Full veterinary care
Every animal is examined, vaccinated, microchipped and spayed or neutered. Treatment for injuries and illness is completed before adoption.
Volunteer-run animal rescue · Nashville, Tennessee
Every animal here is waiting for someone to say yes.
Second Chance Paws takes in dogs, puppies and cats from crowded shelters, treats them, trains them gently and finds each one a home that suits. No animal is on a deadline here, and no family is hurried. Browse the faces below, read their stories and start an application when one of them feels like yours.
Adoption fees cover vaccines, spay or neuter and a microchip.
Since we opened our doors
- Animals adopted into permanent homes
- 1,320
- Foster families caring for animals right now
- 86
- Average time from application to adoption
- 9 days
- Of adopters still happy a year later
- 98%
Meet the animals ready to go home
Search by name or trait, filter by age and species, and mark the ones you would like to meet. We will arrange a visit for each.
6 waiting
Biscuit arrived as a stray with a limp that is now fully healed. He loves chasing tennis balls, sleeps on the sofa and has never met a stranger he did not like.
Juniper learns a new trick in minutes and is happiest with a job. She would thrive with a family who hikes, runs or tries agility on weekends.
Walnut was found alone on a country road and has made up for lost time ever since. He walks slowly, snores loudly and leans against anyone who stops to say hello.
Pepper and her littermates were left at a shelter door in a cardboard box. She is vaccinated, learning to sit and chews with great enthusiasm.
Maple is a leggy teenager with a big sweet face. She is crate trained, walks nicely on a lead and gets on with every dog she meets.
Clover was bottle-fed by a volunteer after being found under a porch. She is litter trained, purrs the moment she is picked up and would love a playful companion.
From first look to forever home
- 01
Apply online
Tell us about your household, your routine and the animal you hope to meet. It takes about ten minutes, and there is no fee to apply.
- 02
Talk with an adoption counsellor
A volunteer phones within two days to chat about your home, your other pets and what daily life looks like for you.
- 03
Meet and greet
Visit the foster home or our Saturday adoption day, walk the dog and introduce any pets or children who live with you.
- 04
Take them home
Sign the agreement, pick up vaccination records and a starter bag of food, and enjoy a check-in call after the first week.
Care that starts long before the adoption
Fees and donations pay for the care below. Nothing is rushed, and no animal leaves before it is ready.
Foster homes first
Most animals live with a volunteer family so we learn how they behave around children, cats and visitors before choosing a match.
Gentle behaviour support
Our volunteer trainers help shy and reactive dogs build confidence, and adopters receive free coaching for the first three months.
Support after adoption
A helpline, a food bank for families in need and a volunteer who will walk the dog on the day you are stuck at work.
Letters from adopters
“Juno hid under the sofa for two weeks. On the fifteenth day she brought me her ball. I will never forget how patient the foster family was with her.”
“We wanted a puppy and left with a senior beagle because the counsellors said he would suit our flat better. They were right in every way.”
“The kitten we adopted was the runt of her litter. Today she rules the house and the dog obeys her without argument.”
Questions from new adopters
How much does adoption cost?
Dogs over one year are $175, puppies $275, adult cats $75 and kittens $125. That covers vaccines, microchip, spay or neuter and a starter kit.
Do I need a fenced yard?
Not necessarily. We match on lifestyle, not yard size. Many of our dogs do best in apartments with daily walks.
What if the adoption does not work out?
Call us at any time. We will take the animal back at any age, no questions asked, and help to find them another home.
Can renters adopt?
Yes. We ask for your landlord's contact details or a copy of your pet policy so that we know the animal can stay.
Help the next animal get here
A gift of $25 pays for a rescued animal's food, bedding and medicine for a week. Monthly gifts help us say yes to the next call.
Start your adoption application
Tell us a little about your household. A volunteer will phone you within two working days.