Give Abused and Neglected Animals a Second Chance at Life
Every day there are countless animals across the country are suffering in silence—abandoned, injured, and alone.
American Humane Society’s Second Chance® grant program provides urgently needed medical care to animals who have endured cruelty, neglect, or trauma. These animals cannot heal without intervention—and that healing begins with you.
Hippo was able to have a second chance because of YOU.
When veterinary hospital staff arrived for work one April morning, they found a heartbreaking scene at their door: a small tote bag left behind. Inside was Hippo, a five-year-old Dachshund, his little body battered and bleeding.
His jaw was broken in multiple places — two fractures beyond repair. His teeth were damaged beyond saving. His front leg was fractured so severely it would never heal.
But even in his suffering, Hippo’s tail wagged when rescuers lifted him from that bloody blanket.
At a local rescue, Hippo was rushed into surgery. Part of his jaw was removed so he could eat again. His damaged teeth were extracted. His jaw was wired for stability. For weeks, his front leg was splinted in hopes it might heal — but eventually, his leg was amputated to give him the best life possible.
Through it all, Hippo never gave up. He kissed every veterinarian and volunteer. He played gently with his pink hippo toy in the hospital. At a special “Meet Hippo Day,” he wagged proudly in front of a cheering crowd, dressed to the nines and surrounded by love.
Then came the happiest ending of all: Hippo found his forever home. Today, this once-broken dog is safe, cherished, and thriving — a living symbol of resilience and hope.
Hippo’s journey from suffering to safety was only possible because of caring people like you.
Make a gift today and give more animals like Hippo a second chance. Your donation to American Humane Society powers Second Chance® grants and so much more — from emergency rescues to training service dogs for veterans, to ensuring humane treatment on farms, zoos, aquariums and film sets. Together, we can transform lives.
Your Compassion Changes Everything
Your donation today will support Second Chance grants and all of American Humane Society’s lifesaving and impactful programs, helping animals find safety, healing and hope.
Stories of Resilience
Willow, a one-year-old sheepdog, was found on a roadside in El Paso, Texas, a victim of severe abuse with burns and a gunshot wound. Her situation was critical, and her chances seems slim.
The intervention of a Second Chance Grant from American Humane Society marked the turning point in Willow’s life, allowing her to get the medical care and love she’s so desperately needed.
Buried alive by her owner Leialoha was found unable to stand, her fur almost entirely gone and her skin burnt by the sun. Rescuers rushed the one year old pup to an emergency clinic where she received life-saving care funded by American Humane’s Second Chance Grant.
This grant covered the critical treatments needed for her recovery, from cleaning and treating her wounds to soothing her skin and helping her gain weight.
Abandoned on a desolate roadside, Penny was discovered bleeding and weak, suffering from a presumed gunshot wound. She was rushed to an emergency veterinary clinic, and through American Humane Society’s Second Chance grant, Penny was able to receive the critical and urgent care she desperately needed.
After suffering so much fear and cruelty in her life, Penny is learning to trust and love again. Today she is in a foster family where she continues to thrive and is finally receiving the love, care and comfort she truly deserves.
Thrown from a second-story window and left in the rain, Legend endured unimaginable cruelty. With both back legs severely damaged and non-functioning, this resilient feline was rushed to an emergency clinic. Thanks to American Humane’s Second Chance® grant, Legend received the life-saving care he desperately needed, including two surgeries to remove his damaged legs and ongoing treatment to help him heal. Now, Legend is learning to navigate the world with courage and hope.
Starved and abandoned, Reba was discovered in a field—emaciated, dehydrated, and so weak she could barely stand. Her condition was critical, and without immediate intervention, she would not have survived. Thanks to American Humane’s Second Chance® grant, Reba received the intensive veterinary care and nutritional support she so urgently needed.
After enduring such prolonged neglect, Reba is finally safe. Under the care of a dedicated rescue, she is gaining strength, regaining trust, and experiencing kindness for perhaps the first time. Today, Reba is on the road to recovery—proof that love and compassion can transform even the most desperate lives.
Your generosity can make a big difference for animals who have been abandoned, abused, and neglected and remind them that there’s hope for a better tomorrow and support all of our impactful programs.
