News – Sheridan Media
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Second Chance Sheridan Cat Rescue (SCSCR) announced today that it will transition to a revised intake model beginning July 1, 2026, allowing the organization to focus more fully on its core mission of serving senior cats, special-needs cats, and felines requiring long-term medical or rehabilitative care. The change follows ongoing discussions regarding community animal welfare services and reflects SCSCR’s commitment to ensuring that both local animal welfare organizations can operate within clearly defined roles that maximize resources and improve outcomes for cats in need.
Under the new model, the Sheridan Dog and Cat Shelter will serve as the primary intake facility for stray cats and owner surrenders from Sheridan County, while SCSCR will continue providing specialized care through a coordinated transfer partnership with the Shelter.
“Second Chance was founded to help the cats who often have nowhere else to go,” said Rachel
Kristiansen, Executive Director of Second Chance Sheridan Cat Rescue. “This transition allows us to focus our resources and expertise on senior cats, medically complex cats, and those requiring extended rehabilitation while supporting a stronger, more coordinated animal welfare system for our community.” SCSCR maintained a funding contract with the City of Sheridan through June 30, 2026. After evaluating long-term organizational priorities and community needs, SCSCR elected not to seek continued City funding beyond that contract period.
Beginning July 1, 2026:
• Stray cats and owner surrenders from Sheridan County should be taken to the Sheridan Dog and Cat Shelter, which serves as the community’s designated intake facility and receives public funding from the City and County to support intake operations, vaccinations, and spay/neuter services.
• SCSCR will continue accepting cats through coordinated transfers from the Dog and Cat Shelter, with a focus on:
• Senior cats
• Special-needs and medically complex cats
• Long-term shelter residents whose needs are better served in a specialized feline-onlyenvironment.
The revised model is designed to benefit both organizations and the cats they serve. By directing routine intake through a single community access point while maintaining specialized transfer pathways, cats can receive care in the setting best suited to their individual needs.
The transition will also allow SCSCR to expand its role as a regional transfer partner, assisting
shelters across Wyoming with difficult-to-place cats and supporting broader no-kill efforts
throughout the state. SCSCR emphasized that emergency situations will continue to receive immediate assistance. “We want the community to know that we will never turn away a cat in need,” Kristiansen said. “If someone finds an injured or critically ill cat and immediate help is required, we will continue to respond and provide care regardless of an animal’s origin or an owner’s ability to pay.”
Community members who wish to surrender a cat directly to SCSCR may still be able to do so in certain circumstances. Intake fees may apply for stray cats or owner surrenders brought directly to the organization and will vary based on factors such as spay/neuter status, vaccination history, and medical needs. Fees are intended solely to offset a portion of the costs associated with intake and care. Owner surrenders involving senior or special-needs cats may qualify for reduced or waived fees.
SCSCR and the Sheridan Dog and Cat Shelter remain committed to working collaboratively to
ensure that cats throughout Sheridan County have access to safe shelter, medical care, and
positive outcomes. “Both organizations play an essential role in our community’s animal welfare network,” Kristiansen said. “By focusing on our respective strengths and working together, we can create a stronger safety net for cats today and well into the future.”
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Last modified: July 1, 2026