Or A Helping Paw, Box 387, Buzzards Bay, MA 02532

A Helping Paw Robbed - $1,200 Stolen (please scroll down for more info)

Donate Today! Yes, 100% of your donation helps save a pet's life!

(Dear donors, your privacy is extremely important to us. A Helping Paw, has never and never will: rent, lease, sell or transfer any of your personal information.)

Click HERE to see the latest pets saved at A Helping Paw.

Sign up for our latest newsletter, full of great pet info and the latest news on our rescue efforts. Simply send your mailing address to: ahelpingpaw@aol.com

Attention: Holiday Hours

Thanksgiving week: Tues 10-5, Wed, Thurs, Fri Closed, Sat 10-5. Our volunteers deserve a much needed break and a chance to spend a little extra time with their families. Your calls may not be returned during closed hours. Rest assured our pets will be well cared for and will enjoy a very special Thanksgiving Day treat. To all our adoptive homes and donors, we wish you a very relaxing and happy holiday with your family and pets.

Vote " A Helping Paw" EVERDAY and help our pets win $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Click above. You will be asked to insert name " A Helping Paw" insert "MA" for state, leave 'city' blank and then click on vote, you must verify your vote by inserting the name of the animal you see. If you don't get a confirmation, then your vote wasn't counted. Thank you so much for helping our pets. *Update: We're doing it, we are moving up in rank everyday, though we got a late start, you people who are voting everyday are making it happen! Please don't stop, bribe your friends with a free coffee everyday to get them motivated too! I'm doing my happy dance, we are at spot 16!

Yikes, we need more voters, we are stuck!!!!

Order your gifts here! Books, Cd's, DVDs almost everything! By going through our site, everything you order at Amazon.com helps raise funds for the pets! Click any link below and simply search the item you are looking for.

Closed Tues. Oct. 28th

Due to the recent break-in, we are all very stressed and exhausted. Sunday morning our volunteers came in to find that someone had broken into a window and stole near $1,000 in raffle, donation, adoption and sale money. They even stole a heavy, almost 2' tall glass donation jar, leaving a trail of coins behind. The money was to be deposited that evening, but as usual the Director got stuck there late and was fearful of going to the bank alone so late. Thankfully all pets are safe and secure.

The security alarm was dismantled by the landlord during renovations and never repaired. Because we only lease the building we are limited to what repairs we can make, everything requires the approval of the landlord. In addition, many organizations can apply for grants for building renovations etc. but the requirement is that the organization "OWN" the building. We would love to put in an extensive security system, but first it would cost near $5,000 and we are already struggling just to keep up with our bills and the medical care we provide to our pets and second we don't own the building. As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, we are still without a building of our very own. Sadly, the building we are currently in is up for sale and far out of our reach to purchase.

Cats N' Crisis UPDATE...

Proof we can save a subtantial amount of lives. (Read more below about this life-saving campaign). We are ecstatic to announce that in the last two weeks we have offered reduced adoption fees for many of our hard to place cats as an experiment to see if we could increase adoptions during this poor economy, yet still ensure the pets were going to great homes! It is working!!!!! Beyond our regular adoptions we have placed 5 long-time residents in new homes. One senior dog and four cats. They had been with us from 6 months to two years! These are pets that normally would have been euthanized. Like Allan, a tabby living on the streets for over three years, he was deemed feral and due to be trapped and killed. He now is cozy in a warm bed with his new dad. The new families had wonderful vet references and most have already checked in stating that they simply can't understand why nobody else wanted these pets, they adore them! As a trial to prove our theory that we can increase adoptions in these poor economic times, adoption fees were either waived or substantially reduced. A necessary boost to attract more attention to these special pets. Though, ultimately we lost near $600 in revenue that would be used to help save other pets. We've proved our campaign "Cats N' Crisis" works. Send a pet HOME. Sponsor a pet today! *Update! Two more long-term resident kitties sent home today!

Special Public Notice:$20,000 more needed.

A Helping Paw MUST raise $40,000 By December 2008 or we will be forced to close our doors forever. As a small, growing organization, we do NOT have the reserves to make it through difficult times such as these. Unlike most shelters who rely on steady income provided by town contracts, we rely 100% on public support. Our monthly donations have been about 80% lower in the past three months. Our shelter/rescue has provided crucial services to the public and homeless pets of this area for 10 years. It would be devastating to this area to lose such a vital organization.

Please support our work of ending the needless killing of pets:The pets NEED you to save their shelter.

* HELP US MATCH $5,000! A generous donor is offering to match all funds up to $5,000. Don't let the pets lose out on these precious funds, send your match tody!

A Helping Paw, Box 387, Buzzards Bay, MA 02532.

10 Paws UP to The Mass Maritime Cadets

They sure made a difference to our shelter and our pets by volunteering their time.

THE VOTES ARE IN: THE DOGS WON!
Massachusetts Citizens Vote to End Dog Racing 56% to 44%*

Congratualtions to the dogs of MA! And all those people who worked relentlessly for the last 10 years!

Business Owners. Ads are now being accepted for

Jan/Feb issue!

Reach 10,000 pet owners with our very low rates and support our pets at the same time. Please email Chrissy directly @ pets101z@aol.com.

Click above to raise money for our rescue/rehab center

SHOP TO SAVE LIVES!

Ebay - Amazon.com - PetSmart - Circuit city - Sears - Target - Home Depot - Hot Topic

and 100's MORE stores!

Join A Helping Paw at leading this life-saving effort "Pets n' Crisis"

We all know the economy is poor. But did you know it is the direct cause of the deaths of more cats and kittens than usual? As more and more people lose their homes, more cats and kittens are turned in to shelters that are already overfull. To make matters worse, fewer people are adopting. Can you blame them? Everyone is cracking down on their spending and adopting a cat or kitten is the last thing they are thinking about. This surely has become a tragic problem for every shelter. A Helping Paw has the solution - We CAN increase adoptions in this poor economy by reducing adoption fees and making it more affordable to adopt. Problem is, we can't do it unless, you, the public supports this wonderful life-saving effort. Adoption fees only cover medical care. When we do an adoption, that fee goes directly back into medical care to help the next pet. So as you can see we can't lower fees unless we have your financial help because we won't have enough money to provide medical care to another pet. With the public's help and donations, we can reduce the adoption fee of a pet, and still have enough money to help the next pet in need. We've already proved that we can increase adoptions in this extremely poor economy now all we need is generous public support. With your donation of $25 or more we can save many more lives preventing these pets from ending up in already over burdened kill shelters. Every single donation is helping save the life of a precious cat or kitten. Please, please help these precious animals, sponsor an adoption today. You can even choose wich cat or kitten you would like to sponsor, just choose from our adoptable pet list. If you or your business would like to be named as their special sponsor please let us know, otherwise we will assume you would like to remain anonymous. Please make donations out to: A Helping Paw (Cats n' Crisis). Trust me, you will feel great knowing you saved a kitty and made it possible for them to get a great home.

Volunteers Desperately NEEDED!!!

Due to the slow economy, more and more pets are being left homeless, the worst we've seen it in 10 years. People who once volunteered have been forced back to work. With less volunteers and more homeless pets we are desperately seeking volunteers in all areas. Our most major need is for cleaning help. Whether it be morning cleaners to help in the pet rooms or others who can do light cleaning of our thrift shop, even 2-4 hours per week would make the difference. Reliable people only please. Great way to learn more about what it takes to save these precious pets. College bond students WELCOME!

BUY OUR BUILDING! SAVE THEIR SHELTER!

The "For Sale" signs went up last month. Our pets are again fearful they may lose the only place they can call home. The only organization in the area dedicated to ending the extermination of innocent pets.

As a small organization started with no funding, our goal has been to prove that you don't need to be rich to do good. And thanks to the generosity of so many people our organization continues to grow more and more every year. Yet, we've moved three times already and every time we do we it truly hurts our progress. Last year in our new building has been our best year yet! We LOVE this building and we want to ensure it belongs to the pets FOREVER!

There is still time to save the pets home. We NEED to raise enough money to finally buy this building or another. Please, please give generously to our building fund. It "IS" possible to buy this building. We can STOP the extermination of innocent pets! Spread the word, tell everyone you know that we must all join together and save their building.

Donations can be sent to:

A Helping Paw/ Building Fund

Box 387

Buzzards Bay, MA 02532

Or Call 508-759-2887 to make a donation on your credit card.

Simply adore RATS!

We have many, many babies just arrived and ready to go homes in pairs!

  Do YOU care enough? Give The Gift Of Life. Don't wait, tomorrow could be too late. A Helping Paw Inc.

508-759-2887

Box 387

Buzzards Bay, MA 02532

3166 Cranberry Hwy., E. Wareham

pets101z@aol.com

Hours: Tues - Sat 10-5, Wed till 7 PM

Dedicated to ending the cruelty, suffering and death caused by animal overpopulation. We pride ourselves in helping the ones that need it the most - we DO NOT pull "perfect" pets from other states. Massachusetts shelters are already overburdened and it is our goal to reduce the deaths of wonderful, loving pets, right here in Massachusetts. Our services go far beyond the work we do with the animals, we take great pride in the work we do helping people and the community! After all, it's the pets and people that make the community, and our goal is to make it better for everyone.

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Pet Of The Month

I want to give you my love!

"Wizzles"

Can you imagine I have been at the shelter for over a year? I came in as a baby and I've grown up here. I was rescued from a life on the streets and though I've made this my home and feel relaxed here, I tend to become nervous again in new places. I need someone who will understand that it will take me a while to adjust in my new home. I'll probably hide under the sofa for a week or two, but with your love and patience I will become a loyal friend. I want attention and love, but with so many new people coming and going it is hard for me to trust. Consider adopting one of my 'special' friends like me, for a great adoption deal.

When getting a new pet, what is most important to you?
price
pet is current on vaccines and altered
pet is micro chipped
personality
pet must be young
I only want a pet in good health

When YOU don't SPAY it's the pets that pay...

Everyone thinks working at a shelter must be so much fun. It is one of the most emotionally and physically draining jobs one could do and with very little respect from the public.

The frustration of watching pets suffer simply because their caregivers were to cheap, or lazy to have their pets altered is horrific. People think "what's the big deal, people love kittens, i'll find homes for all mine." Put aside the fact that there are already thousands of kittens being killed each year in shelters because of lack of good homes.  Consider the suffering these animals go through. All too often we take in a litter of kittens who are born to moms who aren't even healthy enough to care for themselves. Many times we take in a mom and babies the owner stating they can't keep the cat because she simply won't stop getting pregnant. They laugh that she's on her forth litter of the year. Mom's resources are completely drained, her body never been given time to recover, and now she's expected to care for yet another litter. Mom is in poor condition and we have to boost her the best we can just so she will survive in hopes she will be strong enough to care for her babies. Many times mom's body is in such a weak state, the kittens begin to suffer. Though we intervene the best we can, these kittens are already in a frail state. Our volunteers spend hour after hour, day after day trying to keep the kittens going long enough for their bodies to respond to the nutrition we are offering them. Many times, just when we think they are going to make it, the kittens take a turn for the worst. Their little bodies finally unable to fight anymore. We watch as they take their last breath and their suffering ends. Sick to our stomachs that no matter how hard we worked it wasn't enough. Remembering the owner who laughed and showed absolutely no respect for the pet they took in. Yes, the pets PAY when you don't spay.

Medical Funds Needed For Senior Dogs

AHP is one of the only organizations that rescues senior dogs.

Without your donations how can we help them?

Senior dogs require more than just basic medical care, caring for these precious seniors can be financially draining for our shelter. Adoption fees only cover a small portion of their care. By making a donation towards their care, you are making it possible for us to help yet another dog in need.

"Scooter"

A tiny little guy trying to survive the streets alone. With his poor health it is amazing he survived. No other shelter would help him because of the cost of his medical care. We took him in keeping our fingers crossed there are enough people out there that want to see this little guy live. Thank you to the two people who cared enough to send in a combined total of $150.

"Adison's Story"

Adison was owned by a woman who kept to herself, never asking anyone for help. She rarely left her home, and almost never had visitors. She passed away queitly, and wasn't found for 10 days. Poor Adison didn't know how to cry out for help. He survived on a bag of cat food and what water he found. We were contacted by a family member shortly after the dreaded call. But before the family had a chance to rescue Adison, the police had taken him away and sent him to another shelter. He was to be placed in a 10 day quarantine, but because his owner was deceased, he was going to be immediately euthanized due to his poor condition. So not only did this poor dog just lose his home, and his beloved owner, he was soon to lose his life. After several calls, just short from his euthanization, the family was able to get him released and he was then brought to us. The family warned us that he was in poor condition so we were prepared for the worst. But even at that, the volunteer was still shocked by his appearance. He was 100% matted.  His feet had balls of matts the size of golf balls. At first we thought he had no eyes, until we pryed the fur away. It was hard to tell if he had any physical issues, so the first trip he would make was to the groomer. The groomer had her work cut out for her. It took four hours, two people and several blades to find the little doggie under that mess. Our volunteer came back looking like she was just dragged through the streets. Though Adison came back with a few knicks and bruises, I can guarantee he felt 100% better. It took just a few short days for him to recover from his ordeal of losing his home and mom and for the first time he wagged his tail. Though he can be a cantancaras old man at times, most times he just wants to get a good o'l bum rub and play outside.

A very special thank you to the family member who cared enough to rescue Adison. Most people wouldn't have bothered to go to the effort of rescuing him, especially during such an emotionally draining time. Generally when a family member passes away, the pets are euthanized because no one in the family cares enough to take them in. But she put aside her pain, to save his life and offer one last gift to her loved one.

We would also like to thank Marleen Malone, owner of The Rover Makeover in Sagamore for donating her services to make this little boy look so handsome.

Though we deal with real cases of animal abuse and neglect on a daily basis, Adison's story isn't about that. It's about a woman who removed herself so much from society that for whatever reason, she was unable to ask for help for herself. I hope she is looking down at us with a smile, knowing that yes a few people did care, they cared enough to want her beloved dog to have a second chance at life.

Barnstable County
The complete online guide to the Barnstable County area, with accommodation, real estate, business and local information.



FREE Pets

Every wonder what happened to the 6 kittens you gave away FREE...

was hit by a car

was euthanized at a shelter along with over 80% of all cats at shelters

was eaten by a coyote

died of medical problems because the owner was too cheap to take it to a vet

was killed by the neighbor's dog

is still living with a loving family.

Less than 25% of the cats and or kittens given away free wind up in permanent homes. Over 90% of the cats and kittens we take in were obtained for free by a friend, family member or through the newspaper. Don't let your cat litter, spay today!

Building Fund

The Pets Need You - See Their Video-   - The Lives We Save....



Unlike most organizations who have a building provided for them by the town, A Helping Paw struggles daily to ensure the bills are paid to keep our building. Our building is the most important part of our shelter, without it, we couldn't possibly offer safety and security to so many abandoned, neglected and abused animals. Without our building, there is no shelter to protect the pets.

Our building is the most important part of our organization - it offers safety and security to hundreds and hundreds of pets each year who would have been destroyed otherwise in addtion to preventing the deaths of thousands of unwanted animals. Here, precious animal are given a second chance at life without discrimination of age or medical issues in an enriched loving environment. As one of the only "NEVER - KILL" organizations in Southeatern MA, your financial donations are 100% needed to keep our doors open to these loving pets. They need you, thank you for being there for them.

click here for updates

We have brought over $9,000 in free spay/neuter services to this area

We have made it affordable for low-income pet owners to alter their pets

We have offered free spay/neuter to people who care for ferals

We provide many area classrooms with the award winning publication Kind News

We have rescued hundreds of stray cats and kittens from our streets

We have drastically reduced the feral population in our area

We have prevented thousands of kittens from being born to our streets

We offer daily support to pet owners who have questions about their pets

We have provided a resource for people unable to keep their pets

We have given out hundreds of pounds of free pet food to less fortunate pet owners

Thank you volunteers and financial donors for all that you have done to improve the lives of animals and the people who love them.

Adoption Sale Visit Our Pet Page For Wonderful Friends Needing Homes

EVENTS

click here

Foster Parents NEEDED!

I remember a time when the volunteers and I would get a much needed break in the winter. Well, those days are long gone. These gorgeous animals in need are keeping us hopping all year round. So many in need, so little room. We want to be prepared for the hectic spring season so we are currently setting up foster homes in preperation. If you would like to help save a pet's life by becoming a foster parent, please call today. Certain requirements are necessary to ensure the health of your pets and ours, such as providing a private room in your home. All we ask is that you are reliable, dedicated and able to offer lots of love and patience. And you can't beat the reward of helping a homeless pet get a new, permanent family. Please call today 508-759-2887 or email pets101z@aol.com.

Volunteers are unpaid, not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless. Anonymous

Please adopt a kitten TODAY!

Did you know over 70% of cats and kitten entering shelters will be destroyed due to lack of homes? Our shelter is loaded and the calls keep coming! What will happen to them if we turn them away? In order to increase adoptions so we can save lives of others pets we are offering redcued adoption fees for many of our pets who have been with us a while. If you can't adopt please won't you consider helping by making a donation. Every pet we take in requires medical care prior to being placed up for adoption. Needless to say the little funds we do have go very quickly. With addtional funding we will be able to get the pets to the vet sooner, placing them up for adoption quickly. In turn be able to help even more pets who will otherwise be destroyed.

Pet Shopping - Read Before You Search

Gone are the days when people would walk into a shelter and simply fall in love with a pet. Times have changed making it possible for people to view lots of different animals in a shorter period of time, right from their own home. We are forever grateful to the site PetFinder.com who has helped placed so many of our pets, however, I feel, as do several of the other shelters I've spoken with, that sites such as these have lead to 'pet browsing', meaning people are now being very specific when looking for a pet. No longer do people jump in their car and visit the nearest shelter in hopes of finding a match. People now scan through unlimited photos and descriptions of pets, in search of what they consider to be the 'perfect' pet. Being specific as far as personality goes is obviously crucial to matching a pet to your family, but some people have taken it to the point of specific size, colors, shade of colors, hair length, even eye color! etc as if looking for a new dress that will fit perfectly. Whatever happened to adopting a pet because it made you feel great knowing you saved a life that needed saving? Recently we had a couple who stopped by and looked at five other shelters for a kitten, they had seen near over 30 kittens yet still couldn't find one that 'clicked' with them. Our precious Princess dog was overlooked because she wasn't the right color, our little 14 pound doggie friend had five vistors yell at me because they said he was MUCH too big! our sister sibling kittens are much too big for most at only six months of age, (sadly this pair has spent their entire six months at the shelter, but no one seems to care, so they will continue to grow up in a cage.) even a kitten at three months is considered too big!

In a sense these sites have done an injustice to our organization who prides themselves on rescuing pets that other larger organizations would euthanize immediately. Prior to internet searching, these wonderful pets were quicly adopted simply because visitors would fall in love with them before they found out of their medical conditions. Realizing their medical issues were no big deal, they bundled them up and took them home.

   Many organizations take in or place up for adoption, only 'highly adoptable' pets, ones that will move out the door quickly. Leaving the rest 'abandoned' or to be euthanized. A Helping Paw feels every life is valuable and we would never turn our backs on the ones that need us the most. But sadly when people are searching for a pet, it is way too easy to click them away and on to the next pet. Had they met the pet at our shelter, chances are they would have fallen in love with them regardless of any issues they may have.  The ease of internet pet 'shopping' is causing people to become 'picky'. People no longer care about the personality of a pet, they are too busy searching for the right color, length of fur or even eye color. In their quest to find the 'perfect; pet, they are overlooking some of the most amazing animals. I have to wonder sometimes if society is forcing shelters to deal with only prime animals, the heck with the ones who may be a little shy or simply need a little eye ointment now and again.

Over the last five years a drastic change has been made in dog adoptions. People now virtually 'special order' their pooches, again in previous times people would visit shelters looking for their match. Chances are they went home with something totally different than what they thought they were looking for simply because they fell in love. Now you simply leave your pet description with an organization and they will ship you almost anything you want from a southern state. Considering most people only want puppies or sm breed dogs, what happens to all the other wonderful dogs right here in MA who so desperately want a home? Did you know that being either a big or black dog is almost an immediate death sentence?

I see a very sad change coming, kittens just over the three month mark stuck in cages day after day unable to play or explore as people continue their quest to find the 'youngest' kitten possible. Soon these kittens will be euthanized at tradtional shelters as they have overstayed their welcome. Cats who tend to be a bit shy around new people (gosh how can we blame them, pop me in a new place surrounded by strangers and see how I react), will never get a home, dogs who are just a little oversized for the likes of most people, or possibly even the wrong color will be put to death.

I guess as in any business you must role with the changes in order to succeed, as so many shelters have already learned, but if that means leaving the old, the black, the 'too' big kittens, the shy, the ones who require simple medical care to die, I will NEVER make that change! That is not a change I want to be part of. I started rescue work to rescue pets, not supply the demands of people who judge pets by color, size, shape or first impressions. Good things never come easy and that inculdes relationships, that is what we want from our adopters, not a trophy to show their friends, but a true relationship with the pet they choose to adopt. If we chose our spouses simply based on looks and whether or not they had medical issues, few of us would be happily married. Of course I got lucky, I just happened to get looks and a great personality!

We can't shop for pets the same as we do inanimate objects such as clothes or cars, we only get pleasure from these things based on their looks, pets bring us pleasure through their individual personalities, looks should not be a factor.

Written By Chrissy T. in hopes more people will adopt with their eyes closed.

Special Needs Kittens Desperately Need Your Help

~~ Star Princess Fund ~~

Star Princess is a precious little girl who was found trying to survive alone on the streets with a seriously deformed leg. Just one week later an adorable 6 week old kitten was found crying in pain. With his paw trapped in a fence, he painfully set him self free, tearing off all the skin from his paw. Alone in fear and pain, maggots soon infected the skinless paw. He was named Survivor.   Emergency care was put on hold as volunteers tried to come up with the money needed to save his life. Sadly, Survivor didn't make it. We care so much for these precious animals who have been abandoned, abused and neglected. It brings tears to our eyes when we lack the funds to help them. They look at you to ease their pain, give them a chance at life.  Please won't you make a generous donation to our "Star Princess" medical fund to ease the pain and suffering of others who require emergency care.

Trapping

Animal Population Out of Control

In every town there are hundreds to thousands of pets calling the streets their home. We are currently working in an area with over 100 cats and kittens!

We've rescued 200 kitties, but we've run out of funds! Many are still kittens, please help us get them off the street before it's too late. Please, please don't make the mistake of thinking others will send in the funds we need to protect these precious animals, we've been fortunate just to scrape by every week with what little funds we have to care for the over 100 pets currently under our care, sadly this makes it impossible for us to help the others that desperately need help. If the funds don't come in, plain and simple we can't help them.  We'll be doing the leg-work, but it is your funds that will actually be preventing additional kittens from dying.

The majority of these animals are cats and kittens. Many of the victims are Innocent: being tossed out by caregivers who've grown tired of them, or didn't want to provide medical care, or moved away. Many are the product of free-roaming unaltered pets breeding litter after litter. Doesn't matter where they came from or how they got there, the fact is they need our help.

Most people could care less about stray cats, feeling they aren't worthy of safety, security and love. Shame on you people, just one visit at our sanctuary seeing how happy and content our feral kitties are would change your mind. So many people think it's sad to see these kitties living on the streets, but so few people offer the financial resources we need to help these wonderful kitties. People also wrongly assume if a pet was abandoned it must be sick or have something wrong with it. 99% of the time there wasn't anything wrong with the pet, it was the owner that had issues, commitment and moral issues.

         I don't know of one town that isn't 'littered' with groups of stray/abandoned/feral cats and kittens. Most people don't see them so they don't think there is a problem. Just because you don't see the problem doesn't mean it doesn't exists. Many people who are aware of the problem, they've seen litters of kittens growing up on their street, feel it's the town's responsibility.

Every town is facing cut-backs. Whether we agree with them or not, the fact is many necessary programs are suffering. Resources to help homeless animals are seriously lacking and in many towns there are no town run resources for cats and kittens, at all! This is no longer a town problem, this is everyone's problem. Until we start taking responsibility for these precious beings ourselves, nothing will change - cats and kittens will continue to die on the streets. Please don't rely on animal shelters to do it alone - the problem is just too overwhelming! But each and every person can make a drastic difference. Each person who volunteers or offers financial assistance can help towards curing the problem. Considering a group of 30 cats can lead to over 200 cats+ in just one season, it makes perfect sense to spay/neuter these cats and end the vicious cycle. Unlike the tragedy of Katrina that no one could have prevented, this is something we can all do something about. Imagine a time when gorgeous little fluff balls with blue eyes can be placed in loving homes instead of being eaten by coyotes, or hit by cars, or dying from disease. You, you reading this can make the difference. Your tax money goes to destroying animals, why not send a donation to help save them. Whether it's $1, $50, or $1,000 - every penny counts! Your time, your money can be what saves that precious little blue-eyed baby - it's a gift from the heart that will give you a warm feeling forever.


                              NEW! Order Your Bracelets & Magnets Now -

                         Help Save lives click here.

A Helping Paw is a no-kill, volunteer run organization dedicated to increasing the human/animal bond and decreasing the deaths of innocent homeless animals. According to the HSUS over 70% of cats & kittens in shelters are destroyed and 60% of dogs. A Helping Paw is a NO-KILL organization. Though we are unable to take in EVERY pet due to space and lack of funding, EVERY pet we take in gets a second chance at life. Our efforts directly benefit kill organizations by lessening the amount of animals at these facilities.   Through the efforts of our dedicated volunteers and with financial support of animal lovers like you, we have saved hundreds and hundreds of animals from suffering a cruel death. Many of the pets we take in would normally be euthanized by other shelters due to medical costs and lack of space - if a pet has any problems, regardless of how mild, people won't adopt them. We don't think a pet should be killed just because it has a simple medical problem or is a bit nervous around strangers. Every pet we take in will remain with us either permanently or until we can find it a great new loving home. Please help us continue saving these wonderful animals either by adopting a 'special' pet, or sending a financial donation to help us care for one.   Humans aren't perfect, why should we expect our pets to be. AHP is funded exclusively by people like you who want to stop the killing of innocent lives. We DO NOT get one penny from the government nor town contracts. Every penny we get is stretched so we can help as many animals as possible. Our "Angel Wings" program appeared in the ASPCA's 101 great shelter ideas, and we are proud members of the HSUS and the Very Best PetNetwork, We've also had mention in most local papers and national coverage in Cat Fancy Magazine.

We are honoured to accept this award on behalf of our dedicated volunteers and friends

who offer financial support. Please visit these wonderful sites, they are amazing!

Don't forget to visit our rescue page to see all the great animals that our volunteers and supporters have saved: click here

Beanie Babies For Pets

Our goal is to collect over 5000 Beanie Babies, help us reach our goal! For more info please call 508-759-2887. All sales will go directly into our building fund.

Pet's Wish List:

New cage only $79. at Pet Edge, much easier to clean and the volunteers will have more time to play with us!

Money ($5,000) to build an outside play yard for our sanctuary residents to keep them happy and healthy.

$1,000 for an air exchange unit for our sanctuary

Pet supplies, paper towels, laundry detergent, kitchen bags, new toys and cat furniture

Item Donations:

We welcome most items for our thrift shop, but please keep in mind due to limited space we request that all items have a value of $5. or more. The more value an item has the more money we can raise for the pets.

Not Accepted

Matresses, computers and monitors must be 2005 or newer, no black & white TV's, all electronics must look new and be working perfectly, no medical supplies such as walkers, crutches etc., no golf clubs, no baby items, no toys unless like new and complete.

Items should be dropped off during open hours. We do have a donation bin to the left of the building, but please do not put valuable items in bin as we've had many items stolen. Anything that does not fit in the bin, or large items must be approved.

2007

Wareham Wal-Mart $500.

Home Depot Wareham $25 gift card

Shaws Wareham - $50 gift card

2006

Wal-mart Raynham - $500.

Sept- Dec - Over $12,500 for our building fund.

Sept. $300. from the Cape for our building fund.

Aug. $600. from a special friend for medical care

A special THANK YOU to Tessa & Jill. Mom donated all of her earnings from her yard sale to our pets. And little Tessa at only 2 1/2 years old, donated all of her change which totaled $50. Our pets are very lucky to have such special friends.

Thank you to ThriftShopper.com for helping promote our thrift shop.

Looking for a thrift store in your area? Visit them today!

Special thanks to our media friends:

Cool 102

The Pet Gazette

Wareham Observer

Action Unlimited (no longer helps our pets)

The Pet Zone

Brockton Enterprise

Bourne Enterprise

Supporting Vets

Mattapoisett Animal Hospital: www.mattapoisettanimalhospital.com/

Animal Health Clinic - Trowbridge Rd, Bourne - 508-759-5810

All Pets Medical - Trowbridege Rd., Bourne

Pet Partners - http://www.petpartnersne.org/

Dr Palmer, NH

2005 Twin Gardens of Monument beach raised funds to help area homeless pets. Owners George and Cindy Smith who recently took over ownership of Twin Gardens in Monument Beach decided to hold a three day, end-of-season sale exclusively to benefit the homeless pets at A Helping Paw Humane Society. The sale raised $1600. The funds will be used to provide medical care for just some of the over 80 cats and kittens A Helping Paw cares for each and every day. President Chrissy Tomkiewicz says the funds are a blessing, as their medical care fund had been depleted early this year due to the overwhelming amount of cats and kittens needing help. All of the volunteers at A Helping Paw would like to send a very special thank you to George and Cindy Smith who also provided all of the gorgeous flowers that currently decorate the front of the shelter. Twin Gardens will reopen next spring, April 1st.
We would like to thank Lynn and Jack Peterson for all their help. Please tune into their pet show every Friday on WBSM, 1420 AM. MY TURN Career Opportunities students of Bourne High School held a special fundraiser just for our pets. They raised $155.00! A+++ The funds will help our pets get the medical care they need. We would like to thank the following publications for running articles in hopes of helping us find a new home: The Bourne Enterprise, Cape Cod Times and the Standard Times.

May 2005 - A very special "paws-up" to the kind gentleman who donated a 10' x 20' outdoor dog run for our K-9 residents.

Dec 2005 - $1,000 to our feline friends from Ms. Rogak

Dec 2005 - $2,000 from a friend to help with feral kitties

A person who can see into an animal's life...sees beyond themselves. CT

Unlike other shelters, we do not euthanize to make room for healthy pets, we give every pet the best we can. Of course this can be expensive, but how do we tell little Chappy who is only three months old that he needs to be destroyed because surgery to remove a bad toe costs over $150. We didn't feel he deserves to die just because he has a medical problem. And there are so many others like him that need medical care so they can recover and be placed into great new homes. But in order to keep helping these innocent pets, we need your support so, so bad. Please visit our recent rescues page to see who we've helped.

Please consider making a financial donation today. To use your credit card, simply call 508-743-8406 or sign into PayPal.com and send payment to AHelpingPaw@aol.com. If you would prefer to send a donation by mail, simply send it to: A Helping Paw, PO Box, 387, Buzzards Bay, MA 02532

A Helping Paw is a registered 501 (c) (3) all volunteer nonprofit organization. Your donation is fully tax deductible and because we are a small organization who doesn't pay their CEO's hundreds of thousands of dollars each year, 100% of your hard earned funds goes to the care and rescue of homeless pets. We make your hard earned funds work hard for the pets.

Keep those Paw Points Coming!

Every Spay/Neuter Counts

It's the only way we can stop the endless killing

Our application from the DJ&T foundation that offers grants for spay/neuter has been denied. Sadly, most times only large organizations are considered for grant funding, leaving small organizations like ours in desperate need to keep up with the demand. The funds we would have received from this grant are so desperately needed so we can prevent the thousands of births each year that lead to overpopulation and the death of countless animals. With so many low-income people living in this area, many allow their pets to have litter after litter, sometimes 8-10. Not only is this not healthy for the mom, but also not healthy for the litters born. With thousands of kittens being born each year, it's impossible for them to all get good homes. Many are abandoned near dumpsters, thrown out to the streets, drowned, the lucky ones are humanely euthanized at shelters - but ultimately most will die a premature death. So why should you donate funds to help pets of low-income people. Your funds will directly stop the ongoing breeding, reduce the animal overpopulation problem making more homes available for other pets, and directly prevent the death of innocent animals.  Each cat spayed, prevents 5-7 from dying!   A Helping Paw knows spay/neuter as the key to ending animal deaths. Until we control the population, the killing of innocent animals will NEVER end! If we don't do it together, who will?

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since May 10, 2005

Copyright A Helping Paw 1998-2008

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