Second Chance Animal Rescue Foundation offers crucial help to local animals in need

Some of Second Chance Rescue Foundation’s volunteers and their transport van

Southeast Colorado, like many areas, has an abundance of stray, abandoned, neglected or abused animals.  Stray, injured or owner-surrendered dogs within Lamar’s city limits are picked up by Lamar Police Department’s Animal Control and taken to the Lamar Animal Shelter.  Cats are not accepted there.  For years, dogs (and cats) outside of the city had no one to help.  Now, luckily, those animals have Second Chance Animal Rescue Foundation (SCARF), founded in 2002 by Donna and David Emick of Lamar, to help them.  Donna moved to Lamar upon marrying David and once she realized that animals here needed help, she knew she had to do something.   She lived in Evergreen prior to moving to Lamar and while there, regularly volunteered at a local animal shelter, walking the dogs to get them much-needed exercise, fresh air and some human contact. She said she had never intended to start a rescue  – “I was happily retired!” she joked.  But as an animal lover, she couldn’t sit idle and not try to help them. “There is a huge abundance of animals in need” she said.  She also said she was appalled at the number of animal who are euthanized in shelters because of behavior issues or shelter overcrowding.  Once they made the decision to found SCARF, Donna immediately began networking with other rescues throughout the state and learning the ropes.

That first year, it was just the Emicks pulling dogs from the dog pound.  They fostered them in their home while finding permanent homes for the dogs.  They slowly began getting some volunteers and began attending adoption events in Colorado Springs to place the dogs in new homes.  “No one is going to drive several hours to come to Lamar to adopt a dog” she said, referencing the large numbers available in shelters throughout the front range.  Her focus then shifted more towards transporting them when they are ready – to shelters in larger towns (where they have more exposure for potential adoption) or by taking them to adoption events in areas along the front range versus keeping them in Lamar foster homes hoping for local adoptions. They have a group of volunteers willing to help with transport and have drivers in Lamar, Walsh, Castle Rock and Littleton.  SCARF services 6 counties in SE Colorado and accepts dogs (and the occasional cat when needed) from Lamar north to Kit Carson and east to Tribune, Kansas as well south from Lamar to Boise City, Oklahoma. There are only two animal shelters in that entire area – Lamar’s and one in Las Animas.  SCARF primarily rescues dogs and cats, but also has rescued horses and wild animals including opossum, raptors and songbirds.

 

Happy faces from adopted dogs

Animals come to SCARF from various situations – some are owner surrenders from people unable to continue caring for them for various reasons. Some have been abandoned.  Working with Colorado’s legal system, SCARF also takes in animals that need to be rehomed as the result of abuse/neglect, domestic violence or animal hoarding situations. SCARF has no facility to house the animals – rather, they are placed in local foster homes where they are allowed to decompress and learn needed skills such as house-training, socialization and leash training before they are transported unless a local adopter is readily available. Dogs are also crate trained while in foster care, so that they become comfortable with a crate for safety during transport and for possible use in their new homes.

Before and after photos of a dog adopted from SCARF

Currently, around 500 dogs and cats are rescued by SCARF yearly. Donna says she tries to fend off the “easy dogs” which are ones that can easily be adopted out by other groups or individuals.  She says she prefers taking the ones who need more time or to work on behavioral issues which, if not corrected, could put them at risk of being euthanized in a large shelter. She has a soft spot for working dogs such as Border Collies, which often have behavior problems due to their energy levels which many people find they can’t deal with and choose to surrender.  Most, she said, just need time and a little work and that’s what they get with SCARF.  She told stories of dogs she has kept in her home for several months to help them overcome unwanted behaviors but said that they all have blossomed “into the dog they were meant to be” and went on to great homes. Donna routinely gets emails and photos from people who have adopted SCARF animals and they validate for her what she is doing. Seeing a happy dog or cat find a loving family makes the hard work worth it to her.

Photo of an ASCPA Partner fundraiser SCARF did with Blue Rose Ranch (a horse rescue south of Lamar)

In addition to fostering and transporting the animals they rescue, SCARF also provides help to pet owners in the community. Since 2005, they have sponsored a twice-yearly spay and neuter program, held in the spring and fall. Since that time, thousands of animals have been spayed or neutered due to the financial help SCARF provides. Animals have their surgeries performed at one of the four local veterinary hospitals and SCARF provides a discount coupon to offset a portion of the cost.  A TNR (trap, neuter, release) for feral cats is also a service they provide, as are the occasional vaccination clinics held at a local veterinary hospital.  A pet food pantry helps people in need feed their pets during times of financial crises.  Donated food is safely stored to be available when needed.  Donations of pet food are always needed.  The Prowers Journal and Robinson Printing, located at 210 S. Main St. in Lamar, are happy to accept donations on behalf of SCARF and will ensure that the food goes to help pets in need.  Donations can be dropped off at our office Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm.

Donna Emick (third from right) with volunteers at a local vaccination clinic

Spaying and neutering animals is the only way to lessen the continual burden placed on rescues and shelters. Educating the public is also very important – providing valuable information regarding the importance of spaying and neutering, but also the need for necessary vaccines, heartworm prevention, flea/tick control and protection against intestinal parasites to keep pets healthy.  Many dogs are vaccinated solely for rabies since it is required by law, but vaccinating against diseases like parvo and leptospirosis as well can spare a dog from serious illness or death.  It is hoped by SCARF that animals who are spayed and neutered during one of their spay/neuter programs will continue to visit the veterinarian who performed the surgery for ongoing routine care, vaccines and heartworm/flea/tick medications.

SCARF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so all donations are tax deductible.  Donations are always needed to allow them to continue the work they do, and can be sent to Second Chance Animal Rescue Foundation at P.O. Box 44, Lamar, CO 81052.  Donations can also be made to any of the local veterinarians to be earmarked for use by SCARF when needed.   If you’re reading this and wanting to know how else you can help, call or text 719-931-0006.  Follow their Facebook page, Second Chance Animal Rescue Colorado for information as well as “happy tails” of dogs and cats finding their forever, loving homes.

Donna says she gets “at least 30 calls a week” from someone needing help with an animal. The need for help is huge and it is only through people like the Emicks and the volunteers at SCARF that the need can be met.  “There are a lot of people out there who want to do something to help” said Emick, who then said “I’m blessed”, referring to the volunteers who share her passion and help in whatever ways they can.  Additional foster homes are always a big need – SCARF provides food and any necessary veterinary care for the animals while in foster homes.  Anyone who has fostered an animal fully understands the incredible rewards it provides – both to the animal as well as to persons opening their hearts and homes to an animal in need.

Quoting from SCARF’s printed brochure:  “Volunteers dedicate hearts and hands for what is sometimes several months of work toward teaching skills and creating opportunities for animals who would otherwise have none.  Foster ‘parents’ provide training, home skills, socialization, confidence building and most importantly, love and acceptance.  Every dog deserves the patience, training and time it needs to be a great companion and that is what we do.  EVERY DAY.”

By: Barbara Crimond