$5 of each package sold will go to benefit Second Chance and Happy Tails for the care of their dogs awaiting new homes.
For more information contact Inge at 931-503-8300 or email at 1pawup@bellsouth.net
We are a no-kill organization. "I am the voice for the little dogs. They are all God's creations, and so long as the animal still has quality of life, that animal will have a home with me." - Inge Irby, Founder, Second Chance & Happy Tails
WISH LIST
Dog food (Pedigree brand canned,pouches and dry, IAMS Little Bites and small bites puppyfood, or Purina ONE Lamb & Rice only please); Heartguard Plus; Frontline; copy paper; business cards; paper towels; laundry detergent; dryersheets bleach; any gasgiftcards,any nontoxic pain and any non-carpet flooring. Our veterinary bills average $800-$3500 per month, although special needs situations can cause these figures to vary greatly. Please send donations to Second Chance & Happy Tails or email us. (1pawup@bellsouth.net) You can also use the donation button.
(Please note that email is preferred. Calls are accepted at 931-503-8300, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday only as we work out of a private residence. Thank You.)
We operate out of a PRIVATE residence and ask that you please be considerate of the procedures explained below. Pet viewing is by appointment only. Calls are accepted between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. only We do not have the funding to return long distance phone calls, so try again or email your inquiry. PLEASE READ the section "Adoption Application Approvals" below before calling. Thank you for your understanding.
Our dogs love to sleep on Kuranda Dog beds, but we don't have enough for everyone. If you would like to donate a bed at a special wholesale price for a another dog to sleep in comfort, please
click here
ADOPTION APPLICATION APPROVALS
If interested in adopting, please fill out and send an application first. If you have any questions, we prefer email inquiries. Everything we know about a dog is listed in the pet description section. We will adopt to out-of-state residents if their application is approved. After we receive an application and review it, we will be in touch by email. Every question on the application MUST be completed; incomplete applications will not be considered.
Sometimes we do not approve an application because we receive several for the same dog. We choose the family/individual we feel is the best match for the dog's breed and personality and the one that can provide the type of home environment best for that particular dog.
A LIL' BIT ABOUT US
Second Chance & Happy Tails was founded by Inge Irby, a native of Germany, in January 1997 after a reorganizational shutdown of the local Humane Society. The organization incorporated in September 1999 . We specialize in rescuing small (less than 25 lbs.) dogs from bad situations, although we have a special place in our hearts for the elderly. We serve as Clarksville's only no-kill rescue and retirement home for small, older animals that are no longer wanted - sick or healthy.
Adoption fees vary between $125 to $350. All fees include spay/neuter, heartworm test, up-to-date heartworm prevention, rabies, vaccinations & Bordetella. All animals are spayed/neutered prior to adoption, no exceptions!
COMPLETE AN ONLINE ADOPTION APPLICATION
An adoption contract must be signed, which requires that the animal be returned to Second Chance & Happy Tails if at any time & for any reason the family can not keep the animal. New owners must travel to Tennessee to adopt. Transport assistance may be available in some situations.
Inge Irby
Second Chance & Happy Tails
931-503-8300
Clarksville TN Second Chance and Happy Tails Online Application
My dogs and cats aren't spoiled ... I'm just well trained
Don't breed or buy while homeless die
36% of pets in shelters are purebred.
Over 12 million pets are put to DEATH each year due to overpopulation.
Adopting from a shelter or rescue group saves a life!
Spay and Neuter!!!
" Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened "
To Haley's Past Owner:
A man in Grand Rapids, Michigan incredibly took out a $7000 full page ad in the paper to present the following essay to the people of his community.
By Jim Willis, 2001
When I was a puppy, I entertained you with my antics and made you laugh. You called me your child, and despite a number of chewed shoes and a couple of murdered throw pillows, I became your best friend. Whenever I was "bad," you'd shake your finger at me and ask "How could you?" -- but then you'd relent and roll me over for a belly rub.
My housebreaking took a little longer than expected, because you were terribly busy, but we worked on that together. I remember those nights of nuzzling you in bed and listening to your confidences and secret dreams, and I believed that life could not be any more perfect. We went for long walks and runs in the park, car rides, stops for ice-cream (I only got the cone because "ice cream is bad for dogs" you said), and I took long naps in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the day. Gradually, you began spending more time at work and on your career, and more time searching for a human mate. I waited for you patiently, comforted you through heart breaks and disappointments, never chided you about bad decisions, and romped with glee at your homecomings, and when you fell in love.
She, now your wife, is not a "dog person" -- still I welcomed her into our home, tried to show her affection, and obeyed her. I was happy because you were happy. Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement. I was fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to mother them, too. Only she and you worried that I might hurt them, and I spent most of my time banished to another room, or to a dog crate.Oh, how I wanted to love them, but I became a "prisoner of love." As they began to grow, I became their friend. They clung to my fur and pulled themselves up on wobbly legs, poked fingers in my eyes, investigated my ears, and gave me kisses on my nose. I loved everything about them and their touch -- because your touch was now so infrequent -- and I would've defended them with my life if need be. I would sneak into their beds and listen to their worries and secret dreams, and together we waited for the sound of your car in the driveway.
There had been a time, when others asked you if you had a dog, that you produced a photo of me from your wallet and old them stories about me. These past few years, you just answered "yes" and changed the subject.
I had gone from being "your dog" to "just a dog," and you resented every expenditure on my behalf. Now, you have a new career opportunity in another city, and you and they will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets. You've made the right decision for your "family," but there was a time when I was your only family.
I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the animal shelter. It smelled of dogs
and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You filled out the paperwork and said "I know you will find a good home for her." They shrugged and gave you a pained look. They understand the realities facing a middle-aged dog, even one with "papers." You had to pry your son's fingers loose from my collar as he screamed "No, Daddy! Please don't let them take my dog!"And I worried for him, and what lessons you had just taught him about
friendship and loyalty, about love and responsibility, and about respect for all life.
You gave me a good-bye pat on the head, avoided my eyes, and politely refused to take my collar and leash with you. You had a deadline to meet and now I have one, too.
After you left, the two nice ladies said you probably knew about your upcoming move months ago and made no attempt to find me another good home. They shook their heads and asked "How could you?" They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy schedules allow. They feed us, of course, but I lost my appetite days ago. At first, whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to the front, hoping it was you that you had changed your mind -- that this was all a bad dream... or I hoped it would at least be someone who cared, anyone who might save me.
When I realized I could not compete with the frolicking for attention of happy puppies, oblivious to their own fate, I retreated to a far corner and waited. I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the end of the day, and I padded along the aisle after her to a separate room. A blissfully quiet room. She placed me on the table and rubbed my ears, and told me not to worry. My heart pounded in anticipation of what was to come, but there was also a sense of relief. The prisoner of love had run out of days.
As is my nature, I was more concerned about her. The burden which she bears weighs heavily on her, and I know that, the same way I knew your every mood. She gently placed a tourniquet around my foreleg as a tear ran down her cheek. I licked her hand in the same way I used to comfort you so many years ago. She expertly slid the hypodermic needle into my vein. As I felt the sting and the cool liquid coursing through my body, I lay down sleepily, looked into her kind eyes and murmured "How could you?"
Perhaps because she understood my dog speak, she said "I'm so sorry." She hugged me, and hurriedly explained it was her job to make sure I went to a better place, where I wouldn't be ignored or abused or abandoned, or have to fend for myself -- a place of love and light so very different from this earthly place. And with my last bit of energy, I tried to convey to her with a thump of my tail that my "How could you?" was not directed at her .It was directed at you, My Beloved Master, I was thinking of you. I will think of you and wait for you forever. May everyone in your life continue to show you so much loyalty
I Remember
I stood by your bed last night, I came to have a peep.
I could see that you were crying. You found it hard to sleep.
I whined to you softly as you brushed away a tear,
"It's me, I haven't left you, I'm well, I'm fine, I'm here."
I was close to you at breakfast, I watched you pour the tea,
You were thinking of the many times your hands reached down to me.
I was with you at the shops today. Your arms were getting sore.
I longed to take your parcels, I wish I could do more.
I was with you at my grave today, You tend it with such care. I want to re-assure you, that I'm not lying there.
I walked with you towards the house, as you fumbled for your key.
I gently put my paw on you, I smiled and said "It's me."
You looked so very tired, and sank into a chair.
I tried so hard to let you know, that I was standing there.
It's possible for me to be so near you everyday.
To say to you with certainty, "I never went away."
You sat there very quietly, then smiled, I think you knew...
in the stillness of that evening, I was very close to you.
The day is over... I smile and watch you yawning
and say "Good-night, God bless, I'll see you in the morning."
And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide,
I'll rush across to greet you and we'll stand, side by side.
I have so many things to show you, there is so much for you to see.
Be patient, live your journey out... then come home to be with me.
- Author unknown
A Letter from a Shelter Manager
I think our society needs a huge "Wake-up" call. As a shelter manager, I am going to share a little insight with you all...a view from the inside if you will. First off, all of you breeders/sellers should be made to work in the "back" of an animal shelter for just one day. Maybe if you saw the life drain from a few sad, lost, confused eyes, you would change your mind about breeding and selling to people you don't even know. That puppy you just sold will most likely end up in my shelter when it's not a cute little puppy anymore. So how would you feel if you knew that there's about a 90% chance that dog will never walk out of the shelter it is going to be dumped at? Purebred or not! About 50% of all of the dogs that are "owner surrenders" or "strays", that come into my shelter are purebred dogs. The most common excuses I hear are; "We are moving and we can't take our dog (or cat)." Really? Where are you moving too that doesn't allow pets? Or they say "The dog got bigger than we thought it would". How big did you think a German Shepherd would get? "We don't have time for her". Really? I work a 10-12 hour day and still have time for my 6 dogs! "She's tearing up our yard". How about making her a part of your family? They always tell me "We just don't want to have to stress about finding a place for her we know she'll get adopted, she's a good dog". Odds are your pet won't get adopted & how stressful do you think being in a shelter is? Well, let me tell you, your pet has 72 hours to find a new family from the moment you drop it off. Sometimes a little longer if the shelter isn't full and your dog manages to stay completely healthy. If it sniffles, it dies. Your pet will be confined to a small run/kennel in a room with about 25 other barking or crying animals. It will have to relieve itself where it eats and sleeps. It will be depressed and it will cry constantly for the family that abandoned it. If your pet is lucky, I will have enough volunteers in that day to take him/her for a walk. If I don't, your pet won't get any attention besides having a bowl of food slid under the kennel door and the waste sprayed out of its pen with a high-powered hose. If your dog is big, black or any of the "Bully" breeds (pit bull, rottie, mastiff, etc) it was pretty much dead when you walked it through the front door.
Those dogs just don't get adopted. It doesn't matter how 'sweet' or 'well behaved' they are.
If your dog doesn't get adopted within its 72 hours and the shelter is full, it will be destroyed. If the shelter isn't full and your dog is good enough, and of a desirable enough breed it may get a stay of execution, but not for long . Most dogs get very kennel protective after about a week and are destroyed for showing aggression. Even the sweetest dogs will turn in this environment. If your pet makes it over all of those hurdles chances are it will get kennel cough or an upper respiratory infection and will be destroyed because shelters just don't have the funds to pay for even a $100 treatment.
Here's a little euthanasia 101 for those of you that have never witnessed a perfectly healthy, scared animal being "put-down". First, your pet will be taken from its kennel on a leash. They always look like they think they are going for a walk happy, wagging their tails. Until they get to "The Room", every one of them freaks out and puts on the brakes when we get to the door. It must smell like death or they can feel the sad souls that are left in there, it's strange, but it happens with every one of them. Your dog or cat will be restrained, held down by 1 or 2 vet techs depending on the size and how freaked out they are. Then a euthanasia tech or a vet will start the process. They will find a vein in the front leg and inject a lethal dose of the "pink stuff". Hopefully your pet doesn't panic from being restrained and jerk. I've seen the needles tear out of a leg and been covered with the resulting blood and been deafened by the yelps and screams. They all don't just "go to sleep", sometimes they spasm for a while, gasp for air and defecate on themselves.
When it all ends, your pets corpse will be stacked like firewood in a large freezer in the back with all of the other animals that were killed waiting to be picked up like garbage. What happens next? Cremated? Taken to the dump? Rendered into pet food? You'll never know and it probably won't even cross your mind. It was just an animal and you can always buy another one, right? I hope that those of you that have read this are bawling your eyes out and can't get the pictures out of your head I deal with everyday on the way home from work. I hate my job, I hate that it exists & I hate that it will always be there unless you people make some changes and realize that the lives you are affecting go much farther than the pets you dump at a shelter.
Between 9 and 11 MILLION animals die every year in shelters and only you can stop it. I do my best to save every life I can but rescues are always full, and there are more animals coming in everyday than there are homes. My point to all of this DON'T BREED OR BUY WHILE SHELTER PETS DIE! Hate me if you want to. The truth hurts and reality is what it is. I just hope I maybe changed one persons mind about breeding their dog, taking their loving pet to a shelter, or buying a dog. I hope that someone will walk into my shelter and say "I saw this and it made me want to adopt". THAT WOULD MAKE IT WORTH IT.
THE MEANING OF RESCUE
Now that I'm home, bathed, settled and fed,
All nicely tucked in my warm new bed.
I'd like to open my baggage
Lest I forget,
There is so much to carry -
So much to regret.
Hmm... Yes there it is, right on the top
Let's unpack Loneliness, Heartache and Loss,
And there by my leash hides Fear and Shame.
As I look on these things I tried so hard to leave -
I still have to unpack my baggage called Pain.
I loved them, the others, the ones who left me,
But I wasn't good enough - for they didn't want me.
Will you add to my baggage?
Will you help me unpack?
Or will you just look at my things -
And take me right back?
Do you have the time to help me unpack?
To put away my baggage,
To never repack?
I pray that you do - I'm so tired you see,
But I do come with baggage -
Will you still want me?
--Unknown
PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE
We operate out of a PRIVATE residence and ask that you please be considerate of the procedures explained below. Pet viewing is by appointment only. Calls are accepted between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. only We do not have the funding to return long distance phone calls, so try again or email your inquiry. PLEASE READ the section "Adoption Application Approvals" below before calling. Thank you for your understanding.
ADOPTING A FRIEND
Visit volunteer Sandy Britt's pet blog
It's on The Leaf-Chronicle Web site and is called Pet People.
She talks about life with dogs, cats and husband. Stop by just to read, or you can join the conversation and share things about your own pets too!
OUR "RETIREMENT WING"
If Tears Could Build a Stairway, and Memories a Lane
I'd Walk Right Up to Heaven, and Bring You Home Again
On January 11, 2004, we lost to old age and sickness our beloved Mama Sheila, a 15-year, 4-month-old poodle who came to the United States with us from my native Germany. She was our loyal companion, faithful friend and inspiration for the founding of Second Chance & Happy Tails.
Sheila was born on September 11, 1988. Her veterinarian soon discovered that she suffered from a heart murmur. Despite being on heart medication for the past 2 years, her heart was pure gold, always loving, gentle and giving. Sheila always welcomed, took care of and looked over the little dogs that came into our care: those that were sick, injured or just lonely and scared.
Once, when Sheila was a young dog, someone gave her poisoned bologna and we almost lost her. But it wasn't her time to cross the Rainbow Bridge; God had a plan for her. Because of her, we fell in love with little dogs and was inspired to do everything we could to ease the pain, loneliness or neglect of those animals who found themselves all alone in the world. Whether they were abandoned, sick, abused or given up with regret due to illness or death of their owner, we always made--and will always make-- room for them. Our hearts especially go out to those little dogs who are old or those with special medical needs.
We want to honor Sheila's memory and all the wonderful things she brought to our lives and to the lives of the many dogs that came into our home by setting up a "Mama Sheila Memorial Fund." This fund will be used specifically for our "retirement wing, because just like like us humans, these older residents often have medical problems such as diabetes, heart disease, epilepsy or other chronic conditions.
Take Tiffany, a sweet little Chihuahua who died from cancer. She was only 8-years-old, but because she was never spayed, she was susceptible to the type of tumors that killed her. Tiffany loved Gregory and was his constant shadow. He fed her and she slept by his side. After he went off to work, she headed back to bed, getting up only to drink water. But when the clock struck 4:30, she knew it was time for Daddy to come home. She waited for him at the door, then stiuck by his side until it's was time to turn in for the night.
Selena is another female Chihuahua with special needs. She was a young pup when brought to Precious Friends puppy rescue in 2001, but because it was discovered that she suffered from diabetes, she couldn't be placed. Selena is a smart, happy little dog despite her condition, and she enjoys life to the fullest. We believe she deserves to live.
Then there's Damian, a 10-year-old Schnauzer who requires daily insulin for his diabetes. Damien's former owner abandoned him and his companion and playmate, Regan, 9, at a veterinary clinic. He's had several diabetic emergencies, but has a strong will to live. Because of their age and Damien's condition, it's highly doubtful someone will want to adopt them, especially since they must stay together. Regan simply wilts when she's away from Damien.
Gregory and I enjoy caring for the many other special-needs dogs we care for. We hope they all will have many happy years with us. But their care is costly. Most of our senior dogs need special food, medicine and frequent veterinary care. Some have no teeth and many have skin conditions that need specially medicated shampoo.
We appreciate so much your past support of our mission and hope that if you are able, you will continue to remember us and the many older dogs who will live their remaining time on earth in our home. We
believe that as long as a dog has quality of life, he deserves to have a happy, safe and loving environment for the time God has allotted him. Too many dogs like Selena, Tiffany, Damien and Regan end up lonely and abandoned at county pounds where they are put to death, alone and scared, simply because the humans they have been so devoted to have abandoned them.
No dog can ever replace our Sheila, but we want to make sure she lives on through Second Chance & Happy Tails and remains our inspiration, support and comfort. We-- and Sheila-- couldn't do it without caring animal lovers like you.
Sincerely,
Gregory and Inge Irby
Founders, Second Chance & Happy Tails
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Help is always needed in the following areas: transporting, fundraising, grooming, administrative, etc. Contact us to get started!
And to our regular supporters **THANK YOU** you know who you are!
"
SCHEDULE A VISIT
Please first fill out an adoption application before calling about visiting a particular dog. Once we have your application, we will contact you or be happy to hear from you about scheduling a visit. Second Chance & Happy Tails is located in Clarksville, Tennessee, approximately one hour north of Nashville off of I-24. Our animals reside with Inge Irby and her family, so visits are by appointment only.
Please note that email is preferred. Calls are accepted at 931-503-8300, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday only as we work out of a private residence. Thank You.)
I walked with you towards the house, as you fumbled for your key.
I have so many things to show you, there is so much for you to see.
