Each day, an alarming number of animal abuse or neglect cases occur across the country. Many times, local shelters and humane societies are forced to cover the cost to medically treat these abused animals, and, as a result, shelters accrue high -- sometimes overwhelming -- medical bills.

American Humane Association's Second Chance Fund helps offset the cost of treating homeless animal victims of abuse or neglect. Through the Second Chance Fund, American Humane Association is able to financially assist agencies that rescue, care for, and re-home abused or neglected animals. In 2009, thanks to our generous donors, American Humane Association was able to provide Second Chance financial assistance to 85 organizations to assist with the care of 974 animals, including cats, dogs, horses, donkeys, goats, pigs, parrots, cows, sheep and llamas.

Make a contribution to help support the Second Chance Fund.

If you're an organization looking for assistance through the Second Chance Fund, click here.

>>Direct link to Second Chance® Fund online application form.<<

Here are some of the cases American Humane has funded:

 

Humane Society of Kent County
Grand Rapids, Michigan

In late June 2009, a pet cat disappeared for a few days. His owners weren’t alarmed at first because Hadley was a known “wanderer.” However, when the adventurous cat finally dragged himself home, it was clear that tragedy had struck. Hadley had been cruelly doused in gasoline and set on fire. Third-degree burns covered his ears, neck, legs and back, exposing raw flesh in multiple places. The authorities attempted to find the perpetrator of this terrible crime but, so far, have been unable to locate him or her. Meanwhile, Hadley’s owners couldn’t afford to pay for their pet’s expensive rehabilitation and turned him in to a local animal shelter. Fortunately, with support from American Humane’s Second Chance Fund, the shelter was able to pay for Hadley’s medical treatment. The brave little cat has almost healed, and will be adopted into a new, loving home once his long recovery is complete.

 

Rogue Valley Humane Society
Grant Pass, Oregon

After both owners of Truman, a 4-year-old male Great Dane, died within two months of each other, he was given to a homeless man who eventually brought Truman to the Rogue Valley Humane Society, stating he would shoot the dog if the shelter didn’t take him. Truman was emaciated and had severe mange that caused constant itching, serious eye problems and four painful, bleeding, pus-filled paws. An American Humane Second Chance Fund grant helped pay for Truman’s medical care, which started the amazingly sweet and loving “gentle giant” on the road to recovery and normalcy. Each day, Truman continues to improve physically and is being fostered in his future permanent home.

 

Friends of Pets
Anchorage, AK

After spending the evening at a local bar, the owner of Harley, a 2-year-old male Rottweiler, returned home to find that the dog -- who had been locked in a bedroom for hours -- had soiled the carpet. Harley’s owner subsequently beat and stabbed the dog with a muzzle-loading rifle, causing deep lacerations and massive mouth injuries, including multiple teeth that were broken at the gum line. The owner -- who had an extensive criminal record -- was arrested and charged with animal cruelty. Harley was taken into custody and subsequently went through corrective oral surgeries in which all the teeth on one side of his mouth were pulled, paid for in part by a Second Chance Fund grant. Friends of Pets made arrangements for Harley’s rehabilitation with a foster family, where he loved to play and snuggle with women and children (although he is afraid of most men), and he has since been adopted into his forever home.

 

Stickney's Toy Breed Rescue
Cortland, Nebraska

When Murphy, an 11-year-old Pekinese, was rescued from a puppy mill, he had a massive eye injury caused by a puncture wound that had been left untreated for years, severe dental problems, a fractured jaw and a nearly fatal infestation of hookworms and whipworms. Although veterinarians initially believed his eye could be saved, it was eventually removed -- with help from a Second Chance Fund grant -- because Murphy had lost vision in it and was in considerable pain. Throughout his recovery, Murphy was a gentle, loving dog who rolls on his back to show his belly and wiggles his tail like a propeller when he is picked up. Thankfully, Murphy found his forever home when he was adopted by one of the rescue group’s volunteers.

 

Whipstaff Ranch and Rescue
Solway, Minnesota

Life as a puppy mill breeding female couldn’t have been easy or pleasant for Lucy, a 5-year-old standard poodle. She had never been groomed and had developed severe ear infections by the time the breeder surrendered her to Whipstaff Ranch and Rescue. Ablation of Lucy’s ear canals was performed with financial assistance from American Humane’s Second Chance Fund. According to the volunteers at Whipstaff, Lucy has a gentle spirit and loves people, despite the fact that she had never known life in a home until coming to the rescue.

 

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