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April 2024 by Rachel
***BEWARE*** This place is completely unrecognizable. It used to be run by animal lovers and volunteers. They spent their time trying to save animals and give them a second chance (hence the name). Well this is no longer the case. In fact, the name is just about the only thing that stayed the same... Because instead of attempting to save animals, they now just euthanize most of them. If the animal is a certain species, age, etc; it is AUTOMATICALLY killed (even if in perfect health and able to survive). I was wondering where all the animals were because the place used to be filled with life! So the only reason I would ever bring an animal here is if I knew it was fatally injured and wanted it to stop the suffering sooner. That is it. Please tell your family and friends that this place is very different than before and to be careful.Let's say you find an orphaned baby animal that isn't injured. You search online and see countless videos showing ones the same age (and even younger) being raised by hand with extremely high survival rates. You don't have the time/ supplies/experience to do it yourself, so you take it to "Second Chance." They exam it, tell you it's almost 5 weeks old and in great condition.. But that they're going to euthanize it. Why? Because their protocol now is to automatically kill them if they are under 5 weeks old. The whole point of bringing it to Second Chance was to save it, so you ask for the animal back (thinking you can find a real rescue or do it yourself if no one else will). But they will NOT not give it back. Scenarios like this happen every day at "Second Chance." A place that used to try to save every animal that entered its doors is now a euthanasia center.PLEASE think very hard before taking any animal here. Read the other 1 star reviews. Once you hand it over to these sickos, it's too late. There are other rescues (Columbia, DC, etc). Contact them instead.
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April 2024 by Taylor Crims
PLEASER PLEASE DO NOT TAKE ANIMALS HERE!!! This is not the same place it was 5 years ago before it was taken over by new management. Read the other 1 star reviews. This place USED to be a rehab center... But now it's just a euthanasia center. The chance the animal will be euthanized without 12 hours is over 90%... Regardless of health status or age. People dropping animals off think they're doing a good thing but this place doesn't save animals anymore. GO TO ANOTHER PLACE or have it on your conscience forever. If you saw what's going on behind those doors it would horrify you.
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February 2024 by Elisa Ferrante
Took a little injured squirrel over after calling and getting details over the phone. Place was easy to find, ample parking and the staff was awesome both on the phone and in person. It was just before the snow storm hit so I hope the squirrel makes it but I'm glad it's in good hands whatever happens.
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November 2023 by Jake Jacobs
Went there looking to volunteer, but the 40 minute round trip commute made me decide against it. They are doing great work there, rehabbing hurt wildlife and returning them to the wild once recovered. Your donations would be appreciated.
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September 2023 by nicole murray
I found 2, 4 week old baby squirrels their mom abandoned and they gladly accepted to raise them and release when ready. Love them!!
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July 2023 by Lisa Aburn
I brought an injured Canadian Goose who had been hit with a car to the amazing people at Second Chance Wildlife Center. I was having difficulty finding someone who cared for water fowl. Second Chance had me bring him to them for evaluation. During intake the staff answered all of my questions, and were honest and transparent about the injury he had suffered. I was informed that due to the serious injury he may have to be euthanized. I called to follow up a week later and the staff knew exactly which animal I called about, and kindly informed me that he unfortunately had to be humanely had to be euthanized. I am thankful to the kind people here for taking him and caring for this animal and helping him cross over peacefully with no suffering like would have happened in the wild. What they do is not easy by any means and I am grateful for the kindness the provided to me and to the seriously injured animal.
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July 2023 by Edward Yanowitz
If I could give zero stars, I would. This is NOT the wildlife center that I once knew. Under the current management, I have had several bad experiences. They are NOT trustworthy. They euthanize too quickly. If you want to give our local wildlife a true "second chance", please take them to either City Wildlife Inc. or the Phoenix Wildlife Center. The latter is in Baldwin, Maryland. Both City Wildlife Inc. and the Phoenix Wildlife Center do a GREAT job.
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July 2023 by Susan Berger
Yesterday my friend and I came across a fawn in the middle of Sweepstakes Drive, obviously hit by a car and left. She was alive so we scooped her up, put her in the car and drove to SCWC. We asked that the fawn be humanely euthanized. A volunteer went in to get the vet. The vet declined to speak to us and sent the volunteer back out to tell us they were low on euthanasia drugs and couldn't spare any. Say what??? I have heard nothing but sad and bad tales of experiences with SCWC in recent years. In my opinion (as a 12+ yr volunteer and ex board member) the center is badly mismanaged. The President (the title used to be Center Director) has been living out of state for most of her term and is hauling in an exorbitantly high salary. The Center is a far cry from the wildlife rehab that Chris Montuori created.
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June 2023 by Sharon Ascherl
Thank you for being here to help our wildlife here in central Maryland. We just dropped off an injured baby groundhog. It is good to know wonderful people like you are here to help and care.
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June 2023 by changhong liu
We had a horrible experience with Second Chance and I definitely DO NOT recommend this place if you want to have a higher and better chance for the poor animals to have a second chance to live.Here is what happened: we hatched a Canada Geese egg when we found it in the middle of the road in our neighborhood. It was amazing to see how the little thing made it to the world and how fast he grew. He brought a great joy to my family and became part of the family member. Unfortunately, I learnt that they shouldn’t be kept by human and are protected when I was trying to find a forever home for him. I tried some sanctuaries and farms, who recommended me to bring it to a rehabilitation center and Second Chance was place we found online. I tried to call Second Chance and the staff encouraged me strongly to bring the gosling in but did said he must’ve imprinted on humans. If that happened, the chance to release it would be little but they would try to keep it with other goslings and teach him how to be a goose. That way, I trusted their expert view and dropped our gosling there on the next day (May 28th). We didn’t realize that the worst case scenario was to euthanize the gosling until after we signed the document. We were shocked by this worst case scenario but it was too late. We still hoped for the best as the staff told us that they would try to quarantine our gosling for 24 hours and tried to put him with other goslings. They asked us to check in on May 30th but I couldn’t wait that long to figure out the destiny for the poor gosling. I called the on the next day and was told that the gosling was gone already!!! The didn’t wait to give this poor thing the second chance for more than 24 hours before euthanizing it! I was shocked and very upset about Second Chance. They kept telling me that it is based on the law if the goose is imprinted on human. I am not arguing what they did was againt the law but I have my two points: 1. They didn't even try to give the Second Chance as the whole process took less than 24 hours. This is not the purpse of having it called Second Chance 2. The law supports euthanizing under such situation but does say if it can't be placed in a nature center. Second Chance didn't even bother to find out a place to accomodate the gosling. I actually found a sanctuary where they could keep an imprinted-on-human gosling but it was too late!!Our family are still in deep sorrow after losing the gosling for a week in such an expected way. There is some learning that I want to share to make sure such a mistake wasn't made again. Additionally, it is not a good and correct idea to hatch an egg that belongs to the wild life.
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June 2023 by S. D.
I’ve heard from volunteers (some friends of mine) that since COVID management has gone down hill. Any animal you bring in, they WILL be euthanized. Even if it’s healthy! Stop funding this place..take animals elsewhere or try to do the best that you can in helping it. I’ve had to Google ways to treat injuries, etc. and it has worked wonderfully. Second Chances my a$$.. This place was once a trusting and helpful organization to have in the community, not anymore.
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May 2023 by Nate Dolan
We found an injured baby sparrow in Ellicott City at 3:10. They were 50 minutes away. I made the drive in 40. The individual who helped us was professional and informative. That's not why they get 5 stars though. They get 5 stars for being a refuge for injured animals, which is always admirable.
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May 2023 by mary larraz
On google it list these guys as taking in foxes. Not so...do not take them there or anywhere near Montgomery county animal control. They will euthanize perfectly healthy animals. Biggest regret of my life.
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May 2023 by Blue Skies
No animals I have taken there have ever survived. Squirrels, rabbits, none. For the last one they lied for a week that all is OK, and then suddenly another volunteer reveals that my animals was already euthanized days ago.
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April 2023 by B Morris
Thank you for taking in, supporting, and caring for our wildlife. You are an invaluable piece of our society. I really appreciate your support, guidance and help when we found the baby squirrel.
