Second chance for homeless dogs

TAMPA - Many at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay have been given up. Some were abused by former owners. Each dog has a different story, but several are now left in the same situation: they are way past the puppy stage and still in need of a good home.

"Everybody wants a puppy and [is] not so interested in the larger dogs," says Sherry Silk, the Humane Society's executive director. "And frankly, our shelter, it was so small it didn't have the larger cages."

The Humane Society recently completed constructing a new area called the Second Chance Patio. It's built specifically for larger, older dogs that are difficult to get adopted.

"It's 18 dog runs," explained Silk. "Twice a week we take what we call 'at-risk' dogs that maybe Animal Services can't find homes for. They come here and they're safe."

Animal Services brings over dogs like Maureen, an older purebred yellow lab with skin problems. Animal Services couldn't keep her any longer, so now she's getting a second chance.

"They would be in what I call doggie heaven right now if it weren't for this very simple patio," said Silk.

Organizers say the patio will save hundreds, maybe even thousands, of dogs each year.

"When the vans pull up and these dogs get unloaded, it's like 'wow, you're safe now'," Silk added.
"Whether it takes two weeks or a couple of months, we will find Maureen and all of her other friends a home."

The Humane Society is one of the few organizations that doesn't euthanize.

A lot of the dogs in the cages have been through a lot already, but the Second Chance Patio will be their last stop before finding a permanent home.

For more information on adopting from the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, go to http://www.humanesocietytampa.org