Second Chance Animal Services now offers affordable pet grooming in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD — When a dog named Fluffy has matted fur or when “hairy” is a description and not a name, Second Chance Animal Services knows there could be trouble in the pet’s home.

“It’s important for people to keep up with grooming their pets,” said Lindsay Doray, Second Chance’s chief development officer, in a recent interview with The Republican. “We know there’s a lot of people struggling to afford care for their pets and grooming is part of maintaining an animal’s health and overall well-being.”

Second Chance Animal Services is a nonprofit animal welfare organization, operating veterinary hospitals in North Brookfield, Southbridge, Springfield and Worcester, according to the business. Its mission is to offer subsidized rates to pet owners in “underserved communities to ensure access to care for all pets in need.”

The nonprofit is providing a full array of grooming services to dogs in its Springfield location. The offerings include hair and fur trimming, baths, nail clipping and buffing. Only nail clipping is available to cats.

Local and national pet stores also groom dogs and cats, but Doray claims Second Chance’s pricing is second to none.

“We look at what’s out there for rates because the goal is to make it affordable and accessible. We look into the pricing and offerings of other places and strive to be as low as we can be,” said Doray.

Second Chance receives no government funding, relying on its fees as well as private grants and donations to run its operation. The nonprofit offers reduced rates so that pet owners aren’t forced to give up their dogs or cats because the cost of care is so expensive.

“We want care to be affordable so people can keep their pets in their homes and out of shelters. Animal welfare is in crisis. Across the country, adoptions are not moving as fast as they used to, so pets are sitting there longer and the shelters are full,” said Doray.

Second Chance already offers grooming services at its locations in North Brookfield and Southbridge. Doray said the need for this type of care is critical in Springfield.

“We see it in the hospital where pets need to be groomed because their hair is matted or long and covering their eyes. They’re unkempt. This tells us people are struggling to get care for their pets and there’s a need for the service,” she said.

Second Chance is located at 67 Mulberry St. and is offering grooming services on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. by appointment. For more information and to schedule an appointment, visit secondchanceanimals.org, email springfield@secondchanceanimals.org or call 413-739-2343.