Our Mission

At the end of 2024, I saw a video on social media of a handsome Belgian Malinois named Whiskey who was scheduled to be euthanized and quickly running out of time. There was something about this particular dog that spoke to me — maybe it was the way he leaned against the shelter volunteers, desperate for pets and attention, or his sweet eyes. I watched the video over and over again, and couldn’t shake the feeling that Whiskey was our dog.

With the help of some great partners on the ground, we were able to pull Whiskey from Riverside Shelter, get him into temporary boarding, then onto a transport van. 3,000 miles and a few weeks later, Whiskey was finally home.

Although I was thrilled to have rescued Whiskey, I couldn’t stop thinking about all of the other dogs who needed help. Here, the beginning of Off-Leash Second Chance was born.
Our mission is simple: pulling dogs from high-kill shelters in California and transporting them to New England. Here, they have a higher likelihood of being adopted and getting their “second chance”.

Also important to us? Advocating for policies that will help stop shelter overcrowding in the first place: low cost or no cost veterinary care, assistance for pet owners who may be facing housing uncertainty, and other initiatives that help keep dogs with their original owners and reduce abandonment. The problems facing shelters across the country are nuanced and complex, and we are eager to learn, help, and assist in any way that we can.  

Interested in helping? We couldn’t do the work that we do without the help of a lot of great fundraisers, volunteers, and friends. Please Contact Us if you’d like to get in touch! We’d be happy to hear from you.

“As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands: one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.”

xoxo

Meredith Storrs, founder
Off-Leash Excursions
Off-Leash Second Chance