Second Chance Heroes Rat Adoptions

Home
Second Chance Heroes Rat Adoptions

We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit rat rescue located in Henrico, Virginia serving homeless rats in need. Want to support Second Chance Heroes?

You can view our Amazon Wishlist here: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/6BXNL1D7EHFD?ref_=wl_share

Donations for veterinary care and daily operational costs can be made here: https://give.secondchancerats.org/campaign/668858/donate

14/08/2026

🐀 Important Updates from Second Chance Heroes 🐀

Hi everyone! We wanted to give you a heads up that I will be out of office and unavailable from August 15–25. During this time, I won't be able to respond to messages or coordinate intakes. Our wonderful Adoption Coordinator WILL continue to review adoption applications, so if you have been thinking about adopting, don’t hesitate to complete the application!

There's also a bigger change happening behind the scenes: I'm heading to law school this fall to study Animal Law, with the goal of strengthening our advocacy efforts for rats and pushing for better protections for all animals so often not considered. Because of this, we will be restructuring how the rescue operates. Instead of every new rat coming through my care first, we're shifting our focus to building up our network of fosters! This will let us help more rats, more quickly, without everything bottlenecking through one location.

That leads me to our next exciting announcement: Second Chance Heroes is thrilled to introduce our new Foster Coordinator, Kat Dewalt! 🎉🎉

Kat has been fostering for SCH since the 2024 hoarding case, and her passion for and expertise about rats has been an inspiration to all of us. If you have questions about fostering, send Kat an email at [email protected], and if you are ready to start your fostering journey, take a few minutes to complete the foster application here: https://form.jotform.com/223006143033034

Thank you all for your continued support through all the many phases of our little rescue! Second Chance Heroes only works because of this beautiful community, and we are so excited about where this next chapter will take us, and the things we will be able to accomplish for rats across the country! 💛

Because every rat matters.

04/08/2026

🐀 HAPPY 804 DAY, RICHMOND! 🐀

Every area code has an icon. 804 has Poe.

Last year, a tiny abandoned baby rat was left to fend for herself in a Richmond neighborhood. Alone, scared, and too smart to walk into any trap, she survived on her own instincts for weeks.

But this is Richmond, so of course her story doesn’t end there.

A follower’s dad spotted her in his yard and sent a video. His family let us camp out for days trying to catch her — even while they were out of town! Neighbors checked the traps, reset them every time a chipmunk snuck in first, and kept us updated the whole way.

It took a whole community of animal lovers to bring one baby rat home.

We named her Poe, a nod to Edgar Allen Poe's history in Richmond. Today, Poe is more than safe. She is thriving: quickly adopted, surrounded by rat friends, and is the one who has helped our most fearful, skittish rescues finally feel brave enough to come out of their shells.

Poe is proof of what an 804 zip code does best: shows up for the little guys.

🐀 We are proud to be part of the Richmond community. Happy 804 Day!

03/08/2026

We are back from the Taking Action for Animals conference feeling refreshed, invigorated, and inspired! We had thoughtful conversations with HUNDREDS of people about how to advocate for rats through daily action and legal initiatives. The future is looking bright for animals!

Thank you to Humane World for Animals for putting together this incredible conference, and for helping to give rats a seat at the table!

22/07/2026

Five months of looking, waiting. Five months of healing, of adjusting.

The days of starvation, pain, and loss are behind them. A nightmare they barely remember anymore. Thoughts of grief and illness have been replaced with memories of safety, comfort, and care. As they drift to sleep in a warm hammock with not a worry in the world, they hear someone say softly, “you were worth the wait.”

Their futures are bright. Because of you.

You can give them the love they have only dreamed of.
You can show them the world can be kind.
You can change their lives.

YOU are worth the wait.

👉🏼 https://form.jotform.com/223004657598058

19/07/2026

Meet Akarat.💜

Out of all the NY boys, Akarat may be the one who wants to meet you the most. He's curious, inquisitive, and when something catches his attention (and lots of things catch his attention) he is eager to investigate. He just needs to decide, on his own terms, that you're worth investigating too — but if there are treats involved, it doesn’t take him long!

He has been with us for five — almost six — months now, and he has shown us more of himself than most of his brothers have. There's a lot going on behind those ruby eyes. We think the right home is going to unlock even more of it. 🌼

Akarat is neutered, and we believe he will thrive with other rats by his side. A crew to explore, play, and pile into a hammock with at the end of the day. He's a social guy at heart. He just needs his people to find him first.

Akarat is looking for a home with:

✔️ Other rats to keep him company
✔️ A human who appreciates a rat with opinions and curiosity to spare
✔️ Patience for a boy who's still learning to trust, but is genuinely trying

Maybe you have been keeping an eye on the New York case since January, debating whether or not you are ready to bring another rat into your heart and home. Maybe you have been waiting for the right rat to come along.

Akarat is worth the wait.

https://form.jotform.com/223004657598058

15/07/2026

You've been meeting the NY boys. You've seen their faces. Maybe you've even fallen a little bit in love.🐀☺️

Here's what it actually takes to keep them comfortable and healthy while they wait for their people:

🤩 Paper towels.
🥳 Disinfectant.
😎 Rat food.

Unglamorous, unsexy, and absolutely essential.

If you can't adopt but want to help, this is one of the most direct ways you can. Every item on our wishlist goes straight to the NY rats, and to every other animal who comes through our care.

👉 https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/6BXNL1D7EHFD?ref_=wl_share

13/07/2026

Treasure Goblin is turning a new leaf.

Once lurking in the shadows, peering out of the safety of his hiding place quietly assessing the intention of every passing shape, Treasure Goblin now moves through life with an air of confidence.

He eagerly investigates his space, and comfortably takes treats from his foster.

Treasure Goblin has found his brave.

Once a shadow of an animal too afraid to do anything besides survive, Treasure Goblin is opening his heart and letting love in. Treasure Goblin has worked hard to trust and feel secure, and he knows that when the right person comes along, being chosen will be worth the wait.

Choose Treasure Goblin today: https://form.jotform.com/223004657598058

11/07/2026

Here's the honest truth about rescuing rats from hoarding cases: it's a long haul.

Five months later, many of them are still here. Still healing, still learning to trust, still waiting for their people.

That's what this kind of rescue actually looks like. And we need your help to keep going.

Every dollar donated goes directly to their care — food, bedding, vet visits, and clean housing for each boy for as long as it takes. No rat will be rushed. No rat will be given up on.

Help these rats heal by donating today: https://give.secondchancerats.org/campaign/668858/donate

07/07/2026

When Dust Imp came to us from the New York hoarding case, he was terrified of everything — hands, shadows, the sound of the coffee machine brewing much-needed caffeine. He spent his first weeks tucked in the back corner of his igloo, observing the world from a safe distance. That was before.

But Dust Imp has finally found his home.

His adopter knew what they were getting into. They were patient. They were gentle. They showed up every day and asked for nothing in return — just let him know they were there.

And it worked.

Dust Imp's story is proof that these boys can find their people. We believe that Dust Imp would agree when we say that home is worth the wait.

For these rats, the wait is always, always worth it.

To everyone who shared his post, donated, and cheered him on: thank you. You are part of this beautiful success story.

Now, who's ready to be someone else's person? 🐀
https://24petconnect.com/PP7404

05/07/2026

ADOPTED! 🥰
Khazra has been with us for five months now. 💜

He came to us from a hoarding case in New York, and when he arrived, he wanted nothing to do with people. Hands were scary. Voices were scary. The whole world was something to hide from — and it often still is.

Five months later, he's still cautious. Still watchful. Still deciding whether to trust. But he's different than he was. And the people who have spent time with him can see it. He occasionally allows touch, and no longer flings his body across the room when picked up. That is HUGE for Khazra. We are so proud of him.

Khazra is neutered and we think he will thrive with calm, social rats who do not share the baggage of Khazra’s traumatic upbringing.

Khazra needs an adopter who:

✔️ Has experience with shy or fearful rats (or is willing to learn)
✔️ Has easygoing, friendly rats at home
✔️ Can house him solo while doing very slow, careful introductions
✔️ Understands that progress might be slow, and will celebrate all of the tiny breakthroughs

He's been here five months, and he deserves a home.

If you are the kind of person to celebrate every tiny breakthrough, you might just be the one Khazra has been waiting for.

📩 Apply to adopt Khazra today: https://form.jotform.com/223004657598058

Address

PO Box

70595

Website

http://www.secondchancerats.org/, https://give.secondchancerats.org/campaign/668858/donate

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Second Chance Heroes Rat Adoptions posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Second Chance Heroes Rat Adoptions:

Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization?

Country:

City: