Second Chance Ranch Rescue NH (SCRR) began in 2017 when a family of like minded volunteers came together with the goal of filling gaps in the rescue process for both dogs and the human adopters.
Through over 15 years of experience with both large and small scale rescue formats, the SCRR team has seen many sides of the rescue industry. While each format has its strengths, there remains some key gaps in the assessment, rehabilitation and adoption processes that put many dogs at a disadvantage and create difficult, if not questionable, futures. As a small, volunteer based operation, SCRR will raise the bar and compliment the overall rescue industry through hands-on, individualistic dog assessment and care targeted specifically at helping dogs who fail in larger format rescue organizations. Our simulated home kennel experience and one-on-one rehabilitation plans, will help prepare these dogs for a future adoption and integration. A philosophy of matchmaking dogs to adopters will ensure that each dog is appropriately placed into a well-suited home and adopter boot camps will prepare the new families for what to expect and how to navigate integrations with their new family member; thus reducing the adoption return rate.
As a non profit dog rescue, our focus is rehabilitation and successful integration. We believe in extensive decompression, evaluation and training before starting the adoption process to ensure we can fully assess the dog to understand the best fit home. Through this holistic approach, Second Chance Ranch Rescue NH will help the lost, forgotten, or misunderstood dogs that slip through the cracks in large format rescue organizations.
Founders
Kristin
Founder, President, Rehabilitation Manager, Ranch Owner.
Kristin leads dog assessment, rehabilitation planning and socialization structure for 2CR.
A seasoned rescue volunteer, Kristin has experience with rehabbing and creating integration plans for the toughest and easiest of adoptions.
As a user experience designer, Kristin leverages her user centered design mindset to help build rehab plans customized to each owner’s and dog’s needs.
Kristin is the founder of Second Chance Ranch Rescue and has a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Graphic Design and Culture Psychology from UMASS Lowell and a Masters of Science in User Centered Design from Brandeis University.
Having volunteered for over 10 years with other rescues, Kristin saw an opportunity to build a rescue that focused on in home 1-1 care, adoption match making, and proactive socialization education with the goal of increasing placement success and building a community around adoption. Kristin and Cam are inspired by their 4 rescues, Zoey, Zeus Buster, and Robyn.
Cam
Ranch Development Manager & Ranch Co-owner
Cam helps the daily operations and the future development of Second Chance Ranch Rescue. Cam focuses on Ranch renovation projects like building doggy tiny houses, renovating doggy guest rooms, and creating an outdoor pen for temperament testing and socialization work.
Cam spends quality 1:1 time every day with each dog and plays a critical role in assessing each dog's individual needs.
Cam invests time working with each dog to rebuild their trust or acclimate them to a home environment.
Cam is an engineer by trade, and helps bring structure and support to each dog that joins 2CR.
Cam has a Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering from UMASS Lowell.
Cam’s favorite part of rescue is seeing the dogs go to their forever home with their families.
Staff
Paige
Lead Kennel Staff & Dog Supervisor
Paige has been working with us almost for a year and a half. Since Paige joined everything has been running better than ever. Paige “checks” all of the boxes. She gets a lot of work done in her shift, she’s patient and loving to the dogs, and she has a skillset that brings diverse knowledge to The Ranch. Paige has a background in pet retail which means she has worked with people in a consumer setting and can use this knowledge when interacting with people who come to adopt at The Ranch. Paige is building up her training and behavior knowledge and is pursuing a career path of animal behavior and animal \ human relationship counseling at UNH. Our favorite thing about Paige is her careful decision making. Paige treats every situation with care and almost always makes the right choice. If she doesn’t she’s open to learning and getting feedback. This makes Paige the perfect person to lead the kennel operations!
Shauna
Lead Kennel Staff & Staff Manager
Shauna joined our rescue a year ago and has inspired our operations to run better. When Shauna sees a problem, she finds a fix and shares the solution with the team. She is a neat freak and loves to clean and always makes sure the barn is in tip top shape! Shauna has an incredibly easy to get along with personality and is very genuinely funny. Shauna is easy to talk to and all walks of life enjoy being in her warm presence. Our favorite thing about Shauna is how she goes above and beyond. She stays late, brings supplies, and finds a better way to get things done! Shauna genuinely wants to be at The Ranch and how much she enjoys helping out. We know that because Shauna truly loves the animals, they are always in great hands when she is working!
Volunteers
Tori
Director of Vermont Operations
Tori runs the entire operations in our northern sister location in Vermont. Tori has been helping the rescue since day 1 and is in it to help the underdogs…specifically puppies! Tori is the ultimate mother and has a huge pack of her own bully breeds. Tori loves forming a bond with a dog who needs love and showing them what being loved feels like!
Siobhan
Siobhan has been helping our rescue for over 5 years! She has experience with almost every tough dog case we have ever helped!
Alyssa
Alyssa helps with a variety of tasks at The Ranch. She loves being with the dogs and because she is a busy body - she gets a lot done! Alyssa is very sensitive and empathizes with the dogs like no other and wants to make sure all of their needs are met and that they feel loved.
Laura
Laura is the ranch fundraising manager which means she deals with all of the behind scenes work that go into running the most FUN fundraisers to help dogs at The Ranch! Because of Laura’s great taste and fun attitude she makes sure we have fundraisers that our network will love like Dairy Queen Pup Cup Months!
Marissa
Our rescue is lucky to have one of the most amazing trainers in the world. Marissa believes in reslationship based training and always finds a way to utilize play to change a dogs behavior. We say that Marissa can speak dog because she can make a good dog out of any rowdy rough pup.
Melissa
Melissa is one of our weekly hero’s who comes to volunteer once a week, every week - no matter the weather! Melissa has a great judgment of doggy character and can quickly read a dog’s mood and adjust her approach to interacting with them!
Michelle
Michelle adopted a dog from The Ranch in 2018 and has been hooked on volunteering since ! Michelle has fostered puppies, volunteered at events, helped with cat tests, and is now on the board of directors as a community service director. Michelle dreams of someday opening a cat foster for our rescue.
Susan
Sue is one of our most trusted advisors at The Ranch and lucky for us also helps with many of our onsite operations. Sue is famously known as “FAQ Sue” because of all of the great questions she asks to understand a problem or situation and think it through!
Stacey
Stacey has helped with every responsibility at The Ranch including onsite dog care, fostering, temperament testing, events, transporting, and now has found a love for acting as a ranch network enthusiast! Stacey helps the rescue land partnerships in the community by speaking our praise!
Jeff
Jeff started joining after his wife told him how much fun The Ranch is on the weekends. Jeff is known for fixing things and making the most out of the inclement weather!
Melissa
Lucky for us Melissa and Kristin have been volunteering together for almost a decade. Melissa visits the ranch to spoil the pups with treats and often helps out with long transport rides. Melissa is on the board of directors and acts as a business advisor to help make sure decisions that are made are beneficial for the rescue dogs and the business side of the non profit.
Amanda
Amanda worked for The Ranch for years and now volunteers at events! She loves to spend time with the dogs and has a way with shy misunderstood dogs!
Gabe
We are lucky to have the help from Gabe Hendershot, owner of Hendershot Photography! Gabe takes beautiful pictures of dogs at The Ranch and helps feature our fun events! Check out Hendershot Photography: https://www.hendershotphotography.com/
Deidre
Deidre has been following the rescue loyally for years and is now one of our weekly volunteers! Deidre is loving spoils the dogs with treats and comfy hoodies during colder weather! Deidre has helped out at events and even transports!
Chelsey
Chelsey gives her time not once but three times a week! She is always ready to jump in and help where-ever we need it! Chelsey has her own “misunderstood” deaf dog and brings lots of experience to helping out at The Ranch!
Caitlyn
Lucky for us, Caitlyn used to work for us and when she went off to college - she stayed involved! Caitlyn is wise beyond her years and is so great at talking to people. She is also a great listener and can help anyone feel comfortable during a meet and greet!
Kelly
Kelly adopted a famous dog named Second Chance Meatball (look her up on Instagram!) and now helps out with events, transports, and fun stuff goin’ on at The Ranch. Kelly is detailed and great with direction. When we have Kelly on a task, we know it will be completed to its highest potential!
Tanya
Tanya is our VT puppy foster and works closely with Tori. As a puppy lover, Tanya enjoys taking in a litter and loving them like they are her own. She finds the best homes for people and forms bonds that last through the years. Her family and children are very supportive of her passion to help the little underdogs in need.
Resident Dogs
Robyn
Ranch Psychologist
With years in boarding before being adopted by Kristin & Cam, Robyn is well-equipped to assess and analyze the personalities of each Ranch visitor. He uses his skills to help 2CR understand the socialization levels of each new dog.
Alfredo
Ranch Counselor
Alfredo has a big personality for his small stature. Alfredo is known for his epic play moves and his knack for reading doggy body language. He really likes giving back by going to play with dogs who are learning social skills.
Zoey
Ranch Mayor
Zoey is the Mayor of 2CR. With a very political personality, Zoey helps keep the harmony between the residents and visitors of the Ranch.
Zeus
Ranch Sheriff
Zeus is the sheriff of 2CR. With a rough & tough play style, Zeus overcompensates for his secret Momma’s Boy personality. As a dog selective dog, he gives 2CR an opportunity to robustly temperament test visitors.
Our Angel Buster (Rest in Peace!)
Ranch Counselor
After spending 8 months at The Ranch working on obedience and socialization, Buster convinced Kristin he had to stay and act as Second Chance Ranch Rescue’s counselor. Buster is dopey, laid back, and grew into a SUPER social and submissive dog. Buster now spends his days hanging with his siblings and helping other dog’s practice socialization. He is known for his great advice with how to greet new friends.