Our story
It started with one senior dog.
Lily’s Second Chance began with a dog named Lily. When I met her, she was already gray around the muzzle and easy to walk past — one more older dog in a crowded shelter, sitting quietly while everyone hurried toward the puppies.
Senior dogs are so often the last to be noticed and the first to run out of time. They wait the longest, even though they have so much love left to give. I almost walked past Lily too. I’m grateful every day that I didn’t.
This site exists so that other senior dogs get the same chance Lily did — to be seen, shared, and given a home for whatever time they have left.
Lily got her second chance, and she gave me seven beautiful years.
We also remember the senior dogs who ran out of time before they found a home. Visit our Fallen Angels memorial page.
Our Nonprofit Mission
Lily’s Second Chance is now a Tennessee nonprofit corporation built in memory of Lily, a senior dog adopted at 10 years old who gave seven unforgettable years of love. Her story became the foundation for a mission: helping senior shelter dogs across the country get seen before it is too late.
The website uses technology, shelter data, automation, and public sharing tools to make it easier for people to discover senior dogs who are waiting for homes. Every listing, story, and share is part of one goal: giving older dogs a second chance.
Nonprofit transparency
- Organization
- Lily’s Second Chance
- Entity type
- Nonprofit Corporation
- Status
- Active
- State formed
- Tennessee
- Benefit type
- Public Benefit Corporation
- EIN
- 42-3599446
- Control number
- 002125817
- Initial filing date
- July 1, 2026
- Board of directors
- Sam Darraj, Cole Thiemke
- Mailing address
- 516 S Moore Rd, Chattanooga, TN 37412
Lily’s Second Chance helps senior shelter dogs get seen, shared, and adopted by connecting visitors with the shelters and rescues caring for them. Adoption decisions, fees, availability, and final placement are handled directly by each shelter or rescue.
Lily’s Second Chance is a Tennessee nonprofit corporation. It is not currently recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, and contributions are not currently tax-deductible as charitable contributions. See our Donation Policy.
Rooted in Tennessee, reaching every state
Lily’s Second Chance grew out of one senior dog’s story here in Tennessee, and it now lists adoptable older dogs from shelters and rescues across the entire United States. We are not a shelter and we don’t house dogs ourselves — every dog you see links straight to the shelter or rescue that cares for them.
If you’re searching close to home, you can browse senior dogs in Tennessee— including older dogs waiting near Chattanooga, Knoxville, Nashville, and Memphis — or pick any state to find a senior dog near you.
You can read Lily’s original story here:
And keep up with more senior dogs here:
Follow Lily’s Second Chance on Facebook (opens in a new tab)
Featured on WDEF News 12
Our mission to help senior dogs get seen was featured by WDEF News 12 in Chattanooga. Press play to watch the story.
Watch the full story on WDEF (opens in a new tab)
Also in the news
Lily’s Second Chance has also been featured in these stories about giving older dogs a loving second chance:
About Lily's Second Chance — FAQ
Who runs Lily's Second Chance?
Lily's Second Chance was founded by Sam Darraj and is a Tennessee nonprofit corporation. It was created in memory of Lily, a senior dog adopted at age 10 who gave seven beautiful years of love.
Is Lily's Second Chance a shelter or a rescue?
No. Lily's Second Chance is not a shelter, rescue, or breeder and does not house, adopt out, or sell dogs itself. It is a free directory that gathers adoptable senior dogs from shelters and rescues so they're easier to find, linking each dog back to the organization that actually cares for them.
How is Lily's Second Chance funded?
As a nonprofit, Lily's Second Chance is supported by donations. The site is free for adopters to use and free for shelters and rescues to be listed on.
How do I adopt a dog I find here?
Open the dog's profile to see which shelter or rescue is caring for them, then use the adoption link or contact details on that profile to apply directly with the organization. Lily's Second Chance gathers senior dogs in one place so they're easier to find — the adoption itself always happens through the local shelter or rescue.