Our History
Additional Information
Second Chance (officially known as Second Chance Wildlife Sanctuary) is a cat sanctuary, located in North Pickering, Ontario, Canada, founded in 1996 by Joyce Smith.
Until 2004, Second Chance Wildlife Sanctuary operated as both a wildlife rehabilitation center and shelter for domestic animals. Circa 2004, changes to the rules and regulations of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources made it impossible for Second Chance to fulfill both functions. Thereafter, Second Chance’s activities were confined to domestic animals and, now, exclusively cats.
As a no-kill shelter, Second Chance is a true sanctuary. It is a strong advocate for the spaying and neutering of cats and dogs – all cats available for adoption from Second Chance have been, or are required to be, spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped.
Second Chance does not receive government funding of any kind and relies on private donations to continue operating. Run by volunteers and employing a small number of part-time staff, its administrative costs are minimal, ensuring donations go straight to the bottom line, i.e., housing, feeding, spaying/neutering and medicating the feline residents. Feeding such a large number of cats is a very important part of our operation and Second Chance is very grateful to Science Diet who gives us vital support in this area via their shelter support program.
