Maybe you're reading this because you're in a similar spot to what I was but I'll skip to the end and just say we do not know if the critter we brought in survived. We never actually called and verified the status. Call it cowardice perhaps but I didn't follow-up because I think our animal was dehydrated and I'd guess it had at best a 50/50 chance if there wasn't a nursing mother on hand, which seems unlikely. I cannot verify whether or not this is a good place to take an injured wildlife, but I wasn't able to find any good alternatives. Hence the 4 star rating. --- SITUATION I was pointed to this service by our vet as a young, wild rabbit was injured by lawn equipment. The woman who took us in wasn't especially empathetic, but then I more want a professional focused on the wildlife. I didn't really need anyone to make me feel better. I drove a very long distance to get here and donated money to the program. They indicated if I wanted updates to include an email address but I didn't get any updates. The only evidence I immediately see was that there were a lot of ducks on the property in pens that seemed to be doing fine. EVALUATION? I would hope that a quality wildlife rescue service would include some kind of transparency about their operations, but I fully recognize and understand not wanting random visitors to come into their offices and operations. It's probably stressful to the animals and could introduce pathogens. I tried to look up how well their running things via independent auditor. The only thing I could find to verify their status but the service does have a positive status report with Charity Navigator, which seemed positive. If I had some idea that the donations were helping wildlife recover, I'd would definitely donate more. Also, if it was clear they were part of a larger program to both help wildlife and address larger issues, especially with endangered wildlife, that would be a major draw. That said, having been a part of nonprofits, I know you do what you can with the resources you have. So really this review is just a big question mark. While, I'm glad there was a service available to address this need, really I can really just hope that they're doing a good job to help animals. Make no mistake: this whole episode was about as fun as falling down a flight of stairs, but it likely would've been much worse without a place like this. And if you are in the position of injuring a wild animal and can't walk away, I hope this review helps somehow. read more

They are good caring people who provide such a valuable service to animals in need. I've taken only a few animals, but feel strongly about supporting their important work. read more

The Second Chance Wildlife facility is amazing! There new building is gorgeous. I'm excited for the growth they bring to this community. I found a baby squirrel yesterday around six weeks old. No mother in sight left it in a box where I found it under a tree no mother came by nightfall took him in the next morning. The staff was amazing and reassured me that the squirrel would be taken care of well placed back in the wild when it was time. read more

So, I just called this center twice at 3:18 pm today because I was trying to figure out how to proceed with a displaced wildlife animal. But the female on the phone got quiet and hung up on me both times. I asked if this was the correct number for the SCWC and she still hung up. I am not sure if she did not know what to do but this is not helpful. read more

We found a box turtle that had been hit by a car, and were so glad to have a place we could take it. The staffer we dealt with made it clear that they cannot do updates on the animal's health, nor could it be visited. Animals they take in are helped to the extent possible, then released back into the wild. If they cannot be released to the wild, they are humanely dispatched. I hope people who read some of these one-star reviews can understand that this place is staffed by volunteers who are here to take care of animals. It is not a pet store, and it is not a place to visit to entertain your kids. read more

We had a horrible experience with Second Chance and I definitely DO NOT recommend this place if you want to have a higher and better chance for the poor animals to have a second chance to live. Here is what happened: we hatched a Canada Geese egg when we found it in the middle of the road in our neighborhood. It was amazing to see how the little thing made it to the world and how fast he grew. He brought great joy to my family and became part of the family. Unfortunately, I learnt that they shouldn't be kept by humans and are protected when I was trying to find a forever home for him. I tried some sanctuaries and farms, who recommended that I bring it to a rehabilitation center and Second Chance was a place we found online. I tried to call Second Chance and the staff encouraged me strongly to bring the gosling in but did say he must've imprinted on humans. If that happened, the chance to release it would be little but they would try to keep it with other goslings and teach him how to be a goose. That way, I trusted their expert view and dropped our gosling there on the next day (May 28th). We didn't realize that the worst case scenario was to euthanize the gosling until after we signed the document. We were shocked by this worst case scenario but it was too late. We still hoped for the best as the staff told us that they would try to quarantine our gosling for 24 hours and tried to put him with other goslings. They asked us to check in on May 30th but I couldn't wait that long to figure out the destiny for the poor gosling. I called them the next day and was told that the gosling was gone already!!! They didn't wait to give this poor thing a second chance for more than 24 hours before euthanizing it! I was shocked and very upset about Second Chance. They kept telling me that it is based on the law if the goose is imprinted on a human. I am not arguing what they did was against the law but I have my two points: 1. They didn't even try to give the Second Chance as the whole process took less than 24 hours. This is not the purpose of having it called Second Chance 2. The law supports euthanizing under such a situation but does say if it can't be placed in a nature center. Second Chance didn't even bother to find a place to accommodate the gosling. I actually found a sanctuary where they could keep an imprinted-on-human gosling but it was too late!! Our family is still in deep sorrow after losing the gosling for a week in such an expected way. There is some learning that I want to share to make sure such a mistake wasn't made again. Additionally, it is not a good and correct idea to hatch an egg that belongs to the wild life. read more

Second Chance Wildlife Center - See how healthy and adorable the gosling was. Biggest mistake in my life. - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Clarksburg, Maryland

They are open 7 days a week. Hours vary. Found a bird in the cold on the ground, it needed help. I don't know how long it had been there, but decided to get it help. The local vet could not care for birds, but referred me here. I called and the person on the phone was pleasant. I arrived there not sure what would happen. They never asked for payment, just a form to complete with basic information requested. It's a non- profit and you can choose to donate to help the cause. It's a yellow house on lots of land. Because they treat wild animals, No Dogs (pets) allowed in the place. Makes sense to me. They have several parking spots including those for drop offs. Inside the office they have literature about rescuing wildlife that I found useful. read more

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I brought a healthy, active, friendly baby squirrel that had been abandoned and left in the street here a few days ago and they assured me he was slightly thin, but should be just fine. I checked in 2 days later and they informed me that he was "too emaciated and was too far gone" which was NOT TRUE. He was put down despite the fact that we would have taken him home again and nursed him back to health, but mistakenly thought he'd be better off with the "experts." If you value the life of an injured animal, do not bring it here. read more

Great non-profit that takes care of injured wildlife. Brought in a squirrel we found in our yard that was unable to move it's hind leg. Consider donating to this local non-profit to help support their great work. read more

Found a baby bird on the ground struggling and had no idea where it came from or how to help it. Found this organization online and called, expecting nothing much. A woman answered the phone and was so sympathetic to the suffering of this bird. I drove over and dropped the bird off - turned out to be a baby cardinal - and even though it was a little past noon, the woman waited for me, took the bird in, and never asked for a donation. However, I donated because it was such a relief and wonderful to have an organization like this whose mission is to help wildlife and also help people who stumble upon wildlife in need. This world can be cruel and indifferent. The point is to make it just a little less cruel and harsh. This organization is helping to do that. read more

My bird ended up dying because they wouldnt take him in just because hes an invasive species. Really sick of a wildlife rehab to not want to help a dying bird read more

Both my son and I have together and separately brought wildlife to this Center and they have helped each greatly. This is a caring and really great organization. Do donate. read more

This place is the worst, I called them because I needed advise on how to care for a baby squirrel I found and they said that they could help me but to stop by so they can check and make sure he was not injured or anything. Once I was there a man came out asked to see the squirrel then said he would be right back that he was just going to examine him; after a couple of minuets he came back with an empty box . Basically he ended up telling us that we did not have a permit to rehabilitate the squirrel and that he was not going to give him back. Then I realized I had made the worst mistake in trusting these people. The worst part was when I got home and started to read all the reviews and how they really just killed the animals people would take to them. I wish I would of read the reviews first, I would of never even bothered to call them and ask for advise. I'm so sad and sick to my stomach just the thought of them killing it and how it is all my fault. I hope this does not happen to anyone else and you read all the other reviews along with mine and find somewhere else to get advise or help. Just how they deceived me pretending they were going to help me by giving me tips on how to better rehabilitate him, imagine what they must do to those poor animals. PLEASE STAY AWAY!! read more

I cannot say enough great things about the wonderful group of people who work and volunteer with this organization or the amazing work they do. We've gone to their annual open house tours for the past 2 years where you get a chance to see the animals they take care of and the house itself. It's simply impressive. For the person reviewing below who said "yuck" about the "old house" where this group operates from, perhaps they should do a little more reading on the subject and understand this group has been looking for new space for a while now but needs help funding-wise to do so and perhaps they can consider making a donation to help instead of criticizing the space the group has to work from presently.They do they best they can with what they have. And perhaps that same person who complained about the old house, and who also complained about the senior person who wasn't perhaps as polite as she should have been (I agree) can realize that one bad experience with a single volunteer should not warrant you to 'blast' the entire organization over an isolated experience where they were made to inadvertently feel badly over a single conversation with a single volunteer. That is just silly and very short sighted. This group truly does amazing work and I can't recommend them highly enough as an organization who is truly committed to their cause and goes to great lengths to help the wildlife that comes through their doors. Many volunteers are part of this organization (including those who answer the phones) so if you are local consider helping by volunteering or checking out their needs of donation items. read more

First of all YUCK! I had gone to this place several years ago and had a great time looking a the cute baby squirrels and had gotten a great tour of the place that was given so nicely by a friendly volunteer. Then years go by and I come to visit this place because I had such wonderful memories of seeing baby squirrels. There was a nice young lady who was very kind and seemed happy to be volunteering at this wild life rehab. We were having a nice conversation wen this crabby old lady came out of the old ancient house that was falling apart..... I assume she was the manger and she had a nasty attitude! I wanted to go back a little more were the out door cage was that held the baby squirrels. The crabby old lady said in her rude voice " You can't go there its not an animal shelter were you can go up to the cage and say hi to them" I thought in my head WTF! There was no need to be that rude with at tone of voice! I was just a person wanting to revisit a fun memory that happened years ago! I have never had my feeling hurt so bad and felt so mad in my life. To this day I'm still hurt by the crabby old lady's nastiness! I'll make shore that every one knows about the crabby old rude and nasty toned lady and what she told me! No one should be that nasty to some one who just wants to look at baby creatures! I understand there is a limit to were you can go but there is also a nice way of telling the visitor to not go there! I would look and find other places that help wild creatures and not even bother with this one since it has a crabby old lady manger who is nasty to visitors! read more

Second Chance Wildlife Center - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Clarksburg, Maryland

Front desk was very informative when I talked on the phone and in person about a bunny that my cat had tried to kill. Told me all the information I needed to know that the bunny was safe and ok read more

This place is such a disappointment. I had brought in a baby bird my cat injured a long time ago, and when I asked for an update they said he did not make it. Okay, just recently my cat injured another bird, this one wasn't as young as the last bird but it wasn't fully grown either. The injury was minor but still effected the bird so that it wasn't able to fly. The bird had good energy and I could tell if he was properly treated he was very well able to make it and go back into the world. I emailed for an update, never got a response. Called numerous times, they just said they would get back to my e-mail. Never did. So finally, I called and explained how it's been a week since I've e-mailed and have not gotten a response. So finally they decided to look up my information and give me an update on the phone. Then I find out the bird all of a sudden developed small pox and they had to euthanize him. Small pox? All of a sudden he develops small pox under their care and they euthanize him? I had brought him in because of a claw wound from my cat and he gets killed by them for a complete other apparent reason. This was their SECOND chance on saving an animal I find who needs help, and they failed. I will never bring in another animal who needs help here again. I will probably end up healing the animal myself, and will probably be way better at it than them. read more

I am truly humbled by the amazing work of Second Chance Wildlife Center. My husband accidentally ran over a box turtle with the lawn mower, injuring her shell significantly. I had heard about Second Chance but had never been. Per a friends suggestion, I immediately drove the turtle over to Second Chance and they immediately took her in the back for veterinary care. They did not ask me to make a donation nor did they ask me for financial assistance of any kind. All they asked of me was to promise to pick up the turtle and place her back in my yard after she is completely healed, which would take a few weeks. I was in complete shock! What an amazing organization! They truly care for the animals and are not money hungry. I will most certainly be donating to them moving forward. Wonderful place to donate your money to. read more

Please consider contributing to this amazing organization!! I did and am trying to make it a priority as a fundraiser for my work. They took in an injured squirrel that would have died in its vulnerable state had I not brought him to Second Chance. I called today to find that they had nurtured him back to from his severe injury and shock into a little guy that could feed himself. Hopefully he will soon be ready to come back to his family in our Kentlands neighborhood. Thank you a million times, Second Chance!! read more

Went today for an introduction class for volunteering. Great, caring, hardworking people. They are not veterinarians (there is one vet that comes in for the animals). They are a wildlife rehab center. If someone finds or reports an injured or abandoned animal they can bring it here for help. When the animal is healthy enough they release it back into the wild. Please visit there website they could use a lot of donations. http://scwc.org/aboutscwc_wishlist.html read more

Took a bird to them that had fallen from its nest. It was a cardinal they told me. They took the bird in and I feel that such organizations are like Mother Teresa for animals. Thanks. read more

I was so disappointed when I called today. It looked as though I had an injured young robin in my fenced-in back yard; years ago I had taken an injured robin (my dogs had gotten to and hurt its wing) and the Second Chance staff was absolutely lovely. I gave them a donation because of how great of work I thought they were doing. Today was a complete 180. The younger man who answered the phone was immediately caustic and seemed no to want to be bothered. When I asked if there was a good way to catch the poor thing (he kept running into our glass door and I was afraid he would hurt himself more...also DOGS!) so I could move him because I was worried my dogs would get to him he said "If we took in every fledgling robin from a home with dogs we'd have no room." That wasn't what I was asking. I was shocked- many people in my situation would have either (a) let the dogs get to the bird; or (b) called animal control which would likely have to put the bird to sleep. I asked if it would be helpful if I sent a video so he could tell me whether or not it was injured because it very much looked like its feet or something was injured and he dismissed that too. I am a freelancer who gets paid hourly, so when I'm not working (ie, making a call to try and help what I am trying to figure out is an animal in need or not) I'm not making money. So on top of not getting any help, being treated disrespectfully, I also was not making money for those 10 minutes that I was on the phone with him and then Montgomery County Humane Society. MCHS also proved not very helpful. When I asked if they had a specific point of contact that they suggested talking to over at Second Chance, she told me only that the partnership staff person at MCHS wasn't in the office today so she couldn't help me....I can't believe what a bureaucratic mess the whole situation was! Finally, I asked the Second Chance employee if there was somewhere else I might be able to call to help me with a solution since he didn't appear to want to, which is when he said something along the lines of "we don't want to kidnap a bird from its parents"- insinuating that's what I was interested in doing. In STARK contrast, I called City Wildlife after calling MCHS. The woman who answered the phone at City Wildlife was at once courteous and respectful and launched in to problem solving mode. She explained to me what was happening (this is normal for fledglings; their parents will help to feed them; that I could touch the bird in order to move him to somewhere safer without risking his parents rejecting him. She also validated my concerns and didn't try and rush me off the phone. Thank you, City Wildlife! I am so grateful for your help and will now not have to resort to calling Animal Control since that was what I felt Second Chance was pushing me to do by being so dismissive. Second Chance - you lost any future donations that you may solicit to my house, so don't bother paying for the stamp. It's a shame your rude staff has gotten in the way of such a great cause. read more

My daughter found a chipmunk on the road while going for her daily walk. She called me on her cell phone and told me the little guy needed help. I quickly ran over to where she was and we put the chipmunk in a box. It's head was twisted. We gave it food and water, towels and a fuzzy mitten in with it. We kept it for three days and it was really improving. It was able to eat and drink on its own and it found its way in between the blanket and the fuzzy mitten and would fall asleep. It never looked like it was in pain. Then we decided to take it to Second Chance. What a horrible decision. They looked at it and determined that this little animal wasn't worth saving. I'm in tears as I write this.What a messed up place Second Chance is. I was a vet tech and I know when animal is recovering. It was eating, drinking, urinating, walking around and it did not look like it was in pain. There was no reason to put it down. They have a receptionist who sounds very caring, but little do you know that there is no caring at Second Chance. They could not be bothered. If you care about any wildlife that you might find that needs help, Second Chance is not the place to bring it. Horrible place. The put down the chipmunk because they didn't want to care for it. read more

I called this morning about an injured baby squirrel I found at 2:00 am. It was being stalked by two feral cats. The guy who answered the phone was a complete a**hole. After he asked me a bunch of questions, he ends the conversation by saying this organization is full and they have no room. He referred me to another organization which was also full. I hope the rescued animals in this place are being treated better than I was. read more

Took a baby gosling to them who had a broken foot that just needed drained and splinted. They put him down immediately after we left. Took almost a week for them to tell us, even though we filled out an update form and were assured we were doing the right thing. This baby was LOVED and had survived an injury, a car almost hitting him and yet he still had a ton of life in him. HE WANTED TO LIVE. And because they were "too full" as their facebook said, (which is why we called to make sure they could even take him and they said they would) and because he wasn't a hawk or more rare bird and "just a goose", I guess he just wasn't worth their time. My son keeps asking about his friend. My heart is shattered. I NEVER would have left him there if they would have just said they were too full. I know other people with actual bird rehab experience. Again, thought we were doing the best thing for the baby. Instead, they assured my son that they would help him and keep us updated and that there were other babies there to be his new flock. Instead, he died ALONE and CONFUSED. I will NEVER bring another hurt animal to this place. They aren't actual vets and they only care about cute success stories so they can fund their fancy new building. read more