Second Chance Animal Shelter, Inc

111 Young Rd. P.O. Box 136East Brookfield,MA01515

TEL (508)867-5525              FAX (508)867-5019 

e mail info@secondchanceanimals.org    www.secondchanceanimals.org

NEWS RELEASE 

 For immediate release: CONTACTS: Sheryl Blancato, executive director, Second Chance Animal Shelter, 508-414-2786

Second Chance receives $101,820 grant from PetSmart Charities^® to fix more pets

Grant will provide free and low cost spay/neuter for area residents

EAST BROOKFIELD, MASS, July 14, 2011 — Second Chance Animal Shelter received the first of two grant checks for $50,910 from PetSmart Charities^® to provide free and further reduced cost spay/neuter surgeries for people in targeted towns.  Second Chance opened thePetWellnessCenter in North Brookfield last fall to further expand their spay/neuter program to residents ofWorcesterCounty.  Now, with the aid of this grant, there are 4 towns that will benefit even more.  The towns of Spencer, North Brookfield,East Brookfield, and Charlton are the towns targeted with this grant.

The shelter has been providing low cost spay/neuter since 2004 and fixed approximately 2,200 pets per year.  Now, with the opening of the Wellness Center, and with the help of this PetSmart Charities grant, the plan is to do between 8,000 surgeries in the coming year.

This grant will provide free spay/neuter for feral (untamed outside cats) in the 4 towns.  In addition, it will provide spay/neuter for owned cats at a cost of free to $40 for residents under the median income.  For residents above the median income, the cost is still only $65 for female cats and $50 for male cats, including a rabies vaccine if one is needed.  In addition, dogs are also included in this spay/neuter program.  Cost is based on the weight of the dog and owner’s income level. 

Second Chance’s goal, with the aid of this grant, is to reduce the homeless pet population in the target area within 2 years.  “This grant is not for the aid of the shelter’s adoptable pets.  The goal of this grant is to prevent pets from having to be surrendered to the shelter in the first place” stated Sheryl Blancato, Executive Director.  “So many pets come into the shelter simply because they are from an unwanted litter of kittens, a pet they cannot afford to spay, or was an abandoned pet found by a concerned citizen or animal control.  The goal of this project is to reduce and/or eliminate the cost to have these pets fixed.“  Mrs. Blancato noted that these 4 towns were targeted because these are some of the towns where the shelter sees the largest amount of pets coming into the shelter.   

“This is the largest grant in our history” stated Mrs. Blancato.  “We are very grateful to PetSmart Charities for awarding us this grant to help the people in our community.  We are confident that this funding will end the overwhelming amount of homeless cats on our streets, as well as keep more pets in their present homes – and not contribute to the overpopulation issue.

The shelter is also offering transportation services from pickup spots throughout the area.  To learn how to get help through this program, residents can go on the shelter’s website at www.secondchanceanimals.org or call their Wellness Center at 508-637-1333.

About PetSmart Charities

Established in 1994, PetSmart Charities, Inc. is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)3 organization that creates and supports programs that save the lives of homeless pets, raise awareness of companion animal welfare issues, and promote healthy relationships between people and pets.  The largest funder of animal welfare efforts inNorth America, PetSmart Charities has provided more than $134 million in grants and programs benefiting animal welfare organizations and, through its in-store adoption program, helped save the lives of more than 4.5 million pets.  To learn more about how PetSmart Charities is working toward its vision of a lifelong, loving home for every pet, visit petsmartcharities.org or call 1-800-423-PETS. 

Second Chance is a nonprofit 501c3 that began in 1999 inEast Brookfield.  The Shelter operates an adoption center in East Brookfield as well as the new Pet Wellness andEducationCenterinNorth Brookfield.  The shelter relies on community support and grant funding to operate.  The shelter facilitates adoptions, spay/neuter services, and many other programs that help to make pet’s lives better.