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| Founded | 2002 |
|---|---|
| Founders | Sylvia Christiansen, Jan Pysyk |
| Type | non-profit charity |
| Focus | Animal rescue |
| Location | |
Area served | northern Alberta, Canada |
Revenue | $1.16 million (2018) [1] |
Employees | 3 (2018) [1] |
Volunteers | 250 |
| Website | scarscare.ca |
Second Chance Animal Rescue Society (SCARS) is a no kill, non-profit animal rescue organization based in Edmonton and Athabasca, Alberta serving northern Alberta, Canada.
The organization was cofounded by Sylvia Christiansen and Jan Pysyk in 2002 after they began rescuing dogs found in remote communities in northern Alberta. In the first year, about 70 dogs were helped, increasing to about 500 in 2008, with the aid of about 100 volunteers and 50 foster homes. [2]
The society later added cats, and the occasional domestic rabbit, to their work. By 2018, they reported having rescued, rehabilitated and adopted out over 10,000 homeless cats and dogs over the years. [3] In 2018, they reported adoptions of 646 dogs and 321 cats. Including those altered and returned to their owners, the society helped 792 dogs and 412 cats. [3]
SCARS receives most animals in need from municipal pounds and low income people in First Nations, Métis and rural communities. The organization relies on a network of volunteer drivers and foster homes. They typically have over 200 animals in care. [4] Some available animals are featured in a weekly newscast on the Global Television Network. Programs include:
All animals taken into care receive medical care, are spayed or neutered, microchipped, and socialized, with any behavioural issues addressed. In 2018, 646 dogs and 321 cats were taken into this program. [3] Occasional adoption events are held where prospective adopters can meet some available animals. [5]
A program called "Spay-Neuter-Return" serves primarily First Nations, Métis and rural communities in northern Alberta. [6] Dogs and cats are transported from the communities to be neutered and receive other needed veterinary care. After recovering from surgery, they are returned to their home community. Some cats are included in a trap-neuter-return program, where unsocialized feral cats are returned to outdoor colonies with ongoing care by caregivers. Some pets, rather than being returned, are taken into the adoption program.
Small communities where animals were assisted by this program in 2018 included Athabasca County, Buffalo Lake Metis Settlement, Calling Lake, Cold Lake, Fishing Lake First Nation, Frog Lake First Nation, High Prairie, Lac La Biche, Municipal District of Opportunity No. 17, Onion Lake Cree Nation, Saddle Lake Cree Nation, Slave Lake, and Maskwacis, St. Paul, Westlock and Whitefish Lake First Nation. Other communities served included Calgary, Edmonton and Leduc County. [3]
Winter shelters are provided for dogs and cats living outdoors, mainly in First Nations, Métis and rural communities. In 2016, 109 dog shelters were built, along with 20 cat shelters. [7] In 2018, 45 shelters were built and delivered at a supply cost of approximately $125 each. [3]
Animals with significant behavioural or medical issues become permanent residents at the organization's sanctuary. [8] In 2018, 32 residents met this criteria. [3]
The society has two major fundraisers each year, which together raised over $100,000 in 2018: [3]
Pet adoption is the process of taking responsibility for a pet that a previous owner has abandoned or released to a shelter or rescue organization. Common sources for adoptable pets are animal shelters and rescue groups. Some organizations give adopters ownership of the pet, while others use a guardianship model wherein the organization retains some control over the animal's future use or care.
Trap–neuter–return or Trap–neuter–release, commonly known as TNR, is a method for attempting to humanely and effectively manage free-roaming domestic cats. The process involves live-trapping the cats, having them spayed or neutered, ear-tipped for identification and, if possible, vaccinated, then releasing them back into their territory. If the location is deemed unsafe or otherwise inappropriate, the cats may be relocated to other appropriate areas Ideally, friendly adults and kittens young enough to be easily socialized are retained and placed for adoption. Feral cats cannot be socialized, shun most human interaction and do not fare well in confinement, so they should not be retained. Cats suffering from severe medical problems such as terminal, contagious, or untreatable illnesses or injuries, are often euthanized.
An animal rescue group or animal rescue organization is dedicated to pet adoption. These groups take unwanted, abandoned, abused, or stray pets and attempt to find suitable homes for them. Many rescue groups are created by and run by volunteers, who take the animals into their homes and care for them — including training, playing, handling medical issues, and solving behavior problems — until a suitable permanent home can be found.
Overpopulation in domestic pets is the surplus of pets, such as cats, dogs, and exotic animals. In the United States, six to eight million animals are brought to shelters each year, of which an estimated three to four million are subsequently euthanized, including 2.7 million considered healthy and adoptable. Euthanasia numbers have declined from the 1970s, when U.S. shelters euthanized an estimated 12 to 20 million animals. Most humane societies, animal shelters and rescue groups urge animal caregivers to have their animals spayed or neutered to prevent the births of unwanted and accidental litters that could contribute to this dynamic.
A "no-kill" shelter is an animal shelter that does not kill healthy or treatable animals even when the shelter is full, reserving euthanasia for terminally ill animals or those considered dangerous to public safety. A no-kill shelter uses many strategies to promote shelter animals; to expanding its resources using volunteers, housing and medical protocols; and to work actively to lower the number of homeless animals entering the shelter system. 10% of animals can be killed in a no-kill shelter and still be considered a no-kill shelter.
North Shore Animal League America, headquartered in Port Washington, New York, is the largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization in the world. Since 1944, the League's mission has been saving the lives of pets through adoption, rescue, spay/neuter and advocacy initiatives. Each year, the League rescues, nurtures and adopts nearly 20,000 pets nationwide, and to date, has placed nearly one million puppies, kittens, cats and dogs into screened homes. One of the first animal rescue agencies on the ground in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the League rescued more than 1,400 pets from the region.
Best Friends Animal Society, founded in its present form in 1993, is an American nonprofit 501(c)(3) animal welfare organization. The group does outreach nationwide with shelters, rescue groups and members to promote pet adoption, no-kill animal rescue, and spay-and-neuter practices.
AB 1634 was a 2007 bill in the California State Legislature which would require that dogs and cats in California be spayed or neutered by 6 months of age.
Nathan J. Winograd is an American author, film-maker, animal advocate, and director of the No Kill Advocacy Center in Oakland, California.
Compassion and Responsibility for Animals (CARA) is a registered non-profit, non-government animal welfare organization in the Philippines. It was founded in 2000 by a group of animal lovers determined to help the plight of animals in the Philippines. The current president of CARA is Nancy Cu-Unjieng.
The Animal Rescue League of Iowa (ARL) is the largest animal shelter in Iowa. Founded in 1926, the ARL is a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of homeless animals and educating the public about animal welfare. The ARL provides shelter and care for many animals, and over 5,000 animals are adopted from the shelter annually. It received over 18,000 animals in 2007, and over 19,000 animals in 2008.
World Spay Day draws attention to "spay/neuter as a proven means of saving the lives of companion animals, community cats, and street dogs who might otherwise be put down in a shelter or killed on the street." It is an event held on the last Tuesday in February each year.
The Monmouth County SPCA is an animal welfare organization providing animal sheltering and cruelty investigation services to Monmouth County, New Jersey.
The Davinci Foundation for Animals (DFA) is an American 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that assists animals in need, both locally and globally. The Foundation is funded through donations and through the support of the arts, which includes but is not limited to artists, authors, musicians, and entertainers. The foundation is the creator of "Davinci Artist/s", a rescue movement that supports and inspires artists of all fields to support rescue and animal welfare through their work.
The Southampton Animal Shelter is operated by the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization no-kill pet rescue and adoption center, that cares for homeless animals in the Southampton, New York, community of 22 towns, and places them in permanent homes. It is located at 102 Old Riverhead Road West, Hampton Bays, New York. It accommodates all types of pets, and has a dog training center. The facility is also home to a low-cost veterinary wellness center that offers affordable spay and neuter surgeries, vaccinations, pet dental, microchipping and more.
The Cochrane & Area Humane Society is a no kill animal welfare organization in Cochrane, Alberta, which holds the contract for animal services for the town of Cochrane and surrounding communities.
The Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association (VOKRA) is a no kill, non-profit cat rescue organization in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, providing trap-neuter-return services to Vancouver and nearby communities.
Richmond Animal Protection Society (RAPS) is a no kill animal services agency in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, which has Canada's largest cat sanctuary.
Dead Dog Beach, also known as Sato Beach, is located at Playa Lucia within the municipality of Yabucoa on Puerto Rico's south-eastern coast. The name "Dead Dog Beach" is attributed to this spot because it is known as a frequent dumping spot for stray animals, mainly dogs, which the inhabitants of Yabucoa can no longer afford to keep. Most of the dogs at Sato beach are not spayed or neutered. This lack of neutering allows the stray dogs to breed uncontrollably, which gives rise to more homeless dogs.
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