NYC Second Chance Rescue Whitestone, New York

My wife and I have worked with several different adoption organizations over the past several years, but never one this disorganized. Glacially slow processing applications and completely unresponsive via email. Weeks after submitting an application, the only person who would even respond to us was the person running their Instagram account, and when they did reply the information was incorrect. They seem much more interested in social media clicks than finding homes for dogs.

Second Chance Rescue has been awesome! Very thorough in approving potential adopters to make sure everyone goes to safe and loving homes. This was a long process to make sure we got the best fur-baby to suit what we were looking for. Everyone was very supportive and patient and continue to be there to make sure we have a smooth transition. My expectations were exceeded with the amount of resources available. Kudos to my coordinator Donna, Stephanie and the many foster parents who go above and beyond giving their valuable time to these precious pups! We are so happy with the newest addition to our family and will certainly come back to adopt in the future. Highly recommend!

We rescued our puppy from this organization and it was such a wonderful experience. Everyone was so helpful and knowledgeable. We cannot wait to rescue again!

Awesome place that helps so many animals in need. The staff is amazing.

It was not good I emailed and everything and no one ever got back to me

They weren't able to help me surrender my dog because I didn't live in the Westchester area. My dog is a good dog and deserves a chance,unfortunately every where I've gone has either not responded or has suggested kill shelters? I'm truly disappointed and saddened.

Consistently yummy and good friendly service

Jamie and her team at SCR provided individualized support when finding our newest family member. She shared a lot of information and helped us find the best fit for our family. We were united with our new pal Randy quickly. Having an adoption agent to guide us through the process was extremely helpful. Thank you Jamie and SCR!

They truly care about the animals. Jen goes the extra mile for everyone.

DON'T SET UP RECURRING DONATION PAYMENTS UNLESS YOU PLAN ON GIVING THEM MONEY FOR LIFE OR CANCELLING YOUR CREDIT CARD. I started donating in 2016 and wanted my account cancelled LAST YEAR. The payment went thru paypal on their site but I do not have an account with paypal so to cancel, they - meaning this organization - has to do it manually. They refuse to do so as they tell me to contact Paypal which tells me to contact them - and they have been taking my money without my consent for months. Now I have to call my credit card company every month to dispute the charge. I just hope they actually help animals because the way they seek money is shady AF! And this behavior makes me question the legitimacy of their entire "organization". **** UPDATE: After I posted this, I emailed the person who responded to this review and was then contacted by the financial officer at SCR NYC. I received a full refund of the money that was being charged to my card without my consent and cancellation of the payments moving forward as well as an apology for not addressing this sooner. This was all done by the staff which seemed very interested in getting this resolved immediately for me but not from the founder who denied my petition to begin with. To the STAFF of SCR NYC: Thank you!!!

The world has been changed by NYC SCR and their incredible work. Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do for animals in need.

Second Chance Rescue and their team of volunteers have helped my family find the perfect dog. Finding the right match for our existing difficult dog and 4 cats wasn't easy but we now have adopted a dog that fits in perfectly. The care, both financial and emotional, from the organization and from the volunteers is heartfelt. I have already recommended them to 2 friends who are equally happy with their new dogs. Second Chance does wonders for these animals.

Second Chance Rescue NYC has been saving animals' life for 10 years. They always do far and beyond to give the best care for the animals. I was a hospice foster who had terminal cancer. They NEVER skimped her medical cost even though we knew there was no recovery.

I have been a volunteer with SCRNYC for 2 years now. I started as a foster, later adopted and now processing foster applications. I am proud to be a member of this organization and the community that comes with it. SCR takes in some of the most difficult animals that need help, be it medical or behavioral. Everyone is super committed and devoted to going above and beyond to place dogs (and cats) in successful homes.

I waited almost 6 months before writing this reivew because at the end of the day they are working for animals- but this needs to be known. There is something fishy about how this organization works and when you question they bully you and take it out on the poor animals- we had a bonded pair of dogs we were fostering- one of them was diagnosed with cancer and they kept delaying treatment, not responding to my mails- i know funds can be hard and i was ok if they thought it would be better to put the dog to sleep, and i communicated this to them- but they just kept me hanging in the middle till the doctor said that the short terms meds are doing the dog more harm than good and will make longer term cancer regression harder- after weeks i started calling them out on their approach- next thing you know is the bullying- rude messages from everyone- one of the owners spoke in such a condescneding manner- she insinuated that my treatment of the dog caused cancer, I was shamed for feeding the dogs a vegan diet and called selfish (this despite the doctor specifically telling me that i should keep the exact vegan diet for the dog since it reducing the side effects of the medicines drastically which he had not seen in other dogs). It was clear that the owner was used to a certain "listen to my authority" approach- which sadly is the case with many non profit owners, who feel that because they are doing some good work, anyone questioning their ways is worth being insulted. I am an experienced foster mom and have never had these issues with any other organization. Long story short they did the worst thing ever- they seperate a bonded pair of dogs - they wanted to take back custody of both the dogs right away and that meant sending the dogs to separate homes - i begged and pleaded to not take out egos on the poor animals- but obviously they did not care. SEPERATING BONDED PAIRS is the worst thing ever- broke my heart. Just hoping the dogs are in good homes and are getting love. Updating based on seeing their response- not a single point in the contract was voilated - i challenge them to point it out. The 6 volunteers were needed because of poor planning on their behalf- I had 4 different people reaching out to me for the same thing (which was planning a trip to their vet since I did not have my car with me on a certain day) and infact I was the one who raised the issue of how difficult it was getting to manage so many different volunteers reaching out for the same thing and needlessly causing confusion. Anyways- I am not taking this on me personally, but again, nothing justifies seperating a bonded pair- its one of the worst thing you can do to animals

The volunteers at Second Chance Rescue NYC care about each and every animal they adopt/foster and strive to make the experience for each and every adopter/foster a positive one.

We adopted our 10 week pitbull puppy from this rescue back in February. He was the perfect addition to our family and Second Chance Rescue helped every step of the way. Now I always recommend them to people looking to adopt.

You will not find another group of volunteers and staff who are more genuine and motivated to rescue dogs than the people at Second Chance. These people have a heart of gold - they are not in this for adulation or stroking one's ego, and they definitely not here for any sort of personal gains. All the people I have met at Second Chance Rescue are here purely because they care about dogs, they love dogs, and they want to do what they could for dogs. I know this because time and time again everyone steps in when a dog needs help - without question, and often albeit at a cost. The most important part of any organization is its people, and I have no question for all the many people I have come across at Second Chance.

This rescue euthanizes the dogs after warehousing them for years. This is not rescue

I applied to rescue a doggie,can't wait to hear back from them..

Second Chance Rescue are angels on earth! They helped me care for my senior baby when I couldn’t and when no one else would. They go above and beyond for every single animal that crosses their paths and they champion those hard cases when others won’t. If I hit the lotto I’d give them every dime because they deserve it. When I hear the word rescue I think of compassion, love, warmth and going to the ends of the earth to save a life, Second Chance Rescue embodies all of that and beyond. Forever thankful

SCR is truly one of best, hardest working rescues out there. They work tirelessly to save the toughest cases - mostly neglected, abused, and injured animals from down south - and rehabilitate them for their forever homes in the NYC area. We are one of many families who adopted at the height of pandemic, and the folks at SCR NYC made sure that we got the best dog for our family. Their communication is great and you can tell the people who make this rescue happen truly believe that every pet matters. It's been over six months since we adopted out little chihuahua mix and we still regularly donate to them so that they continue doing the great work they do.

My 1st Experience as an adopter, began as a short term foster mom. I foster failed within 72 hours (maybe less)! This organization is amazing. They really do believe that the life of every dog matters. They are a very hard working group of people who, thru their dedication & love for animals have assembled an amazing group of volunteers, Fosters, trainers, veterinarians & surgeons. Their operation runs on volunteers & fosters & donations. They cannot do what they do without them. I recently decided to foster again as I believe in the process and outcome and I believe in this rescue. I picked up a dog, knowing he was a senior boy with overwhelming health issues which at the time were in the process of being fully diagnosed. I fell in in love with the dog known as Bishop. Little did I know he was on borrowed time and soon became a hospice foster. SCR never gave up on him and had him seen by the best in the business, hoping his final chapter would be his best. His life with me was brief but his final chapter is what mattered, and made possible because SCR CARES! If you have the time, and a love for animals and a desire to give back....Foster or Adopt from SCR. They really are an amazing group. #adoptdontshop

Since 2016 we have been working with SCR. They are the most dedicated, passionate, flexible, responsive and loyal people in the business. They don't just make sure that a dog finds a home, they make sure that a dog fits a home. They are with you, in every step of the way, and are always willing to lend a hand, even in the most difficult spots you may find yourself with your dog. It is not just a rescue, its a community and although the application process can be a little involved it is with the hope and the intent that they can find the best fit for you and your family. I have put my trust in SCR for the 4 years and will continue to do so. They brought Roscoe and me together and although we had some bumps along the road, SCR was always there to help me through. I am forever greatful. A wonderful organization!

We had the most amazing experience getting our puppy with second chance rescue! We only had one requirement for a dog, that it had to be as young as possible as I wanted it to grow up with my young children! We got lucky at 8 weeks and everything since then has been wonderful! Great experience!

My family, like many others, had the opportunity to rescue a dog during the Covid-19 shutdown. Rescuing through NYSCR was one of the best decisions my husband and I made. But more important, I feel like I was adopted into a new family. You see, NYSCR works tirelessly to help animals in rural parts of the country. Being able to witness this work and know that my adoption fees help other animals in need is just as great a gift as rescuing our boy. Outside of that, I have a support system through NYSCR that I am grateful for. Every member of staff and volunteer I have communicated with/ worked with have been kind and professional. I can't sing this organizations praises enough. Go be somebody's hero today!

Applied for and was accepted as an adopter, got a lead on some Foster dogs we could see and were asked to pick one so we didn't block other adopters. However, after visiting the pupper and sending a reply asking about next steps, the rescue ghosted us. It's been a month since then; Neither the volunteer we worked with daily, nor the employee, nor the resuce@ email have responded to us. Very strange experience, and seems like regardless of the circumstances (e.g. we weren't a match) someone should have contacted us to tell us what was happening. 2 stars because up until that ghosting, everything was ok! Shelter's response below highlights the issue. (Also I assure you they did not send us any further messages, we called, texted, etc.). Wants passion, but then is upset when we ask questions or email. Usage of "shelter dogs" and "tricks" is a derogatory and elitist read-in on their end. We asked if the dog knew how to sit or heel before taking her walking which we thought was reasonable. And we said we'd already seen two dogs in shelters (as opposed to in foster). They read snobbishness into it I guess and denied us? Just seems like lack of communication again. I was hoping they'd just apologize for the communication issues and move on. Seems like others here have had a similar issue, just trying to offer constructive ways to improve the experience!

A new edition to our family

I got my dog from Second chance rescue, they saved him from a kill shelter. I couldn’t be more happy with they way they do things! It was such a smooth experience. They really take good care of their animals they rescue and make sure they are going to good homes! I can’t thank them enough for saving my pup n giving me the chance to adopt him, he’s my baby. ❤️????

Two years ago we adopted the love of our life through NYCSCR and everything about this organization and it’s volunteers is amazing. If you’re looking to adopt, foster or even volunteer please don’t hesitate to use NYCSCR.