Our Story — Zach’s Second Chance

Honoring Zach by giving animals a second chance. 🐾💙

Sometimes, one animal changes your life forever. For us, that animal was Zach.

In 2022, everything changed when Zach was diagnosed with lymphoma. As his illness progressed, Jo-Anna made the difficult decision to step away from fostering so she could devote her time to caring for him. After Zach passed away in 2024, his loss left an enormous hole in our hearts. But from that heartbreak came a purpose: to turn Zach’s legacy into hope for animals who need it most.

Zach wasn’t just a pet. He was family. He was a source of unconditional love, comfort, and companionship, and he left an unforgettable mark on everyone who knew him.

After losing Zach in 2024, Jo-Anna knew his story couldn't end there.

Instead of letting the heartbreak be the end of Zach's legacy, she chose to turn that loss into something positive—a way to help other animals receive the care, love, and second chances they deserve.

That is how Zach’s Second Chance, Inc. was born.

Today, Zach’s Second Chance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving animals and families in need. We provide financial assistance for veterinary care, medical needs, and vital supplies to pet owners experiencing hardship, as well as assistance to animal organizations in need.

We are not a rescue. We do not take animals into our care, foster, or adopt them out. Instead, we focus on something equally important: helping people keep the animals they love when financial hardship makes it difficult to provide the care they need.

Every request is thoughtfully reviewed because we want to make sure help goes where it matters most. It represents an animal who needs someone to care, someone to help, and sometimes, someone to give them one more chance.

From helping with veterinary expenses to assisting animal organizations with essential needs, every contribution we receive has the potential to make a real difference in an animal's life.

And behind every request is a story.

A family trying to save their beloved companion.
An animal organization trying to care for animals who have nowhere else to turn.
A pet who simply needs someone to step in and say, “We can help.”

That is what Zach's Second Chance is all about.

Zach may no longer be here physically, but his love continues to make a difference. Every animal we help, every family we support, and every life touched carries a little piece of his legacy forward.

His legacy saves lives. ❤

His love lives on. ❤

Together, we can give more animals the second chance they deserve. ❤

With the support of our donors, sponsors, volunteers, businesses, and community, we can continue turning compassion into action—one animal, one family, and one second chance at a time.

A.J. Brown Signed Football W/Certificate of Authenticity