Second Chance Animal Aid Policy Statement

SCAA is a private, non-profit organization committed to protecting and improving the health and welfare of companion animals through education, health care, advocacy, outreach, adoption and the promotion of foster care as an alternative approach to traditional shelters. We believe it is the right of every companion animal to have a safe, healthy life in a loving home.

1. General Policies:

a) SCAA is dedicated to improving the welfare of companion animals.

b) SCAA believes that it is the responsibilty of humans to provide for the welfare of other species, and that animals have the right to live their lives free from any suffering at the hands of humans.

2. Specific Policies:

a) It is the policy of SCAA that companion animals should only be fostered or adopted when there is a full personal commitment to the welfare of the animals, including the provision of a suitable shelter, space for exercise, medical care, food and water appropriate to their needs. All SCAA adoptive parents must sign an adoption contract adhering to these requirements as well as a sterilization contract for as yet un-neutered animals.

b) SCAA supports the enactment of regulations to license (where necessary) and to control the breeding and ownership of companion animals to ensure the provision of humane conditions. We support animal welfare legislation at local and central governmental levels

c) SCAA supports and advocates the neutering and spaying of cats and dogs as a necessary component of population control and accepts that the humane destruction of companion animals may, in some cases, be unavoidable. Responsible and professionally trained personnel using the most painless and humane approved methods available must administer medical procedures related to these issues.

d) SCAA supports any activities related to education on animal welfare at all levels.

e) SCAA is opposed to non-functional selective breeding to enhance physical features and to all procedures and mutilations of companion animals for non-therapeutic reasons.

f) SCAA is opposed to any activities that involve companion animals in commercial or non-commercial activities related to the marketing and sales of such animals that are in any way involved with the fur, skin and food trade.

g) SCAA is opposed to the sale of companion animals from puppy/kitten farms. SCAA is opposed to local pet/bird/wet markets and unlawful and inhumane pet stores.

h) SCAA is opposed to the involvement of companion animals in any unnatural activity which is for the enjoyment of humans and not the animals (including but not limited to sport, entertainment, performance, exhibition ….)

i) SCAA is opposed to the “hoarding” of companion animals, while recognizing that in many cases this activity may be due to misguided kindness on the part of the participants. SCAA works to reduce the incidence of “hoarding”, to reduce the numbers of animals involved through adoption and fostering, and to provide improved humane and sanitary conditions for those animals that cannot be re-housed. SCAA will work only with animal projects and hoarders that agree to adhere to SCAA policies and guidelines (including: inspection of facility, inspection of accounting methods and how funds are spent, euthanasia of sickest/incurable animals, isolation of sick or newly arrived animals, vaccination of healthy population and regular check-ups, neutering of all animals, agreement to foster and adopt out animals, etc.)