Our mission is to provide a safe haven for unwanted animals and to do our best to match those animals with potential new owners. We also want to help owners keep the pets that they already have. Maybe you are having problems training a dog or are going through a stressful and difficult time in your life and just need some help or advice, or someone to talk to. Your pet may feel like a burden but it doesn’t have to. We are here to help you with training, nutritional, behavioral, and even housing problems. Sometimes the solution is simpler than you realize.

If you are looking for a new pet or even thinking about it sometime in the near future then we encourage you to come in and talk to us about your wants and needs. We will then attempt to match you with the best animal possible to meet your requirements.

We want to be a part of the local community and as such we encourage you to come and visit us. We need volunteers to groom, socialize and exercise the animals. If you have the time and space at home we are also looking for temporary foster homes for the animals. Additionally, we ask that you look around your home to see if you have anything you could donate to the animals at our shelter, such as food dishes, litter pans, brushes, toys, collars, leashes, towels or blankets. Our shelter is run entirely on donations therefore our staff and the animals will gratefully receive anything you could bring in.

Since our grand opening in 2003 we have successfully rescued over 800 cats and 300 dogs. We are a non-profit, no-kill animal shelter. Sadly there are so many animals that are lost, abandoned and surrendered; therefore we feel there is a need for such a facility. We are located at 2124 Ymir Road next door to the Nelson Animal Hospital, a few minutes drive from downtown Nelson. We are open Monday to Saturday from 11-4 for adoptions, relinquishments (by appointment) and viewings. The U-Wash is available by $20 donation on Saturdays from 11-3 and includes towels, shampoo and conditioner. You wash the dog and we clean up the mess!

The shelter director can be contacted at 250-352-2228 or secondchanceadoption@shaw.ca. Our animals can also be viewed at www.secondchanceadoption.com.

Ways to contribute to Second Chance Animal Shelter Society:

1. Through www.secondchanceadoption.com we have added a PayPal account so you may donate one time only, or monthly, through your PayPal account.

2. Through www.canadahelps.org you can make a secure and bilingual e-giving donation.

3. Through donation by mail in the form of a cheque.

4. Through donation by cheque, debit, credit or cash at the shelter.

5. Through the local Community Cares program. By purchasing items at participating local businesses a portion of the proceeds will be donated directly to the shelter. Income generated by the Community Cares program will fund the animals currently available for adoption. For information about how to sign your business up please contact the shelter director.

A formal tax receipt will be issued upon donation for the item’s retail value.