Second Chance Animal Sanctuaries

Who we are

Second Chance Animal Sanctuaries is:

• A 501c3 nonprofit organization serving the people and pets of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, for nearly 25 years. 

• A no-kill animal shelter, as designated by Best Friends Animal Society for having an annual save rate exceeding 90%.

• A nurturing environment for lost, abandoned or at-risk dogs and cats, operated by a team of dedicated and compassionate people. 

• An ever-evolving community resource assisting pet owners with veterinary expenses, pet food, care for large outdoor cat colonies, humane education and more.

What we do

Just some of the programs and services we offer: 

INTAKE/ADOPTION - We take in both stray and owner-surrendered dogs and cats, procure any medical treatment they need, including spay/neuter, microchip and vaccines, and assess their personalities and behavior to match them to the right home. Adopters are thoroughly vetted with written application questions, phone calls or in-person conversations with our animal managers, and calling personal and veterinary references.

TENTH LIFE - Occasionally we have a cat who has endured an accident, loss of eyesight, a health condition or even a traumatic experience that places him/her beyond the range of normalcy. “The Tenth Life” is a new program we have initiated to provide an opportunity for a new lease on life with a very special one-of-a-kind home. A cat that falls under our “Tenth Life” umbrella receives a unique individualized package that helps him/her and his/her caregivers. This program offers resources to help these unfortunate creatures regain trust, love, and a sense of devotion.

GREY WHISKERS - Trauma, family changes and other events sometimes separate a dog from his/her family. Sometimes these dogs are left without a home. We have occasionally had these unfortunate animals placed into our care. They are often in need of unique care and love. Finding each a special caring family to treasure may be difficult. “Grey Whiskers” offers very special responses to help these animals regain trust, love, and renewed devotion.

GUARDIAN HOMES - This program assists people caring for feral and/or stray cat colonies. Donations of cat food to the sanctuary allows us to provide monthly food allotments to these feline homesteads. Monetary donations are used to assist with spay/neuter and vaccines, which helps stabilize what can quickly become an overwhelming situation for compassionate caretakers.

COMPASSION PROGRAM - Occasionally, local residents find their beloved pets in need of veterinary care, be it spay/neuter, a physical ailment, or an emergency, but they're in need for financial assistance. Second Chance's Compassion program helps pay a portion of veterinary costs directly to the vet on a case-by-case basis.

PAW PAW'S PATCH COMMUNITY DOG PARK - Named for a beloved beagle who lived out his days at Second Chance Animal Sanctuaries, Paw Paw’s Patch is a dog park that provides a safe place for Tioga County pet owners to enjoy, exercise, train and socialize their pets. The park, located at our Heading Home Center at 725 Gee Road, Tioga, PA, is free for the public to use.

ANNUAL EVENTS - Low-cost vaccine and microchip clinics, Pet Photos with Santa, The Show-Off dog competitions, Chili & Chowder with a Chance for Chocolate fundraisers. 

Check out our brochure below:

What drives us

Our vision is, through example, advocacy, and outreach, to make a real difference in not only the animals we help but in future treatment and respect for all life, great or small.

We make this happen by meeting the goals of our mission:

• Provide humane, no-kill sanctuaries for the care and rehabilitation of abandoned and at-risk animals. 

• Provide compassionate, animal-friendly environments that respect the dignity and total needs of all animals under our care and protection. 

• Provide outreach programs and networks for animal adoptions, public respect and appreciation of animals, and  awareness of animal needs as well as human responsibilities.

How we got here

Look into the eyes of a homeless dog or cat and you will find the reason for the formation of Second Chance Animal Sanctuaries (SCAS), a nonprofit based in Tioga County, Pennsylvania. In 2001, after a visit to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah, Sue Cook of Wellsboro unveiled a dream of compassion to help our animals. She spoke of healthy domestic animals being euthanized, malnourished or abandoned close by. She spoke of elderly or lower income families lacking the assistance to continue caring for the pets they loved so dearly. Most importantly, Sue spoke of the compassion for animals witnessed throughout Tioga County and beyond and the lack of assistance those caring people found when needs to help their own or their neighbors' beloved pets arose. 

Today, Second Chance Animal Sanctuaries is celebrating 25 years of helping animals find the second chances they deserve. In that time, we built our Heading Home Center as a shelter/haven for lost, abandoned and at-risk dogs and cats.