date TBA: Nucla Fire Department

Learn to raise and train your dog using force-free, reward-based methods. Registration required .

Try our Low Cost Pet Behavior Services

Puppy Socialization and Skills (8 to 20 week old puppies) Learn methods for safely socializing as well as important basic skills. Time for monitored play included .
••
Basic Manners (5 months and older)
Learn calmly greeting strangers, sit, lie down, come, stay, walking nicely on a loose leash, and proper focus with the distraction of other dogs in the area .
••
Private Sessions
One on one sessions addressing fearfulness, anxiety, aggression toward other dogs or people, resource guarding, house training issues, destructive chewing, multiple dog household conflicts, and more...

Location: Indoor training center at Second Chance Shelter in Ridgway, limited socially distanced class size - call to register today!

Trainer: Krissi Goetz (photo above), Founder of Animal Adoption Center’s Training and Behavior Program in 2006

Honoring the Everlasting Bond

Angels Wings Memorial Garden

Promoting the human-animal bond is one of the most important things we do here at Second Chance. We believe in the power of unconditional love we share with our pets, and are forever grateful for each one of these furry family members who enrich our lives, even long after they are gone.

Purchase a Memorial Gift

Visit the Gardens

In the Media

Check us Out on Animal Planet's Dr. Jeff!

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.

Watch our Ridgway Shelter episode

Watch our Nucla outreach episode (about 22 minutes in)

In the media

Second Chance In the News

Second Chance received some great media coverage of our programs and services.

Read "On the Way to a Forever Home" in Shelter Magazine

And "Must Love Dogs" in Telluride Style Magazine

Power of the Human - Animal Bond

Equine Assisted Therapy Program

This program has been placed on hold due to the pandemic but we will revisit it in 2021.

Stay tuned for details...

Seeking New Venue - Contact us!

Paws for Art

Paws for Art is a touring sale of the best artwork donations to our Thrift Shops. This allows art collectors, or those just looking for something new for their homes, a better opportunity to view these amazing pieces. It also allows us to get better prices for these donations - which go directly toward our life saving animal welfare programs and services.

Giving Great Art & Homeless Pets a Second Chance!

July 23 - Aug 6, 2021

Virtual Bow Wow Film Festival & Auction!

Second Chance kicked off a Successful Virtual Bow Wow Film Festival & Auction in 2020 and we are bringing it back for 2021!

Enjoy the Bow Wow Film Festival & Auction "Safer-From-Home"-Style.

Bow Wow Film Festival celebrates, educates & inspires all things doggie via the art of short film! Online Auction runs concurrent with the Festival
Bid on art, jewelry, self-care and adventure packages, sporting goods, birthday parties and so much more!
All from the comfort of your home anytime you choose!
Only $16 covers your entire household.
Your ticket purchase supports our life-saving animal welfare programs and services.

March 14, 2020 Event Postponed - we'll be back...

Furry Flicks & Fashion

Bow Wow Film Festival - which celebrates, educates & inspires all things doggie via the art of short film!
Furry Fashion Show - starring Second Chance shelter dogs modeling the latest fashion trends from Chow Down Pet Supplies
Stellar silent & live auctions
Second annual amateur photo contest
Yappy Hour with Nibbles & Cash Bar

Your support of this fundraiser promotes our mission of Connecting Pets, People & Community While Saving Lives!

The Pet Column

National Act Like a Dog Day

People like to celebrate. I think this is good as pausing to appreciate the good things in life, or to remember things that are important, gives life meaning and value. Dogs celebrate life like all day long, so we don’t really do it as formally as you people do, what with holidays, anniversaries, and birthdays and such, but I do have an idea for a great new holiday…

Is your cat fat? Is your furry feline sporting something extra on the midriff? Are you in denial and pretending it is just extra fur to keep her warm? Well you are not alone, according to my research there is an estimated 60 percent chance that your cat is too chubby. But this epidemic (up 5% in 5 years) is leading to shorter and less healthy lives for cats, so I am putting my paw down.

What do you get when you cross a Boxer with a Body Builder? About 90 pounds of warm cuddly deliciousness. That’s right, you get me, Bustalicious (my friends just call me Buster though) a buoyant big-hearted boy dog, who also happens to be homeless. So how come I haven’t been adopted yet? Am I too big? Nonsense. Read how I dispel those rumors that give large dogs a bad rap…

Although an estimated 90% of bird species partner up for life, it is estimated that only 3% to 5% of all mammal species form monogamous (albeit somewhat complicated) relationships. Why so many birds? Why so few mammals? Good questions, although those are not the answers you will find in this week’s Second Chance Pet Column.