On Friday, February 23, Yavapai Humane Society celebrated the re-launch of its Second Chance Program. The program is an effort to provide medical support for low-income pet owners’ cats and dogs that have an illness or injury and nowhere else to turn.
While this program was launched in 2013, the scope of its services operated on a small scale. Through the generous support of two donors, Phyllis and Gerald Scheuerman, the program was able to add an x-ray machine to the program’s equipment, broadening the abilities and services of the Second Chance Program.
Gerald Scheuerman said, “The Second Chance Program sponsored by the Yavapai Humane Society is of much benefit to the low income pet owners who find themselves facing the expense of medical treatment for a sick or injured pet. Too often such instances cause the pet owner to sadly an unwillingly relinquish the pet over to a shelter, when proper medical treatment could have saved that pet’s life. Second Chance provides a means for low cost veterinary care that enables owners and their pets to stay together. As a donor to this program this seemed a most worthwhile benefit to support.”
Not only does the program provide support to low income pet owners, it is intended as a resource for local veterinarians. While caring veterinarians commonly work with pet owners to accommodate difficult financial situations, there are times when a pet owner’s resources have been expended.
Veterinarian Dr. Katherine Siens, who manages Yavapai Humane Society’s Spay/Neuter & Wellness Clinic and the Second Chance program, relates to this difficult circumstance in private practice veterinary care. With great passion she shared, “There were times when I knew what a pet needed to be medically treated, but the owner’s finances created a barrier from that happening. I would have loved to have a resource to give them. That’s why being able to offer this program, which is funded by donations and grants, is so valuable for our community.”
To celebrate the re-launch, Yavapai Humane Society hosted a ribbon cutting on February 23, jointly officiated by the Prescott Valley and Prescott Chambers of Commerce.
For more information about applying for assistance through the Second Chance Program, please call 928-771-0547.
Yavapai Humane Society cuts the ribbon to re-launch its Second Chance Program. From left to right: YHS Board of Directors Rich McClish; Prescott Valley Town Councilmember Marty Grossman; YHS Medical Services Director Christine Campbell; YHS Spay/Neuter & Wellness Clinic Dr. Katherine Siens; YHS Veterinary Technician and Office Manager Emy Smith; Prescott Mayor Pro Tem Billie Orr; Prescott Valley Chamber Ambassador Debbie Clark; YHS donor Gerald Scheuerman; Prescott Valley Chamber Ambassador Jann Watts; YHS donor Phyllis Scheuerman; Prescott Chamber Board of Directors Andre Carman; Yavapai County Board of Supervisors Jack Smith; Prescott Valley Chamber CEO Marnie Uhl; Yavapai County Bagdad-Yarnell Precinct Constable Dennis Dowling. Photography credit: Gary Gromer.
