“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened”- Anatole France

Do you remember the first time this slumbering part of your soul was awakened? Often people respond to this question by describing a poignant moment of connecting with a family pet during childhood. Others recall connecting with a pet that they simply met in passing. Some, who grew up with family pets, have unknowingly felt this connection for their lifetime. Regardless, at Second Chance this awakening is referred to as the human-animal bond. It is a force to be reckoned with and I will share with you how to capture it.

I like to get high. I get high often. A soft belly rub is one of my favorite highs. Playing with toys is a medium high while hiking with people I trust is off the charts high. Yes, fun living is my recreational drug and I write today to encourage you to keep the other types of recreational drugs away from me and other pets. We just don’t know how to say no – especially if it tastes good.

Not long ago I had a family. I like to believe they were good people that fell upon hard times. Those hard times convinced them that they could no longer care for me. I know there are lots of folks who get smacked down by life and can barely take care of their own needs let alone their pets. It happens. I am a cat and I am not going to judge anyone on this. I like to think they made a choice that they felt was in my best interest. However, their choice in how to carry out this decision was not in my best interest.

If you’re thinking about adopting a new canine fur baby in 2019, you might be daydreaming about all the ways in which puppies are just too unbearably cute. I don’t want to discourage that, but, today I ask you to consider the benefits of adopting an older dog. Perhaps after reading this you will find it is a better fit for you…

The last Second Chance Pet Column of 2018 was about urging your legislator to approve a bill to prevent the USDA from unnecessarily killing kittens (see the Second Chance website for important back issues of the Pet Column). The first Pet Column of 2019 is about legislation in California that is going to keep thousands of pets from being killed. I think this year is starting off right!

Homeless pets here at Second Chance Humane Society do our best to avoid politics - but sometimes it is just too important an issue for us to turn our tails up to. So today I wanted to enlighten you on a Senate bill that US senator Jeff Merkley introduced to stop the Department of Agriculture (USDA) from killing kittens. Yep, read on to learn how helpless little kittens can now be saved.

Here at Second Chance Humane Society we are closing the year with our hearts filled with gratitude and humility while feeling energized by great optimism for 2019. The Second Chance folks and I are feeling most fortunate to be part of such a compassionate caring community. But we are also pushing for more – read on if you are up for a challenge.

Mahatma Gandhi was said to have spoken the words, “You can judge the morality of a nation by the way the society treats its animals”. I believe you can judge the morality of a community in this same manner and our community is getting it right as Second Chance enters its 25^th year of community support. However, there are still some gaps to fill and that is what Second Chance is targeting for 2019.

Gandhi also said, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world”. So in this vein, I challenge you to join Second Chance in becoming this change for 2019. Help someone, some being, help yourself – just help, help create the change that is so desperately needed on our planet. 

For our part, Second Chance will be furthering its mission “Saving Animals & Promoting the Human-Animal Bond” and you are most welcome to join us in any capacity you choose.  Pets have the power to change lives and this is what Second Chance will continue investing in for 2019 with community outreach programming for people and pets that most need us. Our wish is that whatever change you pursue may it be grounded in love and connection rather than fear and exclusion. 

As for me, I am filled with sincere appreciation as this Season of Light is upon us.  Truth is, I may not even be alive if not for people like you. Sounds morbid and dramatic but it is true.  Without this community’s support for second chances like mine, who knows where I would be...

But this is also time to look forward. I am hopeful that 2019 begins with me in a new forever home.  My name is Raisin and I am a lovely young homeless female feline. My letter to Santa read something like this:  Dear Santa – please bring me a loving family in a loving community in a loving world. I should also add, for potential adopters, that although I am quite shy at first I am a loud purrer and when snuggled I get so happy and relaxed that I tend to dwool, I mean drool, while making funny growly noises.

Wishing you warm and fluffy Holidays. And, on behalf of Second Chance Humane Society, thank you for making a difference – let’s keep it up. Bring it 2019.

Second Chance Humane Society Animal Resource Center and Thrift Shops service San Miguel, Ouray & Montrose Counties. Call the SCHS Helpline at 626-2273 to report a lost pet, learn about adopting a homeless pet, or about the SCHS Spay/Neuter, Volunteer, Feral Cat, or other Programs. View our shelter pets and services online: www.adoptmountainpets.org.

Without a doubt, winter is the worst time of the year to be homeless. Fortunately I am safe and warm here at the Second Chance shelter as I patiently wait for my first real home ever. While I have been snug in the Shelter it is getting cold outside so I thought I’d take this opportunity to throw down some important factoids about…colds.

Dear person reading this,

Holidays can either be crazed and chaotic or meaningful and magical. It is simply a choice. If you choose the former, well…good luck with that. If you choose the latter I can supply the meaning and magic, otherwise known as love. Love is the purpose and the reason. Love makes every day a holiday. I am love. The cuddly generous kind.

Hi my name is Taylor. I am a puppy mill survivor. The Second Chance Pet Column often promotes the end to this cruel and inhumane treatment of animals and although progress on this front has been slow nationwide things are improving. Additionally activism against puppy mills is also having a positive impact on the treatment other kinds of animals. Did you know that California voters made history a few weeks ago with the passing of Prop 12, the nation’s most progressive legislation for farm animals to date?