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UPDATE 6-27-10  We are very pleased to 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.

Read the full Billie Jean story (Part II)

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.

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.

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Help

Helping Paws Animal Shelter

win a $10,000 grant!

Hello fellow animal lovers...

Vote for us at www.theanimalrescuesite.com and we could win $10,000 to help pets in need.

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.

Vote today!

Visit: www.theanimalrescuesite.com

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.

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