This is not a petting zoo.
This is not a commercial attraction.
It’s a community initiative.
This is not a petting zoo.
This is not a commercial attraction.
It’s a community initiative.
Where second chances create first connections
Where second chances create first connections
with care
with care
Second Chance Ranch (2CR) is a privately owned ranch in Northern Nevada, near Lake Tahoe, created to foster meaningful, healing interactions between rescued animals and children of all ages and abilities.
Second Chance Ranch (2CR) is a privately owned ranch in Northern Nevada, near Lake Tahoe, created to foster meaningful, healing interactions between rescued animals and children of all ages and abilities.
Learning through connection
Learning through connection
Second Chance Ranch exists to create those moments.
Second Chance Ranch exists to create those moments.
Research and lived experience consistently show that interaction with animals can support emotional regulation, confidence, empathy, and social development in children, especially when guided intentionally.
Research and lived experience consistently show that interaction with animals can support emotional regulation, confidence, empathy, and social development in children, especially when guided intentionally.
Our goal is to welcome school groups, classrooms, and youth programs to the ranch for structured,
age-appropriate experiences that allow children to:
Our goal is to welcome school groups, classrooms, and youth programs to the ranch for structured,
age-appropriate experiences that allow children to:
Our Purpose
Our Purpose
Build empathy
and compassion
Build empathy
and compassion
Learn respect
for living beings
Learn respect
for living beings
Experience calm, grounding environments
Experience calm, grounding environments
Practice responsibility
and care
Practice responsibility
and care
Develop emotional awareness through interaction
Develop emotional awareness through interaction
At the same time, our animals benefit from consistent, gentle human engagement that reinforces trust and stability.
At the same time, our animals benefit from consistent, gentle human engagement that reinforces trust and stability.
This relationship is mutually beneficial and deeply intentional.
This relationship is mutually beneficial and deeply intentional.
meet the founders
meet
the founders
Grace & Trevor Pipkin
Grace & Trevor Pipkin
Second Chance Ranch was founded by Grace and Trevor Pipkin, whose shared passions for education, mental health, and animal well-being shaped the vision for 2CR.
Second Chance Ranch was founded by Grace and Trevor Pipkin, whose shared passions for education, mental health, and animal well-being shaped the vision for 2CR.
Their work is rooted in both lived experience
and professional dedication.
Their work is rooted in both lived experience and professional dedication.
Each animal
has a story.
Each animal
has a story.
Every story matters.
Every story matters.
The animals at Second Chance Ranch were rescued
from situations where they could no longer thrive.
Some were abandoned, some overworked, some neglected, and others misunderstood.
The animals at Second Chance Ranch were rescued from situations where they could no longer thrive. Some were abandoned, some overworked, some neglected, and others misunderstood.
What they share is this: they now live in a calm, structured environment where they are respected, cared for, and never rushed.
What they share is this: they now live in a calm, structured environment where they are respected, cared for, and never rushed.
Each animal teaches
something different.
Each animal teaches
something different.
Children visiting the ranch learn not just about animals, but about patience, boundaries, and trust by observing and interacting with them.
Children visiting the ranch learn not just about animals, but about patience, boundaries, and trust by observing and interacting with them.
Our Animals
Our Animals
Thierry
6.5 years old
Gentle, affectionate,
and endlessly welcoming
Gentle, affectionate,
and endlessly welcoming
Thierry arrived at the ranch as a frightened puppy, abandoned at a shelter and unsure of the world around her. With time and care, she transformed into a calm, loving presence.
Thierry arrived at the ranch as a frightened puppy, abandoned at a shelter and unsure of the world around her. With time and care, she transformed into a calm, loving presence.
Today, Thierry naturally gravitates toward
children, greeting visitors with warmth and curiosity. She is often the first animal to help kids feel comfortable, showing how safety and trust
can be rebuilt.
Today, Thierry naturally gravitates toward
children, greeting visitors with warmth and curiosity. She is often the first animal to help kids feel comfortable, showing how safety and trust
can be rebuilt.
Independent, observant,
and quietly resilient
Independent, observant,
and quietly resilient
Zola was rescued as a kitten from a severe hoarding situation and faced multiple health challenges early in life. Her recovery required patience, routine, and respect for her boundaries.
Zola was rescued as a kitten from a severe hoarding situation and faced multiple health challenges early in life. Her recovery required patience, routine, and respect for her boundaries.
Zola teaches an important lesson: connection does not always look the same. Children learn to observe cues, respect space, and understand different personalities.
Zola teaches an important lesson: connection does not always look the same. Children learn to observe cues, respect space, and understand different personalities.
zola
5 years old
canelo
mid to late 20’s
Steady, wise,
and deeply grounding
Steady, wise,
and deeply grounding
Canelo is a senior horse who arrived at the ranch after years of isolation and physical strain. Despite his past, he has an incredibly calm and reassuring presence.
Canelo is a senior horse who arrived at the ranch after years of isolation and physical strain. Despite his past, he has an incredibly calm and reassuring presence.
Spending time near Canelo often helps children slow down, regulate emotions, and feel grounded.
His quiet strength makes him a powerful teacher without saying a word.
Spending time near Canelo often helps children slow down, regulate emotions, and feel grounded.
His quiet strength makes him a powerful teacher without saying a word.
Educational Visits
Educational Visits
Designed for schools
and youth programs
Designed for schools
and youth programs
Second Chance Ranch is structured to host small group educational visits focused on:
Second Chance Ranch is structured to host small group educational visits focused on:
Guided interaction
with animals
Guided interaction
with animals
Social-emotional
learning
Social-emotional
learning
Responsibility
and care
Responsibility
and care
Observation
and reflection
Observation
and reflection
Calm,
nature-based engagement
Calm,
nature-based engagement
As Grace and Trevor grow their family and the ranch evolves, their long-term vision includes welcoming special education classrooms and youth programs across Douglas County for tailored experiences that support learning, inclusion, and emotional growth.
As Grace and Trevor grow their family and the ranch evolves, their long-term vision includes welcoming special education classrooms and youth programs across Douglas County for tailored experiences that support learning, inclusion, and emotional growth.
Experiences are thoughtfully paced and led with intention, ensuring both children and animals feel safe and respected.
Experiences are thoughtfully paced and led with intention, ensuring both children and animals feel safe and respected.
Privately owned and intentionally limited
Privately owned and intentionally limited
Education-focused, not commercial
Education-focused, not commercial
Designed by experienced educators
Designed by experienced educators
Grounded in mental health and empathy
Grounded in mental health and empathy
Calm, structured,
and inclusive
Calm, structured,
and inclusive
Centered on
mutual healing
Centered on
mutual healing
Second Chance Ranch is a place where learning happens naturally, through presence, care,
and connection.
Second Chance Ranch is a place where learning happens naturally, through presence, care,
and connection.
What Makes
Second Chance
Ranch Different
What Makes Second Chance Ranch Different
Testimonials
Testimonials
Renee
Renee
“Second Chance Ranch offers an unforgettable experience that inspires kindness, connection,
and lasting memories.”
“Second Chance Ranch offers an unforgettable experience that inspires kindness, connection,
and lasting memories.”
Julia
Julia
“It was hands-on, educational,
and deeply meaningful for our kids. Even now, they still talk about their time at the ranch.”
“It was hands-on, educational,
and deeply meaningful for our kids. Even now, they still talk about their time at the ranch.”
Yashmi
Yashmi
“Second Chance Ranch was peaceful, moving, and truly special. Being trusted by animals who were given a second chance is something I’ll never forget.”
“Second Chance Ranch was peaceful, moving, and truly special. Being trusted by animals who were given a second chance is something I’ll never forget.”
Second Chance Ranch was created from a belief that animals and children have an extraordinary ability to help one another
Second Chance Ranch was created from a belief that animals and children have an extraordinary ability to help one another
heal when given the right environment.
heal when given the right environment.
Through education, intention, and care, 2CR offers a space where compassion is practiced, not taught, and where second chances lead to lifelong lessons.
Through education, intention, and care, 2CR offers a space where compassion is practiced, not taught, and where second chances lead to lifelong lessons.
A place where animals heal, and children learn
© second chance ranch 2026
A place where animals heal, and children learn
© second chance ranch 2026
A place where animals heal, and children learn
© second chance ranch 2026