Second Chance Mushers

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Second Chance Mushers SCM is a 501(c)(3) sanctuary home for unwanted Northern Breed Dogs. This is what Second Chance Mushers (SCM) is all about. I dog sled for FUN! Sarah and the Pups

My name is Sarah, and my life is all about dogs, dog sledding, and making a difference. I run with a dog sled team entirely made out of rescued dogs. Each one has come to me over a period of time and each one with its own reason of being surrendered. There are 25 dogs in my care presently as sanctuary dogs. It's for the dog's enjoyment as well as mine. Each dog lives in my home, they are my family. It's not uncommon to come to my home and not be able to find a place to sit because the pups only like soft, comfy couches. Second Chance Mushers Rescue is a sanctuary/rescue. Every dog at the SCM home is a rescue dog and all belong to the sanctuary. SCM is a non-profit sanctuary rescue with the hopes of one day having a facility that allows foster dogs for adoption. These dogs are my family and mean the world to me. I like to share our journey through life on this page which may be filled with happiness, sorrow, or laughter. Just hope you all enjoy it as well.

10/15/2026

I know the posts have been pretty boring and nonexistent this week, and I apologize! ❤️ I’m finally trying to catch back up financially after working for a company that paid me next to nothing. Now it’s time to work as many hours as I can and get these bills caught up!

In the meantime, here’s a lovely little clip of Quinn absolutely drowning me in kisses when I get home from the hospital in the morning, while Tucker provides a much-needed back adjustment. 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

For those who don’t know, I have several kennels here on the property for when I’m at work because it simply isn’t safe for some of the dogs to be left unattended. Quinn is one of them! Her anxiety gets the best of her, and she will do everything in her power to find a way through the fencing to come looking for me.

Since Quinn absolutely does NOT tolerate crates, she has what I call the Taj Mahal of dog kennels in what USED to be my workout room. Now I get the back cellar portion of the basement for myself. 😂

And no worries, everyone gets their bathroom breaks while I’m at the hospital, thanks to Oma and Opa! ❤️

One more thing regarding Barkery orders! 🐾

I know I haven’t packaged or shipped the orders from this past weekend yet. I’m finishing up my workweek and plan to tackle everything tonight and tomorrow!

I sincerely apologize that my shipping speed isn’t quite up to Amazon standards. 😂 Maybe someday I’ll be fortunate enough to make dog treats full-time and spend my days home with the dogs instead of working these long hospital shifts.

Until then, thank you all SO much for your patience, understanding, and continued support. Every single order helps support these dogs, and I appreciate you more than you know! 💜🐾

💜🐾 A HUGE THANK YOU TO MY WISH LIST WEDNESDAY SUPPORTERS! 🐾💜I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has supported ...
10/14/2026

💜🐾 A HUGE THANK YOU TO MY WISH LIST WEDNESDAY SUPPORTERS! 🐾💜

I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has supported Wish List Wednesday over the last couple of weeks!

If I have accidentally forgotten to mention or recognize anyone, please know it was never intentional, and I sincerely apologize!

I am beyond grateful for everyone who continues to support the pups by purchasing supplies, donating, and helping me provide everything these 37 kiddos need. Every single item that arrives makes a difference, and I cannot express how much your generosity means to me.

Caring for this many dogs is no small undertaking, and knowing there are so many wonderful people willing to help makes the difficult days a little easier.

From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU for continuing to show up for the pups and myself. Your kindness, generosity, and ongoing support mean more than you will ever know! 💜🐾

With so much love and gratitude from all 37 pups and me! 💜

10/13/2026

Does Quinn make sure to investigate every single snack, meal, and ounce of food I’ve eaten throughout my night shift by uncontrollably licking my entire face when I get home? ABSOLUTELY. 😂❤️

The best part about going to work is coming home to Quinn. The way this girl greets me, you would think I had been gone for decades instead of just one shift!

There is nothing quite like being loved by a dog who acts like your return is the greatest event of her entire life. ❤️

Even after a long, exhausting night at work, Quinn makes coming home the best part of my day. 🐾

I was dreading today. I know I said this was going to be a good week, but…… this was something I had been avoiding. 🥺Fin...
10/13/2026

I was dreading today. I know I said this was going to be a good week, but…… this was something I had been avoiding. 🥺

Finn finally came home today. 💜🐾

His paw prints and nose print are absolutely perfect.

Compared to some of the other dogs I have lost, his urn is so small. But that certainly doesn’t mean he didn’t have a big heart. 💜

Finn loved his Opa, he loved harassing Elvis (Finn was a little antagonistic 😂), he loved his mom, his food, his snacks, and especially all those rounds of treats that so many of you bought for the dogs!

Since losing him, the reminders have just kept trickling in.

The soft cones I ordered for him to wear after surgery that he’ll never get to use. The freezer full of his pork-based food, his canned food, probiotics, and all his medications.

Medication passes in the morning and at night are so much quicker now because the majority of those medications belonged to Finn. It’s strange how something as simple as having fewer medications to give can make your heart hurt so much.

Someone recently told me they didn’t know how I could handle so much heartache.

And I think the answer is that I have to remember all the love that happens in between the sadness.

I have to remember that some of these dogs came here because they had nowhere else to go. Some were given a chance at a life they otherwise might never have had.

Finn was one of those dogs.

He wasn’t always the easiest boy. He could be stubborn, grumpy, demanding, and a complete little curmudgeon. But he was my curmudgeon, and I loved every bit of him.

I couldn’t save him in the end, no matter how desperately I wanted to. But I was able to give him a home, a family, a full belly, a warm place to sleep, and people who loved him for exactly who he was.

And I hope, more than anything, that he knew just how much he was loved.

The heartache is the hardest part of what I do. But if I let the sadness outweigh all the love, I would forget why I started doing this in the first place.

Welcome home, Finnie. 💜

I wish more than anything that you were coming home to me a different way.

I love you, my little curmudgeon. 🐾💜

I know I recently had a rather unkind individual reprimand me for the amount of money I spend caring for the dogs. But I...
10/12/2026

I know I recently had a rather unkind individual reprimand me for the amount of money I spend caring for the dogs. But I feel that all of you who continue to support Second Chance Mushers Rescue deserve to see exactly where that money goes. ❤️

Today was vet day for Lottie Dee and Harley Quinn!

Both girls had their annual bloodwork and heartworm testing completed, and Harley also needed her rabies vaccination updated.

Harley is one of my older girls, around 11–12 years old, and she’s starting to show her age. She has developed that little shuffling gait that often comes with arthritis, so I wanted to get her started on medication to hopefully make her more comfortable. Before starting anything, it was important to make sure her bloodwork looked good, and thankfully, everything came back great! She’ll start her arthritis medication tonight, and I’m really hoping it helps her feel better. ❤️

I also want to mention that I actually administer the dogs’ DHLPP/Lyme and Bordetella vaccinations myself. With as many dogs as I care for, this is one way I can significantly reduce veterinary expenses while still making sure everyone receives their preventative care. Rabies vaccinations, annual bloodwork, heartworm testing, and anything requiring veterinary attention are handled through my veterinarian.

I also finished paying off Finn’s final veterinary bill today. 🥺

That bill represents the very last attempt I made to save him. Unfortunately, despite everything, I couldn’t.

Finn was a little curmudgeon, and goodness knows he had his ways, but I loved that boy so incredibly much. If there had been anything more I could have done to save him, I would have done it without hesitation. Unfortunately, there was nothing more that could be done.

And that’s the part of rescue that people don’t always see. The veterinary appointments, the medications, the preventative care, the unexpected emergencies, and sometimes the heartbreaking bills that remain long after you’ve had to say goodbye.

I don’t spend this money carelessly. I do everything I can to save money where possible, but I will never compromise the health and well-being of these dogs just to make the bills smaller.

These dogs depend on me to make sure they’re healthy, comfortable, and loved for however much time they have left.

To everyone who continues to help me give them that life, thank you. Your support makes an enormous difference, and I never take that for granted. 💜🐾

Calendar Sponsorship Update — My Sincere Apologies! 💜🐾I am so sorry that I am behind on getting the calendars finalized!...
10/12/2026

Calendar Sponsorship Update — My Sincere Apologies! 💜🐾

I am so sorry that I am behind on getting the calendars finalized!

Once I get through my work schedule, I am planning to post the updated sponsorship proofs this week.

I apologize in advance, everyone, but there are going to be multiple posts daily for a couple of days! I want to make sure everyone has the opportunity to see the proofs, review their sponsorships, and help me catch any errors I may have missed.

I know I have made mistakes along the way, and I truly want to get everything corrected before these go to print. Everyone who generously sponsored a calendar deserves the opportunity to make sure their sponsorship is exactly how it should be.

Thank you all for your patience, understanding, and continued support. I appreciate it more than you know! 💜🐾

10/12/2026

Every night…..I wait on her.

I want to take a moment to thank one absolutely AMAZING organization and whoever sent me quite possibly the best gift I ...
10/12/2026

I want to take a moment to thank one absolutely AMAZING organization and whoever sent me quite possibly the best gift I could ever ask for! ❤️

First, Happy Howie's Natural Dog Treats

If you guys aren’t already following Happy Howie’s, PLEASE go show them some love!

My kiddos absolutely DEVOUR their treats! To the point where I have to be careful not to lose a finger handing them out! 😂

Happy Howie’s has supported Second Chance Mushers Rescue for YEARS, and I cannot express how grateful I am for their continued generosity.

So please return that love! Follow their page, like and share their posts, and consider purchasing some treats for your own kiddos! Christmas is right around the corner, and their treats make wonderful gifts, stocking stuffers, and training rewards. They have supported my kiddos for years, and I would love to see everyone support them in return! ❤️

Now, to whoever sent me the AMAZING gift from Higher Grounds Trading Co.…

TWO bags of Fishtown Blend AND a bag of Justice Blend?!

WHOEVER YOU ARE, THANK YOU!!! ☕❤️

You have absolutely no idea how much this meant to me. After an incredibly sour and stressful week, you managed to turn it into something wonderful!

I cherish my mornings when I’m not working. The kiddos head outside to roughhouse and run off all that energy after sleeping all night, while Quinn sits right beside me.

For about one glorious hour, it’s no phone, no emails, and no distractions. Just me, Quinn, the sounds of the kiddos playing outside, and a wonderful cup of Higher Grounds coffee.

Unfortunately, I don’t get to enjoy those peaceful mornings when I’m working, but you better believe Higher Grounds travels to the hospital with me! 😂

And let me tell you, Higher Grounds is HANDS DOWN the best coffee I have EVER had. Nothing compares. Absolutely NOTHING!

So whoever sent this incredible gift, please know you didn’t just send me coffee. You gave me weeks of those precious little moments that I cherish so much.

Sometimes it’s the simplest things that bring the greatest happiness.

Thank you to Happy Howie’s for continuing to support my kiddos, and thank you to the incredibly thoughtful person who turned a difficult week into something special.

I appreciate you all more than you know! ❤️

10/11/2026

Well, here I am again, asking for a little help. ❤️

Thomas, our school bus, and the Malagator, our pontoon, are both in need of repairs. These aren’t just vehicles to me. They provide opportunities for the dogs to get out, enjoy adventures, and have transportation so we can hopefully get back to dogsledding this winter!

I honestly don’t know what the total repairs will cost, but if I don’t ask for help, I’ll never know what’s possible.

My first priority is raising the $650 needed just to tow Thomas to the repair shop, but I’d really like to have some additional funds available so I can actually get started on his repairs once we figure out what’s wrong. Hopefully, it’s something manageable! If the repairs end up costing more than Thomas is worth, well, thankfully the scrapyard is just around the corner. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Once Thomas is sorted out, I’ll focus on getting the Malagator repaired and winterized before Michigan’s freezing temperatures arrive.

Lastly, I want to purchase identification collars for all 37 dogs with their information engraved directly onto the buckles. Traditional dangling ID tags simply don’t stay on around here, and I want everyone to have identification even when their Fi GPS collars are charging.

Any additional funds will go toward annual veterinary care for the remaining 15 dogs who still need their appointments.

I know everyone has their own expenses, and I never expect anyone to donate. But if I don’t ask, I’ll never know, and even sharing this fundraiser would mean so much.

Thank you for continuing to support the dogs and me. ❤️🐾

https://givebutter.com/repair-thomas-and-malagator-5au0ak

I am using the Givebutter platform because there are zero fees for us as a nonprofit and the funds come a lot faster than a GoFundMe does which can take up to 45 days because we are a nonprofit they have to go to the PayPal giving fund, which is the slowest fundraising on the planet.

Address

PO Box 279
Eastport, MI
49627

Telephone

+5176145623

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