Once a Second Chance, Always a Second Chance
OU student Avery Pucci recently visited Second Chance Animal Rescue and wrote an essay for her English class about the experience. A beautiful representation of our work, we are publishing her essay here for everyone to enjoy.
“Returned, dumped, abandoned and abused, animals are whisked away from their personal death-row and housed at Norman’s very own Second Chance Animal Rescue to be given just that, a second chance.”
WRITTEN BY AVERY PUCCI
What does it mean to have a second chance? Reuniting with a lover previously wronged in the past? Re-work an essay with a failing grade? Or to be given the privilege of life again? Stated in the official Merriam Webster dictionary, second chance is “an opportunity to try something again after failing one time.” Returned, dumped, abandoned and abused, animals are whisked away from their personal death-row and housed at Norman’s very own Second Chance Animal Rescue to be given just that, a second chance. A mission founded upon empathy and passion, this non-profit was built up from the ground and established in 1989 by a group of veterinarians who wished to support those in need, animals and people alike (Walls). I didn’t just visit the shelter to indulge in my love for animals, though there were many puppies and kittens, my purpose was to uncover their drive, their cause, and whether those very values are their simple matters of motive or if there’s a deeper meaning behind the second chance.
Assisting me in my journey was active board member, Corbin Walls, who explained his position as a fellow governing official for the shelter during my first interview. As we spoke between a bright-lit Zoom screen, Walls mentioned his status as an OU student working towards his master’s degree in public management with a concentration in nonprofits. Non-profits like the Second Chance Animal Rescue. His insight helped me acknowledge the opportunities the shelter provides for its community. Not only is Walls helping the non-profit, as well as the animals involved in the rescue, but the shelter has also offered him his own chance to pursue his education further.
“With proper training, care, and plenty of walks and pets from volunteers, these animals can recover from their past and transition into their future home away from hurt. ”
According to Walls, as a Non-profit, Second Chance Animal Rescue had the option to function as a closed admission shelter, which meant they are could reject or refuse surrenders or additional intakes in order to preserve their capacity and resources, unlike government funded shelters that were required to take any animal presented. Though this idea of rejecting surrendered animals may seem disheartening to some, this allows the sanctuary to maintain a clean environment, and provide adequate attention to each animal, and act in alignment with their resources and donations. With proper training, care, and plenty of walks and pets from volunteers, these animals can recover from their past and transition into their future home away from hurt.
Throughout my discussion with Walls, he mentioned the notion of their “mission statement.” Intrigued, I asked him to elaborate. I gathered through his description of the non-profits efforts to discuss the importance of spaying and neutering, fostering, adopting, and simple in-person interaction guided me to their underlying mission of advocacy, improvement, welfare, safety, and hope. Proof of his claims can be seen from their Tiktok page, the sanctuary pursues positive interactions with people and animals through minor training practices to help their dogs catch more interest. The account posts frequent videos showing off their “Four on the floor rule” and quiet kennel rooms (@secondchancenorman). Teaching four-on-the-floor appeals to many families who aren’t looking for a dog that will jump and paw them, while their quiet kennels will please those who could be nervous in loud environments or, like many, don’t like barking.
“What had originally seemed like another holding place for animals in need, was in reality, a true sanctuary. Staying true to their motto, they provide a safe and healing environment for those second chances to thrive into change. ”
The sanctuary extends their helping hands to anyone they can; Working alongside a local prison, the shelter will send a couple animals down a month to be trained by their residents to help dogs that seem to be struggling in a kennel environment. Animals suffering from aggression, fear, or even loneliness can not only receive their own rehabilitation through this program but help rehabilitate the prisoners themselves (Walls). In a monthly article posted by the NIH (News in Health), animals have been proven to improve a multitude of mental health issues, relieve stress, reduces loneliness, and helps people (or prisoners in this circumstance) return to a sense of normalcy. This mutual partnership helps all parties involved. What had originally seemed like another holding place for animals in need, was in reality, a true sanctuary. Staying true to their motto, they provide a safe and healing environment for those second chances to thrive into change.
Inspired by their passion for animal welfare and care for their community, I leapt at Walls recommendation to try volunteering for myself. Connecting with a peer of mine, Mara Winters, we both set off to visit the sanctuary just fifteen minutes away from OU’s campus. As Mara’s car rolled into the gravel parking-lot, I took notice of the facility’s outdoor amenities. Numerous chain-link fences were arranged towards the front of the lot, a round set of benches sat in a circle just behind. To the right of the homey-building sat the dogs’ outdoor areas, shaded from the wind and rain to keep dry. In the middle sat what looked like a garden house; a small garden bed with flowers decorated the front, inside the beds sat small positive signs and pet-themed décor. Greeted by a kind woman at the front, we were presented with sign-in sheets, of which I struggled ferociously to avoid checking the box that would sign me up for their foster program. In the end, common sense ruled victor as I remembered I still lived in the dorms. As we returned the pens and paper to the front, we were presented with a quick run-down of the front area (as described previously). Our last destination led us to the socializing room, where newly rescued kittens and cats are housed freely to learn to socialize with people and familiarize them with safety and happiness. The realization I was standing in a room full of sleepy and playful cats injected dopamine straight into my veins. My personal rule of avoiding picking favorites was easily ignored as I befriended Cannes, the cat. The moment he began to purr into my palm and lick my wrist, I knew I’d be glued to that room for a good twenty-minutes.
“The realization I was standing in a room full of sleepy and playful cats injected dopamine straight into my veins.”
We were later introduced to the dogs we would be handling for the day. More specifically, the two that were just returned. According to Walls, every animal adopted from the shelter is spayed/neutered and microchipped for their safety and recognition. If a past adoptee is found through their microchip with no contact of the owner, Second Chance will readily accept and welcome back their previous members (Walls). The two wiggle-happy canines before us, however, were returned due to work over-loading their previous owner’s schedules. As Mara and I were handed two loop-leashes and an armful of excitable dogs, the sanctuary staff member explained how the two needed a little extra love and out-door time. She directed us towards the land out-front, giving us the option to either let them off-leash in the play-pins or go for a walk around the property.
The simplistic pleasure of a short trip outside seemed to be an out-of-world experience for the two wiggly animals. I was handed a smaller, four-month-old puppy named Adventure. Living up to his name, of course, the chipper little thing loved to zip and weave under and around my legs. Crouching down for too long would earn you a pair of paws on your shoulders and an onslaught of licks to the face. I fall in love with dogs’ individual personalities way too easily, but Adventure made it easy. Same with Mara’s dog-of-the-day, Brudda Roller. The sweet, older six-month-old took Adventure’s little brother-like energy in stride, indulging in his insistent games of tug-of-war and rough-housing. The comfort the two found in one another seemed almost symbolic, as if they had formed a found-family, just like the community had with Second Chance Animal Rescue.
Noticing a couple of roof-top workers taking away the attention of our new friends, Mara and I decided to bring the two back inside before they closed. Then came the hardest part, leaving Adventure and Brudda. The sad tail-tucks and wilted ears split my heart into pieces; I was already planning my next visit. But I was hoping deep down they wouldn’t be here next time I came, hoping they would have found their forever homes. Before we left, Mara and I took notice of what we believed to be another blue-clad employee sitting upon the bench by the front door. Hoping to catch one-last impromptu interview for a few extra supporting comments, we introduced ourselves and explained what we were researching. We quickly realized she was not, in fact, just an employee; She was the shelter manager.
“These animals should have their happy endings too.”
Rose Grimm has been working in animal welfare for twelve years. Experienced as a surgeon in a veterinarian clinic, kennel technician at numerous shelters, as well as being licensed nationally and statewide in animal welfare, Grimm’s perspective revealed a side to the story I wish the world knew. Most important, her passion keeps her pushing for success. Pushing to help these animals escape their previous lives, pushing to provide them with their second chance, in Grimm’s words, “It’s not their fault. It's not their fault they were born with a litter of five in a society that treats them like they are disposable, but it’s still important to try and continue our efforts while we still can.” That factor of pure innocence in these animal’s drive these people. They don’t deserve to suffer from negligence. These animals should have their happy endings too.
I found a purpose beyond a temporary space for housing animals; I found hope for the future, a space to protect a happy ending and advocacy for education. A refuge for the lost, the found, the stray, and the rescued. Dogs, cats, puppies, kittens, and even people can seek kindness in the sanctuary’s walls built upon teamwork. In my search for the deeper meaning behind the second chance, I actually found an orange painted wall in their bathroom that ironically listed every value I had been assigned to write about. That would have been too easy to talk about, so instead I spoke to the people who made it happen. The people like Rose Grimm, Corbin Walls, and the employees at the Second Chance Animal Sanctuary who truly encapsulate what it means to dig beyond providing a second chance and fostering what we all want most: A happy ending.
SOURCES
“Power of Pets.” National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 26 July 2022, https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2018/02/power-pets#:~:text=Interacting%20with%20animals%20has%20been,support%2C%20and%20boost%20your%20mood.
Pucci, A., & Winters, M. (2022, November 14). Corbin Walls Interview. personal.
Pucci, A., & Winters, M. (2022, November 14). Rose Grimm Interview. personal.
“Second chance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/second%20chance. Accessed 14 Nov. 2022.
Second Chance [@secondchancenorman]. “Videos.” Tiktok, 2022, https://www.tiktok.com/@secondchancenorman?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc.