ABOUT SECOND CHANCE CHEEKYE RANCH
Give a Horse a Second Chance
Every year in Canada, over 25,000 horses are slaughtered—many young, healthy, and simply discarded. At Second Chance Cheekye Ranch (SCCR), we rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome horses that deserve more.
Founded in 2016 by Kris Latham and supported by a dedicated community of volunteers, SCCR gives forgotten horses the chance to heal. Many arrive fearful, unhandled, and in poor condition. Our work begins by gaining their trust—offering safety, vet care, hoof support, and often their very first carrot.
Whether you want to make a difference, open your heart to adoption, or lend a hand—we’d love to have you join us.
Why We Rescue
There are many reasons animals end up in our care. Some are surrendered by owners, others are acquired from auction houses or rescued from dire situations. While some arrive alone, more often we take in groups of horses all in need of a second chance. In many cases, we are their last resort.
While we are always ready to help horses here in British Columbia, we recognize that the greatest need is in Alberta, where horse auctions are held almost weekly and unwanted equines are frequently purchased for meat. To combat this, we work closely with other Equine Rescue organizations to save as many horses as possible before it’s too late.
On several occasions, we’ve stepped in just in time to rescue groups of young horses or beautiful Donkeys at risk—many of whom have since gone on to thrive in loving, forever homes.
Every Life Saved Matters
We’re proud of the progress we’ve made with these often-forgotten animals. The reward of saving a life is immeasurable—but the costs are not. Every bale of hay, vet visit, farrier appointment, medication, transport, and rescue mission is funded entirely through donations and personal contributions.
It’s a significant undertaking—both financially and logistically—but our deep devotion to horses, and our hope for a future where horse slaughter no longer exists, keep us going.
100% of every donation goes directly to the care and rehabilitation of the Equines at SCCR.
There are many ways to support the fight to end horse slaughter in Canada. To learn more or take action, visit the Candadian Horse Defence Coalition.
https://canadianhorsedefencecoalition.org/
$133,050
FEED
81,285
CUPS OF COFFEE
116
VOLUNTEERS
337
EQUINES SAVED
MEET THE TEAM
Founder Kris Latham is the heart of the operation, from organising the logistics of rescues to carrying out daily feeding and care for each and every animal on the property. With a passionate team behind her, SCCR has grown immensely and continues to expand with the hope of helping more horses in need. It goes without saying that we couldn’t do what we do if it wasn’t for our dedicated volunteers. It is no small feat rescuing horses and their care is extremely time consuming. Our volunteers work hard while asking little in return, and the well loved and happy horses at Second Chance Cheekye Ranch are the result of many hours of donated time.
KRIS LATHAM
Owner/President
Kris was always surrounded by animals growing up, her incredible childhood enabled her to make them a big passion in her life and her first horse was rescued in Newfoundland at the age of 12! Having spent years living all over the world and coast to coast in Canada she finally found the West Coast and has called Squamish home since 1995. After establishing SCCR in 2016 Kris had been able to grow the rescue into a beautiful haven for equines in need. Kris is involved with every part of the rescue process from coordinating transport, helping horses through rehabilitation and ensuring that they find the best possible homes. She has incomparable passion for what she does and treats every horse as if it were her own.
NICOLE KNIGHT
Volunteer Coordinator
In Spring 2021, Nicole and her family visited SCCR, and upon learning of the work being done to help rescue and rehabilitate the horses she quickly offered to help. Nicole started out as a Volunteer shortly thereafter took on the role of Volunteer Coordinator. Her love of horses, initiative, and strong interpersonal and organizational skills made her a natural. Nicole actively recruits, trains, schedules, and supervises our incredible team of 100+ volunteers at 112 shifts per week. Nicole and her family adopted their first horse ‘Steele’ into their family and are dedicated to a lifetime of learning and growing together. They would most certainly tell you that she has been one of the most important decisions they've made.
VANESSA SAVAGE
Social Media Manager
Meet Vanessa Savage, the passionate digital storyteller behind SCCR online presence. In the summer of 2020, Vanessa embarked on a journey of personal growth by volunteering at SCCR. Vanessa later adopted a recuse Avalon and embarked on her own equine business journey, guided by the mentorship of Kris. Now, as SCCR's digital storyteller, Vanessa is dedicated to showcasing the incredible work happening at the ranch, from heartwarming success stories to shedding light on the realities of the horse meat industry. Through a compelling online presence, Vanessa aims to expand SCCR's impact, raise awareness about horse slaughter, and ultimately make a difference in the lives of horses in need. Join Vanessa in spreading awareness & advocating for a brighter future for equines through SCCR's social media feeds.
SHANNON MCGILLIVRAY
Board Member
Bio coming soon.
JOHN LATHAM
Treasurer
Bio coming soon.
Join the team
SCCR couldn’t do what we do without the help of passionate people like you. Apply now to volunteer.