Standing Ovation by Ovation Riding: Last Chance Ranch

Each Friday, Horse Nation teams up with Ovation Riding to spotlight an individual or organization that is doing good work in the horse world. This week, we salute Last Chance Ranch of Quakertown, Pennsylvania.

Sponsored by:

This week’s honoree:

Last Chance Ranch’s mission statement: Last Chance Ranch Animal Rescue (LCR) is a public volunteer, non-profit (501c3) organization rescuing and rehabilitating horses and domestic companion animals. We are dedicated to promoting and educating the public to humane and responsible treatment of horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules (equines) and other domestic companion animals. We provides a safe and secure refuge for abused, unwanted or neglected animals and we rehabilitate the physical and psychological issues of these rescued animals and place them into new homes where they receive the love they deserve. Our follow-up program ensures their continued well being for the rest of their lives.

A volunteer cuddles a rescue dog.

Emily Monsen, the adoptions coordinator for Last Chance Ranch, kindly answered our questions about the organization, based in Quakertown in southeastern Pennsylvania.

How did LCR get started?

Last Chance Ranch was started as a for-profit business by Lori McCutcheon. She started buying horses from auction to rehabilitate and re-home abused and neglected horses. In 1999, LCR became a non-profit and now has not only equines but also companion and farm animals.

Can you describe your facility and your current staffing?

Right now our facility has a nine-stall barn and pastures with run-in sheds to house our equines and farm animals. Our kennel has room to hold around 45 dogs with runs and play yards for them to be exercised daily by our volunteers. We are also in the process of constructing an agricultural building that will include a riding arena, additional stalls, and classrooms for educational purposes as well as an addition on our existing kennel that will have a surgical suite, meet and greet rooms (for use in less-than-desirable weather) and a grooming area. We do operate primarily on a volunteer basis, with over 150 volunteers helping to care for the animals weekly. Our staff, although small in numbers, have put in many hours of dedicated work to help all of the animals find their forever homes.

Last Chance Ranch (photo taken before current construction began)

What kind of volunteer help do you need to operate?

We have volunteers who show up for a “shift” to help care for the animals in the morning or the evening, to help work with our horses on the ground and under saddle, to assist with special projects and clean-up days, and volunteers who help out at events on- and off-site.  We have opportunities for volunteers as young as 14 (with a parent present) and always welcome help!

Where does your funding come from?

Our funding comes from donations from the public and grants. We apply for many grants every year to help care for the animals and pay for special surgeries that many of our animals require. We are always having events at our facility and fundraisers that are open to the public that we have posted on our website.  We urge the public to come and join us for these events!

We salute Last Chance Ranch for the good work that they do, and encourage readers to learn more about the organization by checking out the website and “liking” LCR’s Facebook page.

Many thanks thanks to Ovation Riding for their support of both Horse Nation and individuals and organizations that are doing good work in the horse world. If you know someone who deserves a Standing Ovation, we would love to recognize them in a future post. Email the name of the person or organization along with a message about the good work they do to [email protected]. Photos/videos are always welcome, and include a link to their website if applicable.