Second Chance Paws continues to grow in 5th year

Since forming in 2009, there are probably a great deal of dogs running around Acadiana that have Second Chance Paws to thank for their lives.

Those involved in the non-profit have come a long way in those five years and continue their growth and work to save the lives of “man’s best friend.”

“In the beginning, it was so pitiful,” explained Gail Lormand as she spoke to the Rotary Club of Crowley this week.

Lormand remembers vividly that beginning for Second Chance Paws. She and several others walked into the local animal shelter and found dogs that were starving, had diseases they never heard of, were sharing cages with 19 other dogs and a gas chamber box for putting down dogs.

The group would volunteer its time to help the shelter, but its focus was — and continues to be — saving the lives of the animals in the shelter.

Over time, the gas chamber was removed and, while the group doesn’t go to the shelter as much now, other groups are volunteering their time and the shelters are improving.

It’s been great for all parties involved, and Second Chance Paws is now focused solely on the foster and adoption of the dogs in Acadia Parish and the surrounding area as rescue organizations like Second Chance Paws tend to help other similar organizations in surrounding areas.

The good news is they are saving dogs, as Lormand and Angie Foreman explained to the Rotarians, showing off a particular success story that led to Second Chance Paws’ mascot Duke.

Duke was malnourished as the shelter he was at was saving money by having the dogs starve to death instead of putting them down. Duke was saved by the group and brought back to life, and, in the meantime, Duke’s foster parent fell in love with him and decided to keep him.

“He became our mascot,” said Lormand.

She then explained why it is that rescuing a dog can get rather costly, pointing to routine vet care (vaccinations, spaying/neutering, etc.) and that doesn’t include any problems the dog may have — allergy or disease.

So, for Second Chance Paws, it falls to relying on word of mouth and fundraising for the group to continue to save dogs.

Currently Second Chance Paws has 12 foster homes for dogs, some of which have multiple dogs at their homes, to the tune of 50 dogs in foster care. The dogs are brought weekly to adoption days at PetSmart in Lafayette and have, in the past, held adoptions at Tractor Supply in Crowley.

“I think we adopted dogs to every person in Crowley, and Eunice, and everywhere else,” said Lormand.

The group does intend to return to Tractor Supply, however, in the future.

For now, Lormand and Foreman are relying on Rotarians and the community for help moving forward. Those interested in helping can participate in or visit fundraisers the group has, participate in adoption days, like the group on Facebook and share the photos, donate supplies and foster. Businesses can also inquire about sponsorship opportunities.

Lormand invited all to give the group’s Facebook page a like to keep up-to-date with Second Chance Paws’ activities.

For more information on the group, visit secondchancepaws.com and https://www.facebook.com/SecondChancePaws2009.