Second Chance Dog Rescue
Our Mission
Second Chance Dog Rescue is dedicated to saving homeless dogs by rescuing, rehabilitating, and finding them loving, forever homes. Since 2008, our team has been committed to making a real difference in the lives of animals in need.
Why We Started
Founded by Sandra D. Simpson, Jason Cordoba, and Maria Blake, we recognized an urgent need in our community to support dogs that were often overlooked. Over the years, we have grown into one of San Diego’s largest 501(c)(3) organizations, successfully rescuing more than 11,000 dogs from local shelters and beyond.
Our Unique Care Model
We are a dedicated dog rescue, not a shelter. We operate entirely through a compassionate network of private, volunteer-run foster homes across Southern California, ensuring every dog receives the love and socialization they need to blossom. By focusing on cage-free living, we provide a nurturing environment where our rescues can thrive while they wait for their new families.
Connecting You with Your New Best Friend
We believe that thoughtful matching is the secret to a successful adoption. Because our foster families provide daily care, they offer invaluable insights into a dog’s personality, quirks, and preferences, ensuring you find the perfect addition to your pack. Our transparent two-week foster-to-adopt transition period further ensures that every match is the right fit for both the family and the dog.
Join Our Mission
Your new best friend is waiting for you! We invite you to explore our available dogs online, attend one of our weekly adoption events, or submit an application today. Whether you choose to adopt, foster, or volunteer, you play a vital role in our ongoing success story.
- Caring and dedicated staff
- Thorough foster preparation
10/9 - I’m not crying, you’re crying. Yogi hasn’t even been adopted yet and I’m already missing him - but I know it’s the right thing to do. Helping dogs like Yogi is the point, and there are so many more dogs to help through fostering. Our resident dog also deserves to get more love and attention - he is so accommodating of our fosters, but I know he would prefer to be the only dog for a while again. So we will bring Yogi to the adoption event and hope for the best, which is what he deserves. #fosterdog #chihuahua #dogrescue #seniorchihuahua #seniordog
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10/8 - 🚨 URGENT! BUSTER NEEDS A FOSTER — OR BETTER YET, A FOREVER HOME! 🚨🐾❤️ Seriously, HOW is this gorgeous boy still looking for a home?! 😍 Buster is not only incredibly handsome, but he's also SUCH a good boy! We urgently need to find him a new foster home, but what we'd really love is to find his forever family! 🐶 Meet Buster! ❤️ 8 months old 🐾 50 lbs 🐕 German Shepherd/Great Dane mix Buster is truly the total package! He's sweet, affectionate, playful, dog-friendly, and has the perfect balance of puppy energy and laid-back snuggles. 🌊 LOVES the beach, water, and outdoor adventures! 🐕 Gets along great with other dogs and loves meeting new friends! 🏡 Potty trained and walks nicely on leash! 💤 Crate trained — he even puts himself in his crate for naps! ❤️ Loves his people and is always ready for some cuddle time! At just 8 months old, Buster has his whole life ahead of him. He's already such a wonderful dog, and with continued love and training, he's going to make someone an absolutely AMAZING companion. We REALLY need your help finding Buster a place to land! Whether you can open your home temporarily as a foster or give this deserving boy the forever home he's been waiting for, you could change his life. 🏡 READY TO ADOPT BUSTER? Apply at https://secondchancedogrescue.org/dogs 🐾 CAN YOU FOSTER? Please e-mail us at fosters@secondchancesogrescue.org 📣 CAN'T FOSTER OR ADOPT? PLEASE SHARE! Somewhere out there is Buster's perfect family, and we need your help finding them! Let's get this gorgeous, GOOD boy HOME! 🐾❤️ #SecondChanceDogRescue #FosterNeeded #AdoptBuster #AdoptDontShop #SanDiegoDogs #RescueDogs #GermanShepherdMix #GreatDaneMix #FosterSaveLives
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10/7 - Getting the boy ready for his first adoption event on Saturday and gotta make sure the basics are in place. Yogi will be at the Petsmart Mission Valley from 10 am to 2 pm and he looking his best. As his foster mom, I worry that people won’t appreciate how amazing he is and that no one will want him - he can be shy when he first meets people. But at the same time, I am freaked out by the idea that he could be adopted at the event and I wouldn’t even get to make sure the adopters are good enough for this angel! And what if they adopt him and I just never get to see him again? 😢😢😢Fostering: it’s not for the faint of heart. @2ndchancedogrescue will have a bunch of amazing dogs at the adoption event so stop by if you’re interested in Yogi or another new little bestie.
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10/4 - What can we say, this boy contains multitudes. The sweetest, cuddliest little guy, but also loves a good play session. Don’t let his age (12 years!) fool ya, there’s still a lot of fun to be had with this guy. Apply to adopt Yogi through @2ndchancedogrescue today.
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9/28 - We thought Yogi was about to get adopted, but those plans changed so now it’s time to find him a new home. Yogi is great with other dogs, doesn’t care about cats, hardly ever barks, falls asleep in the car, and walks great on the leash. He loves dismembering stuffies and sort of plays fetch. But his favorite thing is snuggling up with his person - including being held “like a baby” while you scratch his chest. Coming from a hoarding situation, he probably didn’t get much human attention, so now he just soaks it up like a sponge. You can apply to adopt him through Second Chance Dog Rescue. #chihuahua #fosterdog #seniorchihuahua #adoptme
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9/23 - The humans behind the.adoptable.chihuahua are on vacation, but Yogi was able to go to an amazing temp foster family with @arlenebhunter and they quickly discovered what a cuddle bug Yogi is. We appreciate the backup from someone with so much fostering experience, it totally relieved our stress that he is in such good hands (literally). Yogi has his dental on Thursday and we will pick him up after that - we’ve missed the little guy. He is just such a reminder that amazing dogs are out there, even when they’ve come from tough situations, so if you’re looking for your next dog, please consider adopting!!!
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9/22 - Secondchancedogrescue.org Chester 8 month old 50 lbs Sweet, playful, friendly, loves attention Xander 1 year old 76 lbs Affectionate, smart, loves being around people Comment: same for adoption application link! #rescuedog #adoptdontshop #sandiego
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