Second Chance Pet Rescue of Grand Lake – New Name for Grove Humane Society

July 24, 2014, will be an exciting day for those of us involved in the rescue of homeless dogs and cats.  As part of our 30^thYear Anniversary as the Humane Society of Grove and Grand Lake, Inc., Grove, Oklahoma, we are announcing our new name: “Second Chance Pet Rescue of Grand Lake.”  We will be keeping our incorporated name, but we will be “doing business as” (DBA) the Second Chance Pet Rescue of Grand Lake. We are a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, private animal shelter, established in 1984 and governed by a Board of Directors. We are not affiliated with any national animal rescue group, and we do not receive any city, state or federal government funding. Our goal remains to provide a caring, safe, and loving environment for abused and abandoned dogs and cats in our community. We are a life-saving shelter that houses approximately 80 dogs and 65 cats on a daily basis and are usually at capacity with a long waiting list of people who want or need to surrender their pets.

On Thursday, July 24th, at 10 am, we will be announcing our Shelter Expansion and Renovation plans with a Groundbreaking Ceremony at our shelter located at 64301 East 290 Road in Grove.  The shelter expansion consists of extending the current facility to house all the dogs that are currently housed outside in the elements, a new separate cattery room, and separate dog and cat isolation rooms.  Every animal in our care will then be housed in a climate-controlled area and no longer be subjected to sweltering heat or freezing cold temperatures.  Our goal is to continue to focus our time, effort, and monies on the homeless dogs and cats of our area and minimize any spending that would not directly benefit the animals.

We are planning a two phase renovation:  Phase I will be focused on building indoor/outdoor kennels for all dogs before winter.  Phase II will replace the roof of our current building and renovate the interior for more office space, a larger waiting room, and meet and greet rooms for prospective families to meet potential new four-legged family members.

We will be kicking off our Capital Campaign in mid August with a Fund Raising Goal of $350,000 to cover our two-phased renovation. We are an organization of volunteers you may recognize as your friends, neighbors, and business leaders from our community. We are always in need of more volunteers as our mission is one that will continue until there are no more homeless dogs and cats in our area. We will continue to provide low-cost spay and neuter clinics, low-cost vaccination clinics, provide free services and food for those in our area who would otherwise have to give up their beloved pets if it weren’t for assistance from our animal rescue organization.

Pets fulfill a basic human need to touch.  The stroking, holding, cuddling, or otherwise touching a loving animal can rapidly calm and soothe us when we are stressed. The companionship of a pet can also ease loneliness, and some pets are a great stimulus for healthy exercise, which can substantially boost mood and reduce anxiety and build self-confidence for people anxious about going out into the world. A pet will add structure and routine to your day through feeding and exercise. We believe that we need to fulfill the basic needs of the animals in our care by housing them in a humane way no matter the temperatures until they are able to be adopted.  Many can testify to the love they found under our shelter as they brought a dog or cat home…..so at the end of the day, one may ask who really rescues who?

Please come join us for our Shelter Expansion and Renovation Groundbreaking Celebration on Thursday, July 24th, at 10 am.  Ground breaking officials will be:  Steve Williams of Steve Williams Construction; Dustin Able of Grand Savings; Steve Duff, Grove Rotary and President of Arvest Bank; Lisa Friden of Grove Chamber of Commerce; Pastor Robert Carter of Trinity Baptist Church; Susan Barnett of Flint Ridge Animal Shelter, Kansas, Oklahoma; and from the Second Chance Pet Rescue of Grand Lake,  Stephanie Epps, Board President; Lori Follis and Carol Rice, Board Members.

Carol Rice

Publicity/Second Chance Pet Rescue