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Everyone deserves a second chance. At least Tammy Skarda, executive director of Second Chance Animal Sanctuary in Norman, thinks so. And that applies to kids as well as dogs and cats. "We have a community service program I'm very proud of," she says, "giving kids who get in trouble the opportunity to come here and work. We don't make it easy for them, but we see good results. For some, it's their first positive interaction with anything. They don't know unconditional love, and there's nothing like an animal to offer that. "In here, it's not about where their next pair of tennis shoes is coming from. It's caring about something bigger than themselves, and they get a chance to help. This is life, and they're needed. They leave here feeling better about themselves, and many come back as volunteers after their service. I can't say enough about them. I really believe the younger generation understands the problem better than the older. It's important to them. They want to change it, and they work so hard." Skarda speaks from experience. She has a criminal justice degree and was a director with juvenile services in Norman when she was recruited by the sanctuary two years ago. "They wondered if I was willing to change directions," she says. "Actually, it's not that different. Children and animals kind of go hand in hand. Both are needy, both have no voice." She has four cats and four dogs of her own, besides 136 residents at the sanctuary. Her affection for them is apparent, as she sits in her office while Magic the cat roams the desktop, and two puppies stake claims under her chair. The community gives to Second Chance to keep it going, and the sanctuary gives back. In the 10 years of its existence, it has done a lot of good, involved not only in housing and adopting out stray, abandoned and abused animals, but in pet therapy programs, education, a lost and found service and investigating cruelty cases. Skarda stresses that Second Chance is a limited-access sanctuary. "Which means we don't take owner pets. Our philosophy is not to contribute to the problem. If we take owner pets, we're not teaching people to be responsible. It's important that they realize the pet is a family member, there for life." She refers to the sanctuary as an adoption agency which, actually, it is–and not a bad one at that, with over 500 adoptees a year. And like any adoption agency, potential adopters are carefully screened. "If we have doubts, we ask them to reconsider," she says. "Such as, when a person wants to know if they can pay out the cost of adopting. If they can't afford it to begin with, can they afford the care? If one member of a family comes in, we ask that he come back with the rest to make the final decision. You don't want, say, a husband picking one, just to find out the wife doesn't like it or want to care for it." It costs $60 to adopt, but you can be sure the animals are in good shape–all have been spayed or neutered, had vaccinations, been tested for problems and treated if there are any. The animals that don't get adopted have a home there, though some of the older, calmer ones get tapped for work. But it's enjoyable duty. Second Chance volunteers visit 12 facilities-nursing homes, hospitals, special care–on a weekly basis with therapy dogs. "Some of these people don't get touched very often," says Skarda. "Touch is so important to all of us. Being able to stroke an animal means a lot to them, and they really look forward to our visits. So do the dogs. They get a day out and more attention and loving." These volunteers stay on the go. They visit area schools with education programs and provide lectures for community groups and functions. And they have a summer program for youngsters at the sanctuary. Skarda says the object is to learn and have fun. "We tell them about the importance of being nice to each other and their pets, about responsibility and proper care, how to approach dogs and avoid bites. There's arts and crafts and fun interaction. They get to see how the place operates and walk the dogs." Perhaps the toughest part of Skarda's job is investigating cruelty cases. She admits, it's not even easy to talk about. "It's one of the ugly things about our world, painful to see that people can be so neglectful, unknowledgeable and, sometimes, just downright mean. It's so cowardly to hurt an animal. Even ticks are cruel. I mean, there's no law against it, but if you have a dog in tick shock and they're breeding on it, that's cruel too. There, however, we can at least educate people to solve the problem. If they're down on their luck, we'll offer to help, telling them to bring the dog here and we'll dip it. Sometimes we'll feed the animal." She does offer an upside. "To have a dog that shivers and shakes in the back of his run, paralyzed with fear, then to see him with a new owner a year later, happy and wagging his tail, makes it easier to get up and do it again." Second Chance has a nice facility on the north side of town, and it's about to get nicer. Finishing touches are being put on a surgery room where spaying and neutering and some medical exams will be performed. Following that, a collaborative effort has been arranged with Oklahoma State University–a mentoring program between veterinarians and students. "We have several vets who help us," says Skarda. "We're hoping more will join us. It's an opportunity for them and the students to work together. If the students can learn spaying and neutering in a sanctuary atmosphere, learn to deal with the kind of animals we have, they'll have a more rounded picture of what's out there in their own practices." As with all the havens PetGazette has covered, Second Chance depends on volunteers and donations. "It costs a lot just for feed and medical care," Skarda points out. "Testing all these animals isn't cheap either. Our biggest problem is we can only use certain kinds of foods. We need Pedigree dog food and Science Diet cat food. Changing food with animals doesn't work well, so we try to stick with one kind. And we always need kitty litter. Those three things would really help." So, is your conscience tugging, reader? Ah, go ahead. You can afford a bag of litter or food, and it's your chance to do some good with little effort. Do your part, and Skarda will keep doing the hard part. She gives Magic a rub as he crosses the desk. "Where else can you come to work and have a kitty on your desk and a dog under your chair? I like working where I feel like I'm making a difference." As of 2005, the director of Second Chance Animal Sanctuary is Mary Katherine Long. Back to OKC Animal Welfare |
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