Greg “Stretch” Mathis, Jefferson District Service Rep and Stella, boxer-mix rescue, at 2nd Chance Kennel & Dog Park
Considering their love for animals, it’s no wonder Jefferson District Service Representative Greg “Stretch” Mathis and his wife Traci foster dogs at their 2nd Chance Kennel & Dog Park, named after their late and beloved Chihuahua, Chance. At 2nd Chance, they house medium and large size dogs until the Humane Society of Jackson County (HSJC) finds permanent homes for the pets.
After grieving Chance’s loss and later adopting Zoey, a Chihuahua mix, they decided that fostering pets would be their way of contributing to the community they’d lived in for more than forty years. “We love dogs and have no children of our own, so it just seemed like a natural fit,” Mathis said.
Stretch serves on the Humane Society’s rescue team, but his true calling is actually being with the pets. They’ve built multiple holding areas, giving each pet a place to run, play, sleep and eat, including an area similar to a doggie confidence course. Though 2nd Chance looks and feels like a permanent home, the Mathis’ have already fostered five dogs that have found their forever homes and have three now.
“Since we don’t have a brick and mortar Humane Society facility in the area yet, our foster families give rescues a safe home and even help them become better pets and more adoptable,” said Roxane Rose, president of the HSJC. “Some people are hesitant to try fostering because it’s easy to grow attached to a rescue and it can be hard to let them go; but helping them find their forever home feels amazing and that’s what the Mathis’ are doing.”
Stretch encourages others to get involved. “There are a lot of pets in need of a home, temporarily or permanent, and they can’t speak for themselves. By sharing this story, I hope others will consider supporting their local Humane Societies. It’s harder to let them go once they’re adopted, but we have comfort in knowing they’ve found their permanent home” concludes Mathis.
To learn how you can get involved with the Humane Society of Jackson County, visit www.hsjc.com or the local agency in your county.