FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Hannah Allison, Second Chance Pet Adoptions, 919-924-9384, hannah@secondchancenc.org
Helping More Dogs Get Their Second Chances: Second Chance Pet Adoptions Receives PEDIGREE Foundation Grant for Hearts to Home Animal Transport Program
Despite the progress animal welfare advocates have made towards reducing the unnecessary euthanasia of adoptable cats and dogs, North Carolina is the state with the 3rd-highest euthanasia rate in the country. While rescues and shelters in northern states are relatively empty with more people looking to adopt than there are adoptable animals, county shelters in the Piedmont area of North Carolina are overcrowded and the staff are frequently forced to euthanize healthy, well-behaved dogs to make room for more animals to come in. Second Chance Pet Adoptions is therefore thrilled to announce that the organization has received a $14,920 grant from PEDIGREE Foundation to support its Hearts to Home transport program in 2022.
Through the Hearts to Home transport program, Second Chance coordinates with a dozen or so no-kill rescues and shelters in Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, and other northern states to: pull at-risk dogs from rural North Carolina shelters before their euthanasia dates (approximately 500 since November 2017); foster the dogs short-term in the Raleigh area; and (with the help of volunteers driving relay-race style) drive the dogs north to their receiving rescues and shelters. There, they find their forever homes.
Second Chance’s Senior Director of Operations, Lisa Imhof, explains, “The grant from PEDIGREE Foundation will be used to provide 50 additional dogs with some basic supplies, preliminary vetting, and urgent boarding, but the bulk of it will support medical care for dogs with serious illnesses and injuries. Fully $13,000 of the grant will ensure these dogs receive the life-saving vet care they need rather than languishing in county shelters where selfless staff members work with insufficient budgets.”
Second Chance anticipates that all 50 dogs will meet their new families well before the 2022 holiday season. Those interested in fostering or driving may contact Second Chance to begin helping dogs funded by this grant.
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About Second Chance Pet Adoptions
Second Chance Pet Adoptions is the oldest no-kill rescue organization in Wake County, having rescued over 16,000 since we began this work in 1987. Our mission is to champion cats and dogs in need who are healthy or treatable in the quest to find their loving homes and engage with our community to promote responsible pet ownership, ultimately reducing future generations of animals in need. Learn more at www.secondchancenc.org.
About PEDIGREE Foundation
We believe every dog deserves a loving, forever home. PEDIGREE Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working to help end pet homelessness. About 3.1 million dogs end up in shelters and rescues every year and too many never find a home. The foundation was established in 2008 by Mars Petcare, maker of PEDIGREE® food for dogs, to help increase dog adoption rates. We’ve awarded more than 5,800 grants and nearly $10 million to U.S. shelters and rescues that help dogs in need. At PEDIGREE Foundation, we’re working toward a day when all dogs are safe, secure, cared for, fed well and loved. See how you can help: PedigreeFoundation.org
