Our Mission
Saving lives, one rat at a time
Laboratory rats
At Second Chance Heroes, we are dedicated to working closely with laboratories to foster rats that have retired from their busy jobs as scientists. Â We strive to place them into loving homes that will provide them with high quality care as well as love and affection.
Helping Shelters
Each year we bring in approximately one hundred rats from our shelter partners all over the state, as well as some out-of-state shelters in need. Between 70-90% of the rats coming through Second Chance Heroes have been transferred in from other shelters.
Making connections
Small animals that breed quickly and have large litters, like rats, are often found in hoarding situations or with families who have become overwhelmed unintentionally. In the cases where SCH does not have available space for intakes, we work with our community to find adopters and shelters who can assist in placing the rats into loving homes and treating those in need of veterinary care. We have been able to network out countless rats without needing to place them into foster care!
A Lifetime in the Making
Second Chance Heroes hit the ground running in early 2019, although the dream to start a rat rescue began many years prior for founder Eva Cross. With more than fifteen years of experience caring for rats, Eva tailored her higher education to study how rats experience the world. She worked in animal shelters for many years, starting as a volunteer at age 6. She got her Master's degree in Anthrozoology and wrote her thesis on the effects of how rats are portrayed in popular culture. With an extensive knowledge in rat behavior and the psychology of stigma, Eva loves speaking to others about rats and illustrating what fascinating and wonderful companions they are.
Second Chance Heroes is a one-of-a-kind organization that specializes in collaborating with laboratories to place retired lab rats into pet homes. Lab rats may have been surplus, breeders, recipients of placebo treatments, or have completed their research and are eligible to be released into pet homes. Second Chance Heroes does not take a stance on animal research, but rather operates as a resource for laboratories to relieve their responsibilities.
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