Second
Chance
Animal Center
Happy Tails
Spring 2015
News from Second Chance Animal Center
Collaborative Humane Investigations
by Linda Huebner, Executive Director
Second Chance Animal Center
remains very concerned about animal
abuse and neglect in the communities
that we serve; but as a private nonprofit organization, we do not have
the legal authority to intervene in
cruelty cases, enforce laws, or seize
animals. Furthermore, we do not
have the training or equipment that
law enforcement officers have to
protect themselves when investigating
allegations of wrongdoing, which can
involve uncooperative people and
dangerous situations. Consequently,
we changed the operation and focus of
our humane investigation program.
SCAC no longer serves as a lead
agency for humane investigations,
meaning that we will not investigate
allegations of cruelty or neglect on our
own. We are, however, continuing to
advise and assist other agencies on
cases involving companion animals
(dogs, cats, and small mammals –
In this issue:
Featured Pets��������������������� 2
Our Community and
Your Animal Shelter��������� 3
Memorials������������������������4-5
Tributes�������������������������������� 6
How I Spent My
Winter Vacation��������������� 7
Happy Endings�������������������� 8
Education Corner���������������� 9
Hope for the Future������������ 9
New Shelter Manager������10
“Best Friend” Poem����������10
Keeping Animals and
People Healthy���������������11
Calendar of Events�����������11
species that we can handle and house
in our facility). We will not be involved
in cases involving exotic animals or
livestock, as those are not our areas of
expertise.
Any animal abuse or neglect calls
received by SCAC will be logged
and callers will be referred to the
appropriate local and/or state
authorities, including town animal
control and select boards, local police
and/or sheriff’s departments, and
the Vermont State Police. Calls about
livestock (i.e. cows, horses, sheep,
goats, poultry, etc.) will be referred to
the Vermont Department of Agriculture.
We have recently worked with the
Vermont State Police to seize 4 dogs,
3 ferrets, and a cat from a neglect
situation in Pownal, the Town of
Bennington Health Officer to assess
living conditions and overall care
of companion animals, and the
Bennington Police Department to
assist with a seizure of dogs. We
believe that these incidents are
examples of effective partnerships
between our organization and other
agencies, and that such a model will
work well in the future. Though we
wish there weren’t a need to address
animal cruelty, we continue to support
these collaborative efforts to the best
of our ability.
We realize that SCAC has been a first
point of contact for some people for
many years, and we appreciate your
understanding. Please feel free to
contact us if you have any questions or
comments. Thank you.
GO GREEN
WITH US
Help us save money and the environment
by joining our e-mail service, iContact.
You’ll get the latest updates on upcoming
events, find out what’s new at the
shelter, and be able to read Happy Tails
electronically.
To subscribe, visit 2ndchanceanimalcenter.
org and click on Email List. Be assured
that we won’t share your information with
any other organizations.
Thank you letters can be sent via email,
too, saving paper and postage, and further
helping the animals.
Featured Pets
Staff
Hi, my name is Jackson! I am a 5 1/2 year old American Shelter Dog. I am
friendly, sweet and athletic. I came to SCAC because I didn’t get along with the
family cats. I love to play ball! And I will do anything you ask of me if you offer
me the ball. I enjoy being around the staff here at Second Chance. I would do
best as the only pet or possibly with a calmer dog. I would do better with older
children as I get excited very easily. If I sound like I could be your next family
member, please come meet me at SCAC!
Board of Trustees
Executive Director – Linda Huebner
Shelter Manager – Shona Ross
Office Manager – Kate Ernst
Office Assistant – Sierra Williams
Web Master / Volunteer & Events
Coordinator – Maureen Stadnik
Education Director – Dare Meunier
Animal Care Coordinator –
Molly Smith
Feline Supervisor – Meghan Rusk
Kennel Supervisor –
Elizabeth Ricketts
Animal Care Techs Robyn Champine
Michelle Harrington
Michelle Kopeski
Karen Marcoux
Olivia Moyant
June O’Boyle
Jessica Walker
Sierra Williams
Dog Obedience – Katie McKenzie
President - Kim Gould (Bennington)
Vice President - Jim Evans
(Manchester)
Secretary - Madeline Kennedy
(Bennington)
Treasurer - Angela S. Webster
(Manchester Center)
Bo Bergman DVM (Shaftsbury)
Lisa Byer (Bennington)
Michael A. Keane
(North Bennington)
Angie Marano (Bennington)
Judy Murphy (Bennington)
Randy Schmidt (Arlington)
Happy Tails
Ella came to SCAC because she had just a bit too much energy for her
previous guardian to handle. She is a sassy, playful, friendly feline. She has
lived with dogs but would do best in a home without them. She is good with
other cats and older children. She loves to play more than anything and
gets bored without anything to do. So if you’re looking for a new playful furry
companion, Ella’s your girl, and you should come to the shelter to meet her.
2 | Spring 2015 | Second Chance Animal Center
Editors –
Linda Huebner
Madeline Kennedy
Contributors –
Dr. Bo Bergman
Sharon Burnett
Kate Ernst
Kim Gould
Linda Huebner
Dare Meunier
Elizabeth Ricketts
Shona Ross
Meghan Rusk
Photos – Second Chance staff
and board and Timothy Peters/
www.timpetersphoto.com
Production – Wendy Moore
Our Community
and
Your Animal Shelter
by Sharon Burnett, Special Projects Coordinator
A wise woman from Parkersburg, WV,
once wrote, “Shelters are a reflection
of the communities they serve.” I have
pondered that statement many times,
especially as winter approaches and
people become angry at us because
there is no space at “the inn.”
As of November 1, 2014, Second
Chance had taken in 530 cats, 296
of them unwanted kittens. Kittens are
preventable and occupy space that
could be given to abandoned strays or
owner surrenders who have nowhere
else to go. While we work hard to
prevent unwanted litters of kittens by
offering low cost spay/neuter (SNAP)
clinics each week at the shelter,
the number of kittens coming to us
remains steady. In an effort to help
stem the tide, we recently offered free
spay/neuter services to some of our
more heavily cat-populated areas. The
response was disappointing at best,
and we continue to get calls about
kittens needing to be surrendered.
As a limited-admission organization
that does not euthanize healthy,
adoptable animals for space, we rely
on our community to do their part to
be responsible animal guardians.
Here are a few ways our community
members can help us and the animals
we serve:
If you have an unaltered cat, please
spay or neuter before your cat adds
to the already overwhelming cat
population. By reducing the number of
unwanted kittens, we will have more
cage space for the adult cats who need
us. We often hear from people with the
best of intentions that they’ve found
homes for their unplanned litters.
Unfortunately, many of those kittens
will produce at least one litter, if not
more, and the cycle continues.
If you have a cat who needs to come
into the shelter, please be patient. We
take them in as fast as we can. Please
be respectful of others who already
are on the waiting list. You would not
want someone put ahead of you, and
the other cats on the list need us just
as much as yours does. No one wants
healthy, adoptable animals euthanized
simply for the sake of space; therefore
we have to wait until animals are
adopted to make space for others.
If you find a cat, you’ll need to
determine if s/he is someone’s
indoor/outdoor cat, a stray, or a feral
cat (strays and ferals are collectively
called community cats). Many owned
cats who are brought to the shelter
as strays are never reunited with their
owners. This is unfortunate both for
the cat and the people who love her,
and is a good reason to microchip
your cat. For community cats who are
healthy and doing well, consider TNR
(trap, neuter, return) as a humane
option to surrendering them to a
shelter. Most shelters do not accept
truly feral cats because they do not do
well in a confined space, pose a risk to
shelter caregivers, and are not suitable
candidates for adoption; therefore,
they are usually euthanized. TNR –
into a maintained colony where cats
are provided with shelter, food, water,
and some vaccinations - is the only
humane option for feral cats.
You can find more information about
community cats at these websites:
http://www.alleycat.org and http://
www.sheltermedicine.com.
If you need information about SNAP
(now offering free microchips), need to
borrow a trap to catch a feral cat, or
need to surrender your cat to Second
Chance, call us at 802-375-2898.
Let’s work together to make our
community a better place for all cats.
Editor’s note: After 7 years at Second
Chance, Sharon Burnett has moved to
Montana. We still feel her presence
here, though, and wanted to include
this piece that she wrote last fall
because kitten season will soon be
upon us again.
Second Chance Animal Center | Spring 2015 | 3
MEMORIALS & TRIBUTES through March 6, 2015
There’s no better way to honor or remember a loved one, whether two or four-footed, than with a donation to Second
Chance. Just note on the enclosed remittance envelope if your gift is a memorial or a tribute, and whom we should
notify of your generosity. Gifts of $50 or more will be listed in a future issue of Happy Tails, but all donations are most
appreciated and will be used to care for “our” animals while they are with us. Thank you!
(We apologize for any mistakes or omissions. Let us know if a correction needs to be made in a name or gift designation.)
In Memory of...
Allen Wilcox from Gregory and Tamara Heaton,
r.k. Miles, David and Irene Wilson
Alvin Schlesinger from Clifford and Lucinda Cooper,
Barbara Howland
Charles Sawyer from Marilyn and Charles Boyle,
Barbara Butcher, Terry Paris, Integrated Illumination
Systems , Charles and Priscilla Salem, D. Justine
Scanlon, Stuart Hurd, Sandra and Jay Slade,
Putnam Hose Co # 3
Clayton Senecal from Sonny’s Blue Benn Diner
Connie Stackpole from John and Margaret Pennypacker
Cynthia Peacock from Linda Pappas
Debbie La Bruzo from Linda Huebner
Dorothy Sprague from Nancy Boardman, Charles and
Arden Scranton, Rebecca White, Frederick Lichtenfels
Carl and Susan Augusto
Emil Gress from Robert and Nancy Zapletal
George Cox from Norshaft Lions
Gerald Mattison from Neil and Dana Mattison
Geraldine Mariani from Bob, Barbara and Joe Mariani,
Glenn Mariani
Ed Frechette from Heather Frechette-Crowley
Jack Griffin from Timothy Healy
Jean Bates from Randall Bates
Joann Stewart from The Margiotta Family, Mark and
Carol Folgert, Shirley Parker , Allan and Carol Reed
Karen and Molly from Barbara McGovern
Linda Denue from Ronald and Norma Myers
Lorraine Kelton from Arthur Kelton
Lucius Coody from Marie and Michael Coody
Mabel Bovey from Patricia Knight
Marci MacNeur from Peter and Mary Elizabeth Hand
Marcia Gardner from Anne Koedt, Alfred and Jane
Dintaman, Theodre and Wallace Paprocki
Margaret Burkhardt from Jane Burkhardt
Mathilda Kenny from Ward and Janet Wilson,
Merrill Ross
4 | Spring 2015 | Second Chance Animal Center
Mia Utkin from Karen Russo
Monica Curry from Maple Leaf Realty
Monica Curry from Dare and Nathan Meunier
Richard O. Carter from Ted and Janice Tetreault
Richard Strange from Nancy Hagleberg and Seth
Cummings
Ronnie Baldwin from Kim and Louis Gagnon, Patricia
Lamay, Sonny’s Blue Benn Diner, The Pike Company,
Valerie Ducharme
Ruth and Larry Daley from Robert and Lorna Turner, Inga
Hawrylow, Steven and Natalie Bartner, Ski Bromley,
Miner and Debra Clark, Richard and Louise Savage,
Sally Utiger, Barbara and Charles Tillson, Fred and
Penny DeGeorges, Phillip and Virginia Crawford,
Edward and Karen Freedman, Glebe Mountain Gardens
and Landscaping , Ann and Charles Davis
Sandy Lederman from Karen Gross
Sheila McIvor from Laura McIvor and Stephen Long
Sherry Wobus from R.A. Wobus
Stephanie Chapman from Lynne Chapman
Steve Tota from Christian and Patricia Heins
Susan Hanrahan from Jennifer and Terry McGean
Sylvia Carpenter from Beverly Dandurand
Timothy Corcoran from Ellen Centerbar, James and
Grace Collins, Michael and Frances Corcoran
Kathleen Hoisington Eckstein, Lucinda Thomson,
Mike and Terese Comar, Harold F. Fair, Charles and
Priscilla Salem, Jon Gramhofer, Sarah Dahl and Charles
Salem, Steven and Marilyn Jeffrey, Jo-Ann and William
Luth, Sean-Marie Oller
Donald Santako and “Specs” from Marlene and
David Santako
Helen White, “Tulip and Tilar” from Saile Mahoney
Henry Edwards and “Honey Bear” from Henry and Judith
Edwards
Mildred Popov Katz and “Aggie” from Steven Katz
“Tucker, Andrew, Pip and Colden” from Laurie George
“Abigail Margaret” from Williams and Patricia Mayer
In Memory of...
“All her dogs” from Dorothy Howard
“All pets that we have loved” from Raymond and Joyce
Croteau
“Andy boy” from Angie Marano
“Annie, K2, and Jade” from Marilyn Hand
“Barnaby, Willie and Abigail” from Christine and Donald
Russ
“Buster” from Rita Pinsonneault
“Butch, Sundance and Valiant” from Joyce Davis
“Butkus” from Nancy and Bruce Nash
“Callie and Penny” from Chris and Noreen Damon
“Callie, Little Bit and Tuesday” from Linda and Geoff
Jones
“Cashew” from Jan and Bruce Lingner
“Chelsea and Maggie” from Nancy McCafferty
“DJ, Toby and Skipper” from Warren W. Fane, Inc.
“Ebony” from Mr. and Mrs. Huc Hauser
“Eliza” from Mary V. Digangi
“Elliot” from Warren and Suzanne Lizotte
“Fionn” from Beverly and Robert Houghton
“Gypsy” from Dennis and Jeanne Picano
“Heidi, Sophie and Annabelle” from Karen Pratt
“Tecumseh, McKinley, Shiloh, Ethan and Ephraim”
from Ralph F. Colin, Jr.
“Jasper” from John and Judith Strachan
“Kandi and Jooni” from Martha Paquin
“Leao” from Lippit Hill Gang
“Lilygirl, Cleo, Winfield and Jasper” from Thymes Table
Catering and Gail and Curt Morin
“Lucky” from Anne Stetson
“Maggie” from M.C. Mueller
“Maggie and Chelsea” from Don and Lee Dykes
“Max” from Robert Somers
“Max, aka Romeo” from Marjory Washburn
“May” from Corinna Wildman
“Mazzy” from Cindy and Craig Bartosewcz
“Molly and Bowie” from Roman and Claire Stienes
“Monk, Lady, Heidi Bear and Caesar” from David and
Marian Lewis Wohlsen
“Nala and Skink” from Andrea Wendell
“Otis” from Lynn Demers
“Patty” from Susan and Wayne Kachmar
“Peabody, Jena and Hennessy” from Kevin and
Denise Forkey
“Pepi” from Michele and Bruce Tower
“Posie” from Cathy Schor
“Powder” from Elizabeth McGowan
“Pugsley” from Judy Murphy
“Rosie” from Susie Neustadt
“Rupert” from Jane Klonsky
“Samson” from Jeannine Riley
“Samson” from Jack and Marlena Pegues
“Sassy” from Joan and Robert Niles
“Smokey” from Mary Ann and Bob Hermann
“Snickers” (“Kitty”) from Eleanor Gaffney
“Spooky” from Michael DeGraff
“Stanley, Oliver, Dudley, BJ, Ruby, Bentley and Buddy”
from Nancy Vallencourt
“Sylvester” from Patrick and Jean Wager
“Sylvia Carpenter” from Radmila Schwarz
“Tasha, Maurice and Maggie” from Lee Austin and
Nancy Reynolds
“TC” from Carl Mohlenhoff
“Tiny” from Judy Murphy
“Tweed” from Phil and Eleanor Harvey
“Tyler, Jessie, Morgan, Boots, Penny and Happy”
from Mary Henning
“Wiley, Jasper, Sam, Sally, Abby, Larry & Wilson”
from Brenda Nicholson
“Willie” from Mary Squire and George Sherman
“Winnie Lieschke” from James and Donna De Angelis
“Xavier” from Infinity Pet Services
Second Chance Animal Center | Spring 2015 | 5
In Honor of...
Al and Nancy Ducci from Nancy Cooke
Bea Mattison from Neil and Dana Mattison
Ed Rice from Gene, Leslie and Jimmy Wurzel
Gordon Clark from Joni Clark-Leiker
Her wonderful staff at Hemmings Motor News
from Carol Wigger
Nancy Frechette from Heather Frechette-Crowley
Melissa Spiezio, Drs. T. Coffield, J. Wade, A. Shedden,
D. Fodor & J. Keenan from SVMC Imaging
Department
Jean and Peter Wager from CeCe King
Jerry and Debbie Mattison from Beatrice Mattison
Joyce and Rob Geldart from Kim Loos and Carole
Sheringham
Kathryn Taylor from Timothy Taylor
Marriage of Bob Pezzulich and Alice Goodman from
Marie De Vito, David Crowley, Kenneth and
Lila Cestone, BVHC Staff
Meg Oceana from Thomas Weakley and Dr. Sarah Myers
6 | Spring 2015 | Second Chance Animal Center
Nancy Boardman from Fidelity Charitable Grant and
McGinty Charitable Gift Fund
Neil and Dana Mattison from Beatrice Mattison
Nolan Hilliard from Jeff Pachman
Rose and Robert Brown, Sr.; Linda and Robert Brown,
Jr. and Family; Allen Brown; Pam and Bill Toftness
and Family from James Brown and Norman White
Vishay-Transitor Engineering Team from John and
Patricia Van Voorhis
Ted, Sue, Sarah and “Smokey” Martin from Marlene
and David Skulnick
Tom White and “Selene” from Elizabeth White-Pultz
“Albert” from Michele Roy
“All the animals that still need a home” from
William and Patricia Mayer
“Belle, Butch, Gingie and Katie” from Peter and
Jeanette Sweeney
“Big Boy and Bob” from Ann and Charles Davis
“Brittany” from Barbara Goldstein and Margot Falkner
“Bruce and Patches” from Warren W. Fane, Inc
“Coqui” from Victoria Spindler
“Cozy” from Charlotte Comar
“Babe” from Rita Pinsonneault
“Jasper” from Marilyn Hand
“Jessie” from Lenore Humphrey
“Joseph and Sampson” from Tracie Holm and
Scott Brown
“Josephine” from Judy Harwood
“Kafta the Afgan” from Jean La Croix
“Lulu and Annabelle” from Anonymous
“Minnie” from Chris and Noreen Damon
“Percy” from Susanne Warren
“Phoenix” from Carole Stair
“Pixie” from Jan and Bruce Lingner
“Pogo and Fuji” from Mari Gold
“Purcy” from Winifred and Herbert Aboff
“Quince” from Stephen and Karen Cooper
“Sadie” from Raymond and Dawn Rodrigues
“Seamus and Spencer” from Jon and Katherine Traver
“Simon, Minnie, Mickie” from Cathy Schor
“Sweetie” from David Sicko
“Zorro” from Marty Pekar
How I Spent My Winter Vacation
Kimberly I. Gould
President,
Board of Trustees, SCAC
As of this writing, the landscape
outside is still covered in a thick, white
blanket and the slush on the roads and
covering the hem of my jeans seems
like it will never disappear. But, instead
of writing to you about my wishes for
Register
for
spring, I want to try and enjoy the end
of this long winter season. We’ve had
a real, old fashioned Vermont winter
this year; although I have just turned
over another page to a new month on
the calendar, I still find the falling snow
beautiful—and Sage never seems to
tire of jumping around in the deep
snow. I spent my winter days walking
with Sage, although not as much as
I would have liked because the cold
did keep us in quite a bit, or sitting
bundled up in front of the fire with
my animals feeling a lot of “rescue”
love. I found myself feeling especially
grateful for every single day when our
steps outside were taken in beautiful,
warm sunshine.
We at Second Chance are very grateful
for your continued support of our
mission and our organization all winter. Your generosity this season helped us
care for so many animals in our facility
during the cold winter months. In addition to our continuing work
caring for companion animals in
need, we have been busy at Second
Chance all winter with a few projects. We are proud to have a new Shelter
Manager, Shona Ross, who is already
doing a wonderful job despite having
big shoes to fill in her new position. Under the direction of our talented
Executive Director, Linda Huebner,
our dedicated staff and generous
volunteers continue their important
work and always impress me with their
gifts of time and resources. The Board
has also been very busy working on
our ongoing land acquisition project
and the future plans of Second
Chance … my thanks to the Board, and
everyone involved with this project, for
their perseverance, hard work, and
determination. We hope you will be
able to join us for our Annual Meeting
at 6pm on April 22, 2015, at the new
Manchester Community Library.
Best wishes to all of you, and our
continued thanks for everything
that you do to support Second
Chance. Before the snow melts for
good this season, take a few minutes to
stop by Second Chance for a visit, and
please get outside with your favorite
companion and enjoy the slush!
SCAC’s Summer Animal Adventure Camp 2015!
This summer kids can connect with animals, nature, and their peers
while learning about responsible pet ownership, careers with animals,
wildlife conservation, and so much more! Full-day camps are open to
children ages 7-12 while our half-day camp is for ages 5-6. Registration
begins April 1. To learn more, visit our website 2ndchanceanimalcenter.
org. We are also accepting donations for the SCAC Summer Scholarship
Fund, which provides income-eligible children the opportunity to enjoy
this enriching summer experience. Mail donations to: SCAC Summer
Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 620, Shaftsbury, VT 05262. Please call the
Education Director at 802-375-2898 ext. 313 with any questions.
Annual Poster Contest
It’s time for our annual poster contest! This year’s theme is: Healthy Pets are
Happy Pets! The contest is open to Bennington County students ages 7-12. Draw,
paint, or color how to keep pets healthy, happy, and safe. Be creative and feel free
to use words, too! The grand-prize winner will win a week at Animal Adventure
Camp this July! Submissions must be received no later than Friday, April 30, 2015.
Mail to: Second Chance Animal Center Poster Contest, P.O. Box 620, Shaftsbury,
VT 05262. Be sure to include the child’s name, age, and which school they attend.
Winners will be announced during Be Kind to Animals Week, May 4-8. Good luck!
Second Chance Animal Center | Spring 2015 | 7
Feline Happy Endings
Canine Happy Endings
by Meghan Rusk, Feline Supervisor
by Elizabeth Ricketts, Kennel Supervisor
Lysa is a 1-year-old female cat who was surrendered to SCAC
last May after being found as a stray in Bennington. She
quickly became a staff favorite at the shelter, a complete
cuddle-bug who’d melt into anyone’s arms as soon as they
picked her up.
The shelter was a very stressful place for Lysa, and after
not too long we saw that she had a skin condition not unlike
dermatitis. We knew it wasn’t contagious and it didn’t bother
her, but it made her fur patchy in places. Through the whole
summer and fall Lysa saw kittens and cats finding forever
homes while she was passed by.
It was a long 8 months that Lysa spent waiting, then one
happy day a very nice family came to visit the shelter. When
they heard how long she’d been waiting to find a home,
they declared that she was “the one” for them. She is now
happy as can be with her new family, she has two kids who
love to cuddle with her, and even a feline friend to play with.
Pookie is a 5½-year-old American shelter dog who was
surrendered to Second Chance. She arrived with horrible
skin issues, so we allergy tested her, put her on a
prescription diet, gave her medicated baths, and treated
her with Revolution. Her skin improved immensely, so we
spayed her and made her available for adoption. Despite
being on TV (Steve Caporizzo’s Pet Connection), there was
no interest. She became stressed in the shelter, so our
kennel supervisor fostered her until she was adopted by a
man from Long Island. She is doing wonderfully well in her
new home with lots of room to play fetch daily with her new
person. She also visits her “Grandma and Grandpa” next
door to provide some companionship.
Help SCAC at
No Cost to You!
Pet Rescue Rx, Inc. is a pharmacy for pets that donates all of
its net profits to animal shelters and rescue organizations.
You can purchase your pet’s medications and supplies
online at www.petrescuerx.com and choose Second
Chance Animal Center as the shelter that you support.
We post reminders about these, and other, partnerships
on our Facebook page; please share them with your
friends.
8 | Spring 2015 | Second Chance Animal Center
You can support Second Chance every time you
shop on Amazon through the smile program. Simply
visit
www.smile.amazon.
com and select Bennington
County Humane Society
(our legal name) as the
charitable
organization
of your choice. For every
eligible purchase, SCAC will
receive a donation.
Education Corner
by Dare Meunier, Education Director
Humane Helper Program in Third Year
at Molly Stark Elementary
Each year, select fifth grade students at Molly Stark
Elementary participate in the Humane Helpers Program.
These student leaders assist SCAC’s humane educator to
present monthly humane education lessons to kindergarten
and first grade classrooms. They read stories, demonstrate
animal safety techniques, and show how to treat animals
kindly. The program, organized by school counselor Kathy
Hunt and SCAC, benefits not only the younger students but
also the humane helpers themselves. Taking part gives
them incentive to always be at their best and to maintain a
compassionate outlook.
We recently met with five out of the seven Helpers in this
year’s program. Asked what they like best about their role,
Lyle said he enjoys, “Spending time with the animals and
showing the kids how to treat animals.” Devin and Landen
agree, both adding that “seeing the kids and pets” is their
favorite part! Troya loves “being able to work with animals”
and Payton likes “seeing how excited [the] kids are when
we bring in a new lesson.”
SCAC appreciates our partnership with Molly Stark and can
see what a positive impact humane education has on the
school community. Kids are teaching kids that being kind
is the way to be!
Payton adds, “We’re older, their role models. We set a
good example for how to take care of pets.” What a great
reminder for us all!
From left, Landen Caron, Lyle Mears, Payton
Santarcangelo, Troya Reynolds, Devin Calef
Hope For
the
Future
by Shona Ross, Shelter Manager
I’ve noticed recently that a new breed of
philanthropists is emerging. They may be small but
they offer great opportunities to promote and help
SCAC; and even though their income is measured in
single dollars, they are still giving.
It is the children of Bennington County who are more
and more frequently coming to us with their arms
or parents’ cars full of donations. Many of them are
requesting that when they have a birthday party no
one brings them a gift, but instead brings something
from the SCAC wish-list that they can donate. It is
these young caring individuals who foster community
and giving, compassion and selflessness amongst
their peers.
We have been so lucky that adults in the community
are encouraging this behavior and offering to
bring all the items to us. So this is also praise for
families, parents, caregivers and teachers who
are encouraging young people to think beyond
themselves and see that others, human and animal,
may also be in need.
I wish that when I was growing up I had been as
thoughtful; there is hope for humanity if these
children are products of their generation.
Second Chance Animal Center | Spring 2015 | 9
Second Chance Promotes New Shelter Manager
Effective December 1, 2014, Shona Ross was promoted to
Shelter Manager. In the previous year, Shona worked as
Animal Care Technician, Lead Humane Investigator and Feline
Supervisor for SCAC. Prior to joining SCAC, Shona worked in
small animal veterinary medicine as a vet technician and office
manager. Her background and education is in customer service,
with a BA in Hospitality Management from Glasgow Caledonian
University.
In addition to Shona’s skills as a veterinary technician and
her grace under pressure in her previous roles, she also
brings extensive experience as an office manager and staff
supervisor as well as expertise in customer service. Shona has
completed the Vermont Disaster Animal Relief Teams’s (VDART)
Emergency Animal Sheltering training, which is important within
the organization as well as in the communities served.
Please join us in congratulating Shona!
My best friend got sick
I thought he would die
We went to the vet
Who didn’t know why
Why my best friend did not want to run and play
Why my best friend ate dirt, grass and hay
Why my best friend was listless and thin
When all his life he’d been so happy, fit and trim
We went to fancy clinics, near and far
Me and my best friend, who I had to lift in the car
We found a clinic, it was pricey and dear
But the vet there gave me hope, he gave me cheer
Told me he first needed to do lots of tests
I said yes, please, absolutely! nothing but the best
And as he led my dog, my Best Friend, away
I looked outside to a day that was grey
At a homeless man, who was pushing a cart
His dog by his side, there was love in his heart
As I watched him bend over and give him a kiss
As I watched his stub wiggle, it was a sight not to be missed
When the vet returned, he gave me a scare
Told me what was wrong, that it would be costly to repair
Told him I was lucky, I had plenty of money
Do what you need to, just make my dog live
And whatever your fee, I am happy to give
A matching donation to pets in need
Realizing as I do, life’s not always fair
Realizing as I do, it’s important to share
So someone else’s pet, no matter where
May have the finest, the best medical care
Vicki & Coqui Spindler
Editor’s Note: Vicki’s generous donation was deposited in our Angel Fund, which provides financial assistance
for emergency veterinary care.
10 | Spring 2015 | Second Chance Animal Center
Keeping Animals and People Healthy
Beyond the day-to-day care of individual
animals, there's an immense world
beyond the hospital door. Veterinarians
are often thinking about the problems
facing their patients, such as new
diseases, but also the new technology
available to combat those challenges.
One component of becoming a
veterinarian involves a commitment
to public health—a key part of the
Veterinarian’s Oath. We’re charged
with keeping animals healthy so
we can help keep humans healthy. Zoonosis refers to a disease that
can be transmitted between animals
and humans. Zoonotic diseases
are always part of the exam room
discussion, either directly or indirectly. While Ebola and influenza make
headlines in the news, there are other
diseases right here at home that need
attention. Rabies and Leptospirosis
are examples of diseases in which
we can limit human exposure by
keeping pets well vaccinated. Regular
vaccination for rabies has helped keep
the number of rabid domestic animals
to a minimum in the United States,
while in the developing countries
there is a much higher incidence due
to lack of regular vaccination (which,
therefore, results in a higher incidence
of human rabies cases). Veterinarians
don’t need a human measles outbreak
to remind us how important vaccines
are. They are protection not only for
the individual but also the group. Talk
with your veterinarian to see which
vaccines are appropriate for your
individual pet.
Simple things like giving your dog
and cat a monthly dewormer will help
prevent transmission of roundworms
and hookworms. Children tend to
be more at risk, as they are less
likely to keep dirty hands out of their
mouths, and, therefore, it is even
more imperative to deworm. I recently
dealt with a household of both small
children and dogs, and one of the
dogs was diagnosed with roundworms
in the middle of January—these are
year-round problems that regular
testing and monthly treatment can
help prevent these parasites from
becoming a zoonosis.
With spring around the corner, my mind
turns to external parasites—especially
ticks and fleas. Even with a thick
layer of snow and one of the coldest
winters in local history, the creepy
crawlies will soon be out and infesting
our animals (and us). Most everyone
knows someone (human or animal)
who has come in contact with Lyme
disease, another zoonotic disease. It’s a bacterial disease transmitted by
ticks to both humans and animals that
causes numerous problems, including
death. At West Mountain Animal
Hospital we are seeing other tick
transmitted diseases, like Anaplasma
and Ehrlichia, and we worry the
number of cases will only increase. There is a vaccine to prevent Lyme
disease, and we strongly recommend
using a monthly preventative to
help prevent all fleas and ticks
from becoming a problem. New
technologies, like the Seresto collar
(which has the medication embedded
in the collar instead of just sprayed
on the surface) and the 30-day oral
tablet NexGard, along with traditional
topical liquids like Frontline, continue
to be important for prevention of flea
and tick infestations and disease
transmission from those parasites.
As veterinarians, we take infectious
disease seriously and hope you will
too. We recommend annual or even
semiannual wellness exams to help
catch diseases before they become
a serious problem. Preventative
medicine will be good for your pets
By Bo Bergman, D.V.M.
and the humans around them. Your
veterinarian will be able to help
develop a plan that works for both you
and your pet.
Dr. Bo Bergman is a companion animal
veterinarian at West Mountain Animal
Hospital in Bennington, Vermont, and
serves as a member of the Board
of Trustees of Second Chance. He
lives in Shaftsbury with his wife, two
daughters, and their rescue dogs,
cats, chickens, and goats. You can find
him online at the Orvis Dog Blog in a
regular column called Ask the Dogtor.
SCAC Events Calendar
Please visit our website and Facebook page for updates to our events
calendar. If you’re interested in volunteering at any of our future events,
please contact our volunteer coordinator at 802-375-2898 x311; learn more
and apply online at http://www.2ndchanceanimalcenter.org/volunteer.html.
Annual Meeting - April 22nd – Manchester Public Library, 138 Cemetery
Ave, Manchester Center, VT
Shires of Vermont Marathon - May 17th – SCAC needs a team of 7 to
volunteer at a water station
Mayfest - May 23rd – downtown Bennington
PetAPalooza - June 20th – Curtis Lumber, Hoosick, NY
Second Chance Animal Center | Spring 2015 | 11
Second Chance Animal Center
PO Box 620
6779 Route 7A
Shaftsbury, VT 05262
Help the animals by donating items from our Wish List:
www.2ndchanceanimalcenter.org/wish_list.html
Learn more about what’s happening
at Second Chance
WBTN-AM, 1130: “Animal Tales” airs at 10am on the first and
third Thursday of the month. It features SCAC news,
events, and animal updates.
Hear past shows at www.wbtnam.org.
CAT-TV, Channel 15 public access: Find your new best friend.
Watch “Pets of the Week,” which showcases animals awaiting
adoption. For the schedule, visit www.catamountaccess.com.
GNAT-TV: Steve Dunning of Circa50 chats with SCAC folks about
animal sheltering and animal welfare topics.
Visit www.gnat-tv.org for the schedule.
For upcoming events, easy online donations, and to sign
up to receive monthly E-newsletters, see our website at
www.2ndchanceanimalcenter.org.
Also, follow us on Facebook for timely updates
on Second Chance animals and other news.
Non-Profit Org.
US POSTAGE
PAID
Bennington, VT
Permit No. 72
Save the Date:
April 22, 2015
Annual Meeting
Second Chance will hold its annual
meeting at 6pm on Wednesday, April
22, 2015 at Manchester’s new public
library, located at 138 Cemetery
Avenue in Manchester Center.
Second Chance supporters, Christina
and Anna Butcher, will entertain us
with lovely music.
Orvis staff will tell us about the
very popular Orvis Cover Dog Photo
Contest, http://www.orvis.com/
coverdog, and the $1 million that
Orvis and their customers have raised
to fund canine cancer research
through the Morris Animal Foundation.
We’ll provide an update on our search
for land for a new shelter. You can
meet the staff, board members, and
fellow Second Chance supporters, as
well as help to congratulate award
winners.