Super shy 8 year old sisters Serena and Fran have been accepted to Albert's Dog Lounge in Wisconsin. Yay! Happy Dances! This is a long story (but a very happy read) because these 2 sisters came to Second Chance Shelter in Boaz Alabama when they were 4 months old and lived there until they were 8 years old. We are so happy that they lived in a No-Kill shelter. Otherwise, we would not be able to tell you about their long journey in life. We thank everyone who has had a part in taking care, loving and getting these 2 furbabies out of the shelter.
Does Albert Dog Lounge of Wisconsin sound familiar? It should if you follow our page. Before we tell you more about Serena, we would like to do another update on Fergie. Do you remember her story? Her story made national news. We did a birthday story about 13 year old Fergie, who lived almost her whole life at Second Chance Shelter in Boaz Alabama. Here is what was written back on February 25, 2024. "Fergie, who got her second chance in life also has a new name. Her name is Fiona and has been adopted by a loving family in Wisconsin. Do you recall her story that Second Chance Shelter in Boaz Alabama posted back on February 25, 2024? It was Fergie's 13th birthday and she had lived at the shelter since she was 2 years old. Her story was shared over and over. People all over the country sent messages to the shelter. Albert's Dog Lounge in Wisconsin contacted the shelter about Fergie and she was accepted to go to their rescue. Albert's Dog Lounge is a foster-based rescue focused on providing loving homes to seniors, special needs, and hospice dogs. As she arrived in Wisconsin, her story went viral and nationwide. We want to thank everyone who shared her story, every news organization and news magazines all over the country that told her story. People magazine, Newsweek and Southern Living are just a few of national magazines who did a story or shared her story so everyone would know Fergie's (Fiona) story and her journe
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We are excited to announce the GRAND OPENING of 2nd Chance Shelter Hidden Gems Thrift Store in Boaz Alabama. This has been on our agenda for quite some time, but now we are making it an official part of the Second Chance story. The proceeds of this store will directly benefit the dogs at our shelter. With the help of animal friendly donors, thrifty shoppers, and of course volunteers we hope to provide the community with a place where they can get some dog-gone great deals on all types of merchandise and find those unique hidden gems. Please join us for our GRAND OPENING.
Saturday July 6th,
9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
113 North Broad Street
(Across the street from Weather's Hardware and Boaz City Hall)
Boaz, Alabama
Phone: (256)281-9033
This will be a fun, relaxing event. There is no admission fee. 7 p.m. at Sand Mountain Park.
For the second year, Mattie Cofield, the family and consumer science teacher from Sardis High School and 40 students chose Second Chance Shelter in Boaz Alabama as their service project for the school year. As well as a $2000 monetary donation (great job students), they brought bags of dog food. Like last year, they made several containers of homemade dog treats that they shared with all the doggie residents. They spent some time holding some of the older puppies and small dogs before enjoying a lively scavenger hunt based on names or descriptions of the outdoor dogs. We want to thank Mattie Cofield and her students for not only making a $ 2, 000 donation and bags of dogfood and dog treats, they gave their time to come visit the shelter and dogs that reside here. What a wonderful way for young teenagers to learn about no-kill shelters and the dogs that live here. The future looks bright as these animal loving students become adults and take this experience with them. Come back and visit us anytime. We want to thank our volunteer coordinator Leanne and our office manager Brittany and Sardis High School teacher Mattie Cofield who helped organize this visit of students from Sardis High School.
Hello everyone. My name is Izzy and I was a part of Doug and Wanda's family for almost 16 years. I passed away on January 13, 2023. I passed away in my sleep in my favorite bed surrounded by the people who loved me the most - Doug and Wanda. Today would have been my 16th birthday. Happy birthday to me. I would have been 112 years old in human years. Boy, that is a long time. I had the best family and life ever. It almost didn't happen. Back on 2008, Doug went to the local Albertville pound and found me. I had been there 7 days and I was to be killed in 30 minutes. Of course that didn't happen since Doug took me home with him. The rest is history. Oh boy, what a life I did have. I am including my story below here that Doug wrote about me. I just want to say I am so happy that I was a part of Wanda and Doug's family. I got to do so much - from riding shotgun with Wanda and being her side kick in the car to being a welcome greeter at the shelter along with my friends Angel, Sue, Harvey and Stump. All have crossed the Rainbow Bridge except Angel is now the office dog now. She has retired from being a greeter to being the Queen of the office. I love my sweet pal Angel. Her and I would share a bed in the office often. There are so many memories that I had. I remember all of the workers and volunteers over the years and how they all loved me. I was very popular. On my 14th birthday I got a chicken finger cake for my birthday. Boy was that good. It was all for me. They sang Happy Birthday to me and we were all so happy. So, I had a long happy life. It is never easy to say good bye to those you love. I really didn't want to go and was heartbroken that I had to leave. But, it was my time. I had not been feeling well for awhile. Instead of being killed at a local shelter many years ago, I passed away surrounded by my family that loved me and I loved them even more. I went to the Rainbow Bridge and there waiting for me was some of my family. Peanut and Stump were waiting for me
4 year old sweet Mercury was adopted on January 7, 2023. Yay! Happy Dance! The full story about Mercury, Moose and Penny is above this video in the other post about Mercury's adoption and the family that adopted him. In honor of Moose and Penny, who both passed away from cancer, the Chance family came and adopted Mercury. How wonderful is that. RIP Moose and Penny. You were so loved! Please read the story above in the post of Mercury's adoption.
We want to thank Guntersville Chevrolet for donating dog food for Woofstock WQSB 2022. If you would like to participate in this dog food drive for Second Chance Shelter in Boaz Alabama, please contact WQSB in Albertville at 256-878-8575. Thank you ahead of time for your donation.
Hello. My name is Blanche. I am a 5 year old female looking for my forever family and home. I was adopted back on July 26th of 2021. Sadly, my family could no longer take care of me and I came back to Second Chance Shelter in Boaz Alabama. I live in the office with my best pal Angel. I am an indoor dog. Please help me find my forever family and home.
Do you remember reading the story about me back in January of 2021? A good Samaritan found me in a ditch dying after I was hit by a car back on January 29, 2021. I was hurt really bad and thought for sure that I would not survive. The people that found me contacted Second Chance Shelter. Doug and Wanda came right away. Needless to say, I survived. I was afraid I was going to lose my leg. But the surgery was a success. With meds, time and lots of TLC, I slowly recovered. Now I am ready for my very own forever family and home. I want to thank everyone who helped saved me from almost dying in a ditch and took care of me since then. I love all of you! My birthday is January 29th, the day I was rescued from the ditch after being hit by a car. Please call Second Chance Shelter in Boaz Alabama (256-561-2411) or come meet me at the shelter. You will be glad you did! I am being sponsored by Donna Riggs while I wait at the shelter for my forever family to find me and take me home. Thank you Donna for helping me while I am at the shelter.
Hello. My name is Zeus. I have lived at Second Chance Shelter in Boaz Alabama since December 31, 2021. I was adopted on March 11, 2022. Yay! Happy Dance! Can you believe it. I am so happy. I have come such a long way since I was rescued back on December 31, 2021. Do you remember my story? If you haven't followed my story, I have included it so you can see how far I have come. A mail carrier saw me laying on the side of the road. She stopped to see if I was OK. I was not able to move or stand up and would not eat anything that was given to me. The mail carrier called Second Chance Shelter in Boaz Alabama. Jenny and Becky dropped everything and headed to Kilpatrick to help me. They found me in bad shape. I was not able to stand up. I was wet, cold and covered in ants. I know I would not have survived the night without their help. But here I am today. Better and living in my forever home with my forever family. Love conquers all! I want to thank everyone who helped me along the way. From the mail carrier, Jenny and Becky who came and got me, all of the workers who took care of me and everyone who thought about me and prayed for my recovery. I was near death but I never stopped fighting. I chose to fight to live. I love you all. Stay tuned for updates about me with my new family and home. Life is great!
Here is my story if you didn't read it before.
First UPDATE! We wanted to give everyone an update on Zeus. He's eating. Not much change though. He's terrified. But he is still alive and fighting. He has a strong desire to live. We will give another update tomorrow to let everyone know how he is doing. Some people in the comment section want to donate to help with his vet care. If you would like to help with Zeus's care, there is a donate button at the top of our page. You can request that the donation goes to help with Zeus's care. Thank you to everyone who has asked about this sweet boy.
What were you doing on New Year's Eve? At the shelter we decid
Yay!!! I've been adopted. My name is Tink and I have been at the shelter since I was a puppy. Watch my adoption day below.
I've been at Second Chance Shelter in Boaz Alabama since I was a puppy. That was way too many birthdays that I celebrated in a shelter. No puppy should have to celebrate their birthdays in a shelter. But guess what? I've been adopted and my birthday is January 13th - and I will be celebrating my birthday this year in my very own home with my family. I can't wait. Can you believe it? After all these years. There is a family out there for every furbaby like me. Never give up hope. I want to thank Doug, Wanda and all of the workers and volunteers over the years that have taken such good care of me, who loved me and kept me safe. Without living in a No - Kill shelter, I would not be here today to tell you my story. A special thank you to Valerie Clemons and the "Richard Jaffe Law Firm. They both sponsored me for such a long time. I love you all so much.
It has been nine days since Zeus was rescued on the side of the road and brought to the shelter. We weren't sure if he would live through the night when he arrived. After watching him lay in his bed for several days we were excited when he was able to stand on his own and move around. This is what we found when we came to work this morning. He has found a friend in Amber and seems to be well on his way to recovery. At this moment Wanda is taking him to the vet so we can get a total picture of where he is at, but judging by the way he is acting there is lots of room for optimism. Your positive thoughts and prayers have made all the difference. We will continue to give you updates. - Doug
UPDATE! Zeus is up and walking around the office. Wanda took him to the garden to potty. We went out there to get him and he was walking around and wagging his tail. We opened the gate and he walked up the ramp and followed us in.❤ Such wonderful progress! We are so happy for him.
Zeus is fighting hard to recover from his illness and is making progress. He is eager for treats when we offer them and he welcomes all the love that he is receiving from us. Although he is still very weak he gets out of bed occasionally and now he is starting to walk around. We are optimistic about his chances of recovery. Thank you for the kind posts, donations, emails and Get Well Cards. We appreciate your compassion, thoughts and prayers for Zeus.
Zeus is fighting hard to recover from his illness. He is eager for treats when we offer them and he welcomes all the love that he is receiving from us. Although he is still very weak he gets out of bed occasionally. We are optimistic about his chances of recovery.
Thank you for the kind posts, donations and emails. We appreciate your compassion for Zeus.
This sweet lady got the best Christmas present. This video shows why we do what we do. Get a tissue ready. Lucy came to Second Chance Shelter in Boaz Alabama on December 9, 2021. Her family member had to go into a nursing home and there was no one to take 10 year old Lucy. Lucy was scared and did not understand what was happening to her. She was always in a loving home and now she is at a dog shelter with many other dogs. Happily, Lucy went to a foster home until she would go to our Second Chance North partners in Wisconsin to find her forever family and home. As soon as this sweet lady laid eyes on Lucy she fell in love with her. There was no way Lucy was going anywhere. The video speaks for itself on the pure joy of love. Merry Christmas Lucy and her new mama. You both deserve it!
From dying to choosing life! My life does matter!
Hello. My name is Garth. I was officially adopted on December 10, 2021. Yay! Happy Dance! I love my family. How did my family find me? Well, if you recall, I lived at Second Chance Shelter. I was a healthy and good looking 2 year old male dog. Then, I began to lose weight even though I was still eating. I went to the vet and at first they couldn't figure out what was wrong with me. Finally, they knew what was wrong with me and it wasn't good. I was dying. The formal name of my condition is called "Focal Myositis" and it basically means my muscles are deteriorating and there is no cure. After numerous tests and a trip to a specialized vet in Decatur, Alabama, nothing could be done. The vet in Decatur said, "all you can do is take him home and spoil him". The shelter put my story on facebook and this wonderful family in Guntersville called and said they wanted me. They wanted me even though they knew I was dying. How could you not fall in love with a family like that. On September 9th, Summer Gill came to meet me and take me home with her. I was a hospice patient and she wanted me to live with her family and live the rest of my life in a home surrounded by love instead of in a kennel at the shelter. But I was not ready to give up. I choose life. I am on meds to help me. I think being in a loving home and away from the stress of a shelter has really helped me. I left the shelter weighing only 39 pounds but now weigh 99 pounds. I am living the good life. I don't know how long I have but I am living everyday as if it is my last. I have so much love to give and my family loves me so much. We do everything together. I left the shelter to go to my new home with my new family to die but we all decided to fight and it wasn't my time yet. Thank you to everyone who has loved me and taken care of me. I love you all and will never forget you. My life does matter. Stay tuned for updates about me. A special thank you to Mary Vanbee
Doug and Wanda of Second Chance Shelter says: "It is with overwhelming sadness and heavy hearts that we have to let everyone know that our 10 year old furbaby Woody passed away back on August 11, 2021." It has taken awhile to be able to write this. So how did Woody become part of Doug and Wanda's family? Woody had been at the shelter for years. Woody was going to need a special adopter in order to do well in his forever home. Woody did not like strangers or small children. Sometimes he didn't even like the people he liked the most. You just never knew what kind of mood Woody would be in each day. It looked as if he would never find a home due to his dislikes. But Doug and Wanda promised Woody that one day he would go home with them. That day came on February 23, 2020 as Woody took his adoption picture as he was headed up the road to Wanda and Doug's home. Stump - another furbaby of Doug and Wanda passed away on February 20, 2020. After Stump's unexpected passing, no one would be happier than Stump for Woody to be able to live with Doug and Wanda. Woody would live happily with Doug and Wanda until he passed away on August 11, 2021. Go to the Rainbow Bridge Woody. Your friends are waiting for you. We love you and miss you more than you will ever know.
My name is Woody. My life did matter. If I had gone to any other shelter I would have most likely been put down due to my behavior issues. But not at Second Chance Shelter. They loved me for who I was. I want to thank Doug and Wanda for taking me home with them last year and loving me even though I wasn't always the most lovable dog. I was a good looking dog that had been at the shelter for years. Many people were interested in adopting me but I had so many issues that I could not be adopted. I don't know why I was the way I was. I didn't like many people at all. Even people I liked I would be mean to sometimes. I don't remember if I was abused when I was young and before I came to the shelter or it was something else
OMG! OMG! My name is Janessa and I was adopted on August 9, 2021. Yay! Happy Dance! I can hardly believe it. I am a 4 year old female shepherd mix. My birthday is April 15th - the day I was rescued and came to the shelter back in 2019. If you recall, I came to the shelter starving and emaciated. The vets office did not find any mites on me but treated me for sarcoptic mange anyways due to my hair loss and poor skin. I was so starved they could not even do a fecal exam to check for worms. I will never have to worry about starving again. I was being sponsored by Rebecca Long of Wisconsin while I was at Second Chance Shelter while I made progress physically and emotionally. Thank you Rebecca for helping me so much. To help me heal faster, Patti Uhlir and her amazing family fostered me. I loved living with them. I love them dearly for taking care of me for so long but especially loving me for who I am. You can see the transformation in the pictures below. I was adopted on August 9, 2021 and now live with my new family. I love them all. I have a new furbaby to lay around and play with. My human works from home so I am happy about that. I live inside and have my very own bed although I love the couch and his bed. Life is good. A special thank you to everyone who helped me and took care of me and loved me. I will never forget you all!
OMG! OMG!! I can't believe it. My name is Blanche and I was adopted on July 26, 2021. Do you remember reading the story about me back in January. A good Samaritan found me in a ditch dying after I was hit by a car back on January 29, 2021. I was hurt really bad and thought for sure that I would not survive. The people that found me contacted Second Chance Shelter. Doug and Wanda came right away. Needless to say, I survived. I was afraid I was going to lose my leg. But the surgery was a success. After almost 6 months of healing, I was ready to find my forever family and home. And it happened. I have a new friend to play and lay around with. His name is Buddy and he already loves me. My human family loved me as soon as they saw me. Can you believe that. My family sent a message to Second Chance Shelter. The message said: " Blanche is doing great and they're so happy and good together... Buddy is only 7 months old and almost twice her size. My daughter broke down crying when she saw her because Blanche came straight to her and started licking her face... I can't thank you all enough for the kindness and love you all show and have for these dogs." I want to thank everyone who helped saved me from almost dying in a ditch and took care of me over the last 6 months. I love all of you! I am home. What a wonderful feeling. Dreams do come true! Oh yeah, I am a 4 year old female. My birthday is January 29th, the day I was rescued from the ditch after being hit by a car.
