Second Chance Cat Rescue outlines rising intake, asks council to note county funding gap

Second Chance Cat Rescue told the Sheridan City Council that the shelter saw a notable rise in stray intake in 2024 and is asking local officials to consider county support as it manages growing costs.

Rachel Christensen, executive director of Second Chance Cat Rescue, told the council the shelter’s data for Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2024 showed 392 total intakes, including 190 strays, and that strays increased 33% from 2023. “We had a total, of 190 strays come in last year. A 69 of those were from within Sheridan or Sheridan County,” Christensen said.

Christensen said transfers from other shelters remain an important but sometimes contentious funding source. She described grants that pay transfer costs: “Best Friends gives us a hundred dollars for every cat that we pull. That rescue group in Casper gives us $200 for each cat,” she said, adding that some transfers are covered by private donors when grants are not available.

Nut graf: The presentation underscored rising shelter demand and a budget gap driven largely by veterinary and payroll costs, while council members pressed for clarity about the shelter’s policies and whether Sheridan County might contribute funding.

Christensen presented the shelter’s 2024 finances: budgeted income was $358,100 and actual income about $360,000; expenses were budgeted at $358,100 but ran about $376,000, leaving the shelter roughly $16,000 over budget. She said payroll accounts for just under half of expenses, with veterinary/medical at 21 percent and facilities 12 percent. Christensen also said the rescue recently received a contract with Purina reducing food costs and that Sheridan College work-study placements have helped cut payroll in the most recent quarter.

Council members and the audience asked whether county funding had been sought. Christensen said the county previously denied funding and that the county’s application cycle would not reopen for several years. “The last time we asked, we received a no, and, I've been told that they're not reopening for funding until that this last 5 year there was like a 5 year period, and so the application is not open, I think, for another 3 years,” she said.

Euthanasia policy and capacity were raised in questioning. Christensen said animals that cannot be made pain-free are euthanized, and that having a staff veterinarian allows the shelter to save animals at far lower cost than outside clinics. “If I took him to another vet clinic, that would have been a $2,000 vet bill. No. I would not have been able to afford to save that cat. I would have put him down,” Christensen said of a recent hit-by-car case whose treatment cost the shelter about $70 because of in-house veterinary care.

Public comment and council reaction: Resident and meeting speaker Mr. Denatley said nonprofits that repeatedly seek government funding should tighten budgets or reduce intake. “If they can't operate within their own budget and they're looking for government money, then they need to tighten their own belt,” Denatley said. Multiple council members said they would consider a letter of support for the shelter’s application if the shelter reapplies to county funding.

The mayor later noted that Second Chance had formally requested city funding for the next fiscal year; the council said the request will be discussed at a future work session.

Ending: Christensen thanked the council and listed partners who support the shelter, including Best Friends Animal Society, Petco Love Foundation, Zoetis, Sheridan College and the Dog & Cat Shelter. She asked whether the council had additional questions; none were raised before the meeting moved on.