Today we’d like to introduce you to Amora Coles. She shares her story with us below:
In 2022, Cherie “Amora” Coles founded 2nd Chance Dog Rescue after recognizing the urgent need for animal rescue in the high desert area of the Antelope Valley. Fueled by her dedication to making a difference, she engaged with local community members, conducted a comprehensive needs assessment, and embarked on her journey to establish a non-profit organization aimed at saving animals from high-kill shelters.
Amora’s commitment doesn’t stop at animal rescue; she also passionately supports the Lancaster community through her full-time work in education. Her presence and dedication have not gone unnoticed. She has been featured on KTLA multiple times, actively participates in community events, and well-manages her time: balancing her responsibilities as a mother to her children with caretaker to her beloved dogs.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?Nothing comes easy when it comes to animal rescue, and you need to have thick skin for it. Lots of amazing, healthy, and family-friendly dogs are dying before we have time to get them networked and seen. Palmdale and Lancaster Shelter, where I primarily rescue from, have some of the highest euthanasia rates in Southern California. Being a non-profit comes with other hardships when it comes to donations and funding veterinary emergencies for our dogs. We are happy to announce in 2023, we received our first grant from the Marion and Richard Graham Foundation which primarily helps fund vet costs and transport for our dogs. However, like any funding, it does run out and the team always has to find other funding resources, which at times can seem few and far between.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Besides being an owner of a non-profit, we are one of few that are new, and an emerging dog rescue run by women of color. We will be on KTLA again January 21st and we will host our first event of the 2024 new year on the same day at Pet Supplies Plus in Stevenson Ranch from 11am- 3pm. All our dogs will be there looking for their forever homes. I am a mother of four, work a full-time job in education as a Community School Specialist with the Los Angeles County Office of Education, led by the work of our Superintendent Dr. Duardo, and run a rescue 365 days a year. I am proud to have a think-out-of-the-box approach to finding innovative ways to give back to the community professionally and personally and this is what sets me apart.
Who else deserves credit in your story?Christine Jackson – Foster and Adoption Coordinator for the rescue, ex-military, animal transporter, and mother. – She is willing to do whatever it takes to help animals and has driven cross country to take dogs to their forever homes.
Noemi Lamotte.- Endless time networking dogs in high kill shelters and a current Foster/Adoption Coordinator for the rescue, mom, transporter and volunteer at the Lancaster Shelter.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.2ndchancedogrescueav.org
- Instagram: 2ndchancedogrescueav
- Facebook: 2ndchancedogrescueav
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amora-coles/
