UPDATE
6-27-10We are very pleasedto report that Billie Jean
underwent successful surgery on June 24th. She will begin her rehabilitation
shortly and she is expected to make a full recovery. Mom, Jean, was
adopted to her forever home. Siblings Blue Jean and Norma Jean will be
available for adoption very soon. We thank everybody
that kindly made a donation in support of Billie Jean.
Donations to the Billie
Jean fund are appreciated and you can do that quickly and easily by scrolling
down to the donate button.
Billie Jean Needs You!!!!
When three 3-week-old puppies and their mother showed up on
the stoop of a city pound, their outlook was grim. They were so covered in
ticks that barely any of their own skin was showing, and the parts that were
showing were plagued with fur loss. The mom is a small Dachshund/Chihuahua mix,
and the pups were small enough to fit in the palm of a hand. Jean, an employee
at the pound, knew that if the pound kept this family of dogs, they would be
euthanized once the three day waiting period was over, no questions asked. She
placed a few calls and, though space was extremely limited, found these pups a
place at Helping Paws.
Helping Paws immediately placed the mom and her pups into
foster care. There, they were given their names. Mom was given the name “Jean”
after the pound employee who cared enough to save her life, and her pups were
named Blue Jean (male), Norma Jean (female), and Billie Jean (female). Now in
safe hands, this family’s medical needs could be addressed.
Even though the ticks had
been removed prior to arriving at Helping Paws, all of the Jeans were still in
need of medical care. Each had raw patches of skin that tested positive for
ringworm, rattling chests due to respiratory colds, and parasites which made it
all but impossible for them to absorb the nutrients they needed to bounce back.
But with the proper medication, a little time, and a lot of love, all of
these persistent pups began to heal.
Billie Jean, however, had another surprise in store. As
she began to heal and become more active, it became clear that she was having
trouble keeping up with her littermates. Upon examination by a veterinarian, it
was determined that Billie Jean was born with problematic knees; instead of her
knee caps being on the front of her legs where they should be, she was born with
them on the insides of her legs. This is a condition that, if not treated while
young, results in a lifetime of pain and near immobility.
Billie Jean’s condition is easily corrected by double knee
surgery and physical therapy, and because she is so young, her prognosis is
extremely positive. It is likely that Billie Jean will have a complete recovery
and, after her physical therapy, will have a lifetime of running, jumping, and
playing ahead of her.
Getting Billie Jean ready
for her forever family will take a lot of support. To cover her medical costs,
Helping Paws depends on the generosity of people like you. Please make a
donation in Billie Jean’s name today and help this wonderful pup get back on her
feet
The Animal Rescue Site is hosting a special challenge for eligible Petfinder.com
member shelter and rescue groups. The grand prize is a $10,000 grant, and they
will be awarding many other grants to rescue groups with the most votes — a
total of $100,000 in grants for animal welfare organizations.
Think how many animals we could help for $10,000!
Help us win! All you have to do is click to help rescued animals, and then vote
in The Animal Rescue Site $100,000 Shelter+ Challenge. Both of these actions are
absolutely free! You can vote once a day, every day, from May 17th through
August 22nd, 2010. Every time you vote, or tell a friend to vote, you are making
a huge difference for us.
Helping Paws is the oldest animal welfare organization in McHenry County. We
rescue stray, abandoned and near-euthanized animals every single day. Please
help us help the animals. Vote for Helping Paws everyday and ask your friends
and family to support us as well.
Thank you.
Shelter Hours
Beginning January 2nd,
the shelter will be open 7 days a week
from noon until 4:00 pm.
Fox Valley Helping
Paws Animal Welfare Association, a non-profit 501(C)(3) organization, was
founded in 1971. Helping Paws is a no-kill animal shelter for stray and
abandoned dogs and cats in McHenry County and surrounding areas. The animals are
provided a sanctuary where they receive medical care, spaying or neutering,
daily care and love, and the opportunity to be adopted by a responsible owner.
Helping Paws is
funded solely through donations. Please help us save the stray dogs and
cats that come to us for help. A gift of any amount will help in the
lives of these wonderful animals.
Follow
Us........
Helping Paws Animals Shelter
Hours:
Open Every Day 12pm (noon) - 4pm
Open Thursdays 4-7 Memorial Day through Labor
Day
Location: 2500 Harding Lane
Woodstock, IL 60098
Phone: (815)338-4400