If you do nothing else, please read this letter below

2nd Chance 4 Pets: Out in our communities

About 2nd Chance 4 Pets

Meet Two of Our Advisory Board Members: Peggy Hoyt and Cathie Myers

Best Friends "575" Art Exhibit

Thanks to Our Supporters and Volunteers!

Pets Without Politics

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If you do nothing else, please read this letter below:

The following letter is reprinted by permission of Mike Arms, Executive Director of the Helen Woodward Animal Center. Mike is a hero to thousands of homeless animals and an inspiration to pet owners and animal welfare groups. If you are in the San Diego area, stop by and see the Helen Woodward Animal Center, a haven for pets in need. For more information about the Helen Woodward Animal Center please go to www.animalcenter.org.

Could this happen? You Bet!

This morning I woke up feeling great. Ran to the door and found my best friend waiting for me. We went for our usual morning walk. My friend does most of the talking, but I am happy just to be listening. My best friend’s words are always soothing and comforting. After our walk, we went back home and had breakfast together. I got kissed on my nose and my best friend went off to work. Now comes my boring time. I walk around the house making sure everything is safe and secure, then I just lay on the couch or the bed or the easy chair waiting for my best friend to come home.

Today is different. Night has fallen. My friend normally is home by now. It is getting late. I’m starting to worry. I hope she gets home soon. I’m starting to get hungry. You know I don’t care if I get to eat or not. I don’t complain. Please come home. I miss you. I am so tired now. Why is it getting light out again? This is so strange. I need to get on the bed. I can smell my friend was here. This is where I feel safe. Wait! I hear someone at the door-it must be her, No, it is someone I don’t know. Who are you? Why are you coming in here? Are you going to hurt me? Rob my friend’s home? What am I supposed to do? I know. I will act mean. I will growl, bark, defend my friend’s home the best that I can. They have just put a leash on me. They are trying to talk calmly to me, but I don’t trust them. I will still act mean. I just heard them say my friends name and something about a fatal heart attack. Now I am in a small cement barred area. This is not the food I normally eat. These are not the smells I normally smell. I am so scared. I still need to act mean. I know my friend must be trying to find me. I have been here for about a week now. I hear people talking about me being aggressive. Wait. They are opening my door. They are putting that leash on me again. My friend must be here. Now I am in the exam room. Oh I see the needle again. My friend always told me the needles will help keep me healthy. I felt the pinch-this needle is different. Something is happening. I feel very sleepy…where is my friend?

We know how much you care about your beloved pets. Please make sure this does not happen to your friends

2nd Chance 4 Pets: Out in our communities

(To see what we have been up to recently, please click on the link above)

About 2nd Chance 4 Pets

2nd Chance 4 Pets’ mission is to protect our animal companions and prevent them from becoming orphaned due to their owner’s death or disability. Our goal is to educate and inform the public about available solutions to pet owners and put a stop to unplanned, unwanted euthanasia of their pets.

Who we are

2nd Chance 4 Pets is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization staffed by volunteers and located in Los Gatos, California. We work throughout the state and across the nation to provide pet owners with comprehensive information about lifetime care solutions to ensure that their pets will always be cared for. We are committed to providing assistance to pet owners in making lifetime care decisions for their pets.

Based on the overwhelming response and requests for assistance we have received from pet owners, animal rescue groups, shelters, hospices and veterinarians, our programs have made a significant impact on preventing unnecessary euthanizing. We are providing pet owners with peace of mind while reducing the financial and emotional strain on already overburdened animal shelters and rescue organizations.

Background about euthanasia

In the United States, there are 4 to 5 million abandoned and orphaned pets euthanized each year. In California alone, 750,000 to one million dogs and cats are destroyed— costing the state’s tax payers over $50 million annually. More than 500,000 of those pets euthanized in the U.S. are because owners did not appropriately plan for the lifetime care of their pets.

2nd Chance 4 Pets: we can help

We are committed to providing you with the information you need to ensure your pets will always be cared for.

About our founder

As an 18-year animal shelter volunteer Amy Shever has been deeply affected by the many healthy animal companions euthanized each year simply because their owners had died or become disabled and left no arrangements for their continued care. Amy felt compelled to find a solution that would save these helpless animals from the same tragic misfortune— 2nd Chance 4 Pets was the answer.

Amy is a founding member of Tri-Valley Animal Rescue in Pleasanton, California. She also founded PetGuardian LLC (www.petguardian.com), an affiliate of Best Friends Animal Society, which provides affordable and comprehensive estate planning for pet owners. Amy holds a Bachelor’s in Marketing and Communication and a Master’s in Education and Training. Her most profound education has come from her animal-filled life.

Meet Two of Our Advisory Board Members: Peggy Hoyt and Cathie Myers

Peggy Hoyt and her law partner, Randy Bryan, own and operate Hoyt & Bryan, LLC in Oviedo, Florida. Her law firm limits its practice to estate planning and administration for individuals, married couples and life alliance partners, including special needs planning, pet planning, elder law and guardianships. Peggy is the author of a one-of-a kind book called All My Children Wear Fur Coats – How to Leave a Legacy for Your Pet available by visiting www.legacyforyourpet.com. Peggy was recently featured on CNN. Peggy and Candace Pollock are co-authors of a recently released book, Special People Special, Special Planning – Creating a Safe Legal Haven for Families with Special Needs also available through www.specialpeoplespecialplanning.com. Peggy’s passion is her pets, so when she is not working on building her law practice, writing or speaking, she is spending time "playing" with her wild mustang horses; Reno and Tahoe, and her Premarin rescue, Sierra; her dogs, Kira, Corkie, Tiger and Fiona; and her cats, Beijing, Bangle, Cuddles, Tommy, Shamu and Spook.

Peggy has kindly volunteered her time to serve as an advisory board member for 2nd Chance 4 Pets. Peggy will assist us in helping to educate pet owners about their options such as how to make legal arrangements to leave your home to an animal care panel and have someone selected to live in your home and care for your pets upon your death or disability (see article Coming in the Next Issue)

Cathie Myers oversees the internship program at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary and organizes educational booths at teacher conferences and local events. She designed an "Animal Care and Kindness" class that she teaches in local schools; facilitates "How to Start a Sanctuary" workshops at Best Friends; and presents the humane education component of the workshops. In addition, Cathie coordinates the various youth groups that come to the sanctuary to perform service work. Cathie has more than 18 years of experience in early childhood education; she has worked as the assistant director of a childcare center, as a preschool and kindergarten teacher, and as a mentor teacher. In her own education, she has focused on nature, science, the environment and early childhood education.

Cathie and her husband, Clay, have three dogs and two cats at home. Cathie has agreed to assist 2nd Chance 4 Pets as an advisory board member and support us in our efforts to develop appropriate education for children about lifetime care for our animal companions.

Best Friends "575" Art Exhibit

2nd Chance 4 Pets volunteers assisted with the efforts of Congressman Lantos’s office and Pets In Need to bring the Best Friends Art Project to the Bay Area in October 2004. We are continuing to work with the Best Friends team to bring the exhibit to other cities. We personally experienced how this exhibit inspires and affects individuals- those dedicated to animal welfare causes and those who have never been exposed to the plight of homeless animals. This compilation of art is truly a moving tribute to companion animals and it’s a new way for all of us to influence positive change in our communities. The exhibit will surely result in creating awareness and reducing the number of animals euthanized each year. Details and photos can be found at http://www.cyrusmejia.com.

Thanks to Our Supporters and Volunteers!

Being a start up nonprofit organization, we are grateful and overwhelmed with the support we have received. We appreciate your time and contributions. No donation is too small!

Thank you…
Intuit for Quickbooks Software Donation
Laura Noss and Social Planets PR
Karen Hansen
Andy Meadows and Live Oak Hosting
Jared Moon
Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati
Icing on the Cake
The Tech Museum
Amy Farnham, Sneaky Puppy Design
Diane Sangster, Pixel Gym
Helena Ashanetsky
Melissa Jurist
Barbara Saunders
Leslie Rivlin
Gail Garabedian
Denise Griffiths
Rob Gardner
Aldo’s
Eight in One Pet Products
Margaret Hoopes
The Adelson’s
Merrick Pet Specialties
Vybrant Technology Solutions
Loving Pets Magazine
Bark in the Park San Jose
Fido Friendly

A very special THANK YOU to Animal Welfare Trust who has made it possible for us to launch our first literature campaign allowing us to distribute information to help pets and their human companions across the country. Together we will help save pets lives, bring peace of mind to pet owners and reduce the burden to animal shelter and rescue groups.

Pets Without Politics

In an effort to collaborate with local rescue groups, 2nd Chance 4 Pets volunteers have organized a new local group, Pets Without Politics. We realize that helping with the plight of homeless animals is something that can be best achieved by collaborating with other groups. We are very excited about the prospect of improving the situation in our community, guaranteeing life for pets and ensuring quality of life for our pets.

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