SUMMER 2015  NO. 17
1517 Meadow Street
Littleton, NH 03561
603-259-3244
www.secondchancear.org
email: [email protected]
www.facebook.com/secondchancear
SHELTER HOURS
Monday—Saturday
Noon to 3pm
or by appointment
OUR MISSION
To provide homeless animals
with a second chance at life and
companionship in a no-kill shelter.
Our organization goes beyond
shelter walls and is committed to:
1) Positive people and animal
relationships and placements
2) Offering affordable spay,
neuter and vaccination clinics
3) Cooperative rescue efforts
4) Animal welfare education
Board of Directors
Jackie Allison, President
Jan Nadeau, Vice President
Vaughan Stiles, Treasurer
Karen Gordon, Secretary
Judy Abbott
Carolyn Murro
Alicia Prater
Mark Secord
Carl Schafer
Veterinary Advisors
Whitefield Animal Hospital,
Whitefield, NH
Companion Pet Care, Littleton, NH
Baker Valley Veterinary Services,
Plymouth, NH
Professional Advisors
Margaret Seymour, Esq.
Mark Secord CPA, PLLC
Second Chance Animal Rescue
is a 501(c)3 charitable organization.
SCAR receives no federal, state or
local tax money, or portions of
donations made to national
humane organizations.
So You Want A Cat!
Do you ever have the urge to snatch up a
fluffy, cute kitten from a "Free To A Good
Home" box? Do you have family or friends
who as soon as they move into their first home
or apartment — immediately go out and get an
adorable kitten or cat? It’s almost a rite of
passage for a
lot of us. We
can
barely
afford
the
rent,
but
nothing says
home like a
furry buddy.
Most of us
don’t regret having feline pets, but a lot of us
don’t think about the potential (and not insignificant) costs of cat ownership. If you are
considering bringing a furry friend into your
home, you might want to ask: Can I afford to
be a pet owner? So that you have an idea of
what you might have to give up for the good of
your cat, let's put these costs into perspective.
Good quality food comes at a price, somewhere between $15 to $25 a month. This
could be equivalent to a couple of trips to the
movies—not including the popcorn.
A litter box and litter are a necessity. You
can purchase an inexpensive one for under
$10.00 and a 20 lb. bag of non-clumping clay
litter for around $5.00 at Walmart. For the
cost of breakfast for two at the local diner, you
can keep your kitty happy and clean.
A
thorough
veterinary examination is an absolute
necessity when you
invite a cat into your
home. Depending on
the results of the exam and tests that are
performed, a conservative estimate of
the bill would run
$100-$200 or the
equivalent of 10 to 15
trips to your local
favorite fast-food restaurant.
Don't litter—spay and neuter your critters! There are low-cost clinics in the area,
including at our shelter, that charge $40.00 to
$45.00 for the procedure. We also offer the
recommended basic vaccinations at low-cost
shot clinics in the spring & fall. Compare these
kitty needs to gassing up your car for a month,
or maybe that couple of new summer dresses
and sandals you’ve been looking at.
Emergency veterinary care costs are an
unknown as they can vary with the age and
condition of your cat. Insurance for your cat is
becoming increasingly popular and may allow
you to afford good care when you otherwise
might not be able to. The ASPCA estimates
that insurance costs about $175 per year. You
can compare insurers at www.petinsurance
reviews.org.
If you don't have
pet insurance, then
you might consider
adding an additional
$10 a week to what
you put aside into
your emergency fund.
Being a responsible
pet owner comes with
certain
obligations,
financial being one of
them. Be patient until
you’re really ready,
even though it’s hard
to resist those cute faces.
If you’ve decided to make the financial,
time and emotional sacrifices needed for a new
kitten or cat to join your life—then lucky you!
You’re about to have many years of fulfilling,
loving friendship and joy. And don’t forget
that adoption is the best option!
Second Chance shelter photos by MegaBug Photography
Like us and comment on facebook:
www.facebook.com/secondchancear
For more information stay tuned to:
www.secondchancear.org
Homer’s Homilies
Cats are finicky. How many times have I heard that? This often
applies to food. I have seen some of my shelter buddies chow down
on anything put in front of them. There are also those cats that are so
picky they drive their caretakers crazy. This ho-hum attitude at
mealtime can be caused by many different reasons. I'm here to share
some tips for dealing with your fussy feline.
Cats (myself included) have sensitive whiskers. Check the size and
shape of your kitty's feeding
dish. We like shallow and wide.
Please make sure the ambiance is
right. No dogs, noisy kids, the
dreaded washing machine, or a high
traffic area.
Privacy is a priority! I know
there are exhibitionist that need their
owners to watch them eat. If that's
what it takes, so be it! Fresh food is
a must. Preferably room temperature
since this mimics a "fresh kill" in the
animal world. You can also cheat
by warming it up in the microwave.
Have you ever experienced an excruciating dental problem? If
your feline friend is rubbing or continually pawing at his mouth he
might be trying to tell you something. A trip to his veterinarian might
be needed. Softening his food with the juice from a can of tuna or
minced clams would certainly be easier on his sensitive mouth. Of
course, chicken broth or bouillon would also do the trick.
Has the thought ever occurred to you that perhaps your furry
friend is just plain bored with his food? After all, variety is the spice
of life. Try feeding him something different occasionally to stimulate
his appetite. Take the stress out of your life with a little patience and
creativity when it comes to feeding your cat. Bon Appetit!!
Feral Cats & Eartipping
Eartipping is the preferred and
universally accepted method of
identifying spayed or neutered
feral cats. Feral cats are undomesticated and not friendly to humans,
living their lives in the wild, often
in colonies. Trap-neuter-return
programs attempt to prevent expansion of the colonies by spaying
and neutering feral cats and then
returning them to their colony.
Because they avoid human contact
and it is difficult to get close to
feral cats, the identification of
their previous surgery must be
visible from a distance, preventing
the undue stress caused by unnecessary trapping and interactions with
humans.
The procedure is performed by the veterinarian under sterile conditions while the cat is already anesthetized for spay or neuter surgery. There is little or no bleeding and is relatively painless for the
cat. The loss of the quarter inch ear tip does not affect how the cat
lives or functions.
The exact look of an eartipped cat may vary across the country
(right or left ear tip vs. ear-notching). If you see a cat with a missing
ear tip or a v-notch in the ear tip, assume that it has already been
spayed or neutered and does not need to be trapped again, saving
both you and the cat a potentially traumatic experience.
~Alicia Prater, Board Member
Summer 2015
The
Scoop
Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinics
Call us at 603-259-3244 to schedule
June 15, July 13, August 3, September 14
October 12, November 9, December 14
Low Cost Shot Clinic
October 3
SCAR Shelter 1:30—4:00 PM
Dining for a Cause
Wednesday, June 17, 5:00—8:00 pm
99 Restaurant, Meadow St, Littleton
99 Restaurant will donate 15% of your total bill to SCAR
Tony Ilacqua Memorial BBQ
Saturday, July 18
VFW Pavilion, Littleton
ShoeBox Recycling
Drop off your unwanted shoes at the shelter
We raise $20 for every 40 lbs we collect!
Pet Food Drive
“No More Empty Bowls.” We are collecting pet food for
distribution by local food pantries.
Nutrena Tag Fundraiser
Nutrena Feeds will make a donation for every tag collected
by Second Chance
Annual Gigantic
Tent Sale
Saturday, August 8th
Donations can be dropped off
at the shelter now!
Page 2
Volunteer Extraordinaire
When did your love affair with cats begin? For Peter
Overbagh, our Frank Zappa look-alike, it started one day while he
was running cross-country for his high school team. A harlequin
cat with splashes of grey popped out of the woods, joined him on
his run and followed him home. “Molecule” as he was affectionately called, had found his forever friend. And so the saga continues through the years.
Peter is the true definition of a generous being. His first exposure to Second Chance came after his father’s death. Wanting to
honor his dad’s memory in a meaningful way, Peter decided to
make a significant donation to Second Chance. He comes back
week after week, and we continue to be recipients of his support
and dedication to our organization.
This volunteer extraordinaire embraces his passion
for cats with commitment
and enthusiasm. Every Friday afternoon he spends time
socializing with each of our
residents. If we have a kitty
that needs extra attention,
Peter always seems to
squeeze in a few extra
minutes at the end of the day.
When he isn’t working
directly with our furry population we are apt to find the
“master gardener” lovingly tending our flower gardens.
Feeling right at home in the kitchen, Peter likes to cook and
share his culinary delights with the volunteers on duty that day.
Bake Sale coming up—not a problem. He’s always the first one
to offer up something sinfully good for those supporters who like
to indulge in something sweet.
His uniqueness does not end there. He is also a talented leather worker who at one time owned a leather goods store on our
Main Street called Rawhide. Peter is also a talented musician
who studied at The Berkley School of Music in Boston. In the
evenings when he is not “jamming” with his like-minded soul
buddies, he is happy to spend some quality time with his four cats;
Buddy, Mollie, Sox, and Spooky. I once read, “You can’t put
more time in your life but you can always put more life in your
time.” Our volunteer extraordinaire is proof of this.
~Jackie Allison , President
The Softer Side of Cicero
Cicero is one big boy. It’s a good thing, too, since he’s had to
fight his way through life—through being kicked around
(literally) and through abandonment. And then one day his luck
changed. Cicero decided to seek shelter on a deck in Littleton.
He was spotted by the kind homeowner who set out a Havahart
trap. She was eventually able to catch him and brought him inside. No doubt assuming she was another human who was going
to mistreat him, Cicero freaked out, went flying over and behind
the washing machine, and hid there. Our rescuer called Second
Chance for help and he arrived at the Shelter on March 15th.
Needless to say, Cicero was pretty feisty at first. He appeared
to enjoy being petted, yet at some point he would act out and bite
or scratch, so we learned to be cautious. Our volunteer Dianne
began spending time with Cicero outside his cage, calmly petting
and talking with him. Eventually, she brought out some tiny barn
kittens that lived in the cage below his.
These little sweethearts were brought to the Shelter when a
caring soul learned that the farmer was going to “let nature take
its course” because two of them had defects (deformed front legs
which we learned was caused by poor nutrition). These two were
seen by a surgeon
who prescribed
special vitamins
and suggested we
spend some time
each day flexing
their feet and ankles. We have
seen
improvement already and
expect them to
fully recover.
Cicero responded positively to them immediately – he bathes
and plays gently with them, even letting them freely bat his tail
around. He, and they, have been transformed by this connection.
He is providing the care they didn’t get from their mother, and
they are teaching him how to trust and accept love. Happy Father’s Day, Cicero!
~Mary Northrup, volunteer
Email Pictures: Windows
Cat Tails: Willow
“Willow is settling in well and is
very spoiled. When we arrive back
home, whomever is first to open the
laundry room door is sure to have a
cat on their shoulders. Here is a
picture to share. Darlene C.”
“You look over
there and I’ll look
over here! It’s
Spring! Love,
Milo and friends”
Cat Tails: Jupiter
“Jupiter is doing better and better. He is still very "don't touch me"
but I am working on that. He doesn't
like being patted or lifted, but he is
tolerating it more, and he follows me
around to every room all the time.
He really has come a long way.
Thanks again for Jupiter. Lucy”
Summer 2015
“Hello Second Chance, Just
thought we'd let you know how
much we LOVE our sunny window in Littleton! Love, Alice,
Reese, Isabelle, and Tye”
“Just looking
for my tail!
Love, Bravo”
Page 3
1517 Meadow Street
Littleton, NH 03561
603-259-3244
www.secondchancear.org
Pre Sorted Standard
U.S. Postage
PAID
Littleton, NH 03561
Permit No. 23
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Shelter Wish List
Clay Cat Litter
Purina Cat or Kitten Chow
Purina Healthy Weight
Canned Pate Cat Food (Non-fish)
Paper Towels
HE Laundry Detergent
13 Gallon Trash Bags
Brother TN450 Toner Cartridge
Copy Paper
Postage Stamps
Gift Cards to Walmart,
Littleton Office Supply, Staples,
Shaws, etc.
You can Help
We know that you're swamped with requests for donations. While we all support the
big national organizations that help animals, we ask that you first consider giving to your local shelter. We are all
volunteer with no paid staff, so 100% of your donation goes directly for the care of the animals. You can visit us
any day and see your gift at work giving the abandoned and abused a "Second Chance"!
MONETARY DONATIONS
ESTATE GIFTS
SCAR relies entirely on private donations to
Include SCAR in your will, trust or
be able to fund our adoption program
with a beneficiary designation.
through our Shelter, offer spay and neuter
GIFT OF STOCK & ANNUITIES
clinics, and other programs for the community. Please mail your check today, large or Stocks, bonds, mutual fund shares and other
small. You can also donate securely online
securities, along with transferring of real
at www.secondchancear.org.
estate offer alternative ways to give that can
benefit both you and SCAR.
VOLUNTEER
TRIBUTE GIFTS
SCAR is a 100% volunteer maintained
organization, and you can join us and help
Tribute gifts can be made in memory of,
the cats and kittens who can’t do for
or in honor of, a pet or loved one.
themselves. Fill out a Volunteer
A card will be sent upon request.
Application today.
WORKPLACE GIVING CAMPAIGNS
FOSTER
Many workplaces coordinate charitable
Can you open your home occasionally
giving campaigns for their employees.
to house a mom and her kittens until they’re
These campaigns allow employees to
old enough to be adopted, or
donate through one-time gifts and
house a needy cat on a short term
regular payroll deductions.
basis when the shelter is full?
Call the shelter for more information.
CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS
There are many ways for your company
to increase its visibility in the
community and build positive brand
presences while helping Second Chance.
IN-KIND DONATIONS
Help keep our supply closet stocked up
year round. See our wish list at
www.secondchancear.org
EBAY SELLABLES
Donate jewelry, antiques, autos and other
estate valuables year-round and we’ll sell
them on EBay. All donations are
100% tax deductible.
To learn more about helping
cats & kittens, call 603-259-3244
or visit us online at
www.secondchancear.org