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Click This Icon To Donate To Save Lives!
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The
History of Helping Hands for Little Paws was established in December, 1995, when Good Samaritan, Kim James, went to Little Rock Animal Services to help a friend look for her lost cat ... she did not find the missing feline, however, what she did find were cages upon cages loaded with homeless cats and dogs. Shocked at the reality of pet overpopulation, Kim pulled out six kitties, took them home, spruced them up, and found each a home within the next seven days. The following Monday, Kim was back at the shelter and pulled another six. Of course, it didn't stop there ... Kim was now hooked and soon it was not only cats and kittens she was pulling, but dogs and puppies as well. Kim began a search for volunteers to help her in her plight of saving these orphaned pets and soon found herself amidst people, like her, that couldn't stand to see innocent animals put to sleep just because they were homeless. A foster program was established and venues were found to show the animals to potential adopters. Kim even became a weekly regular on the local television morning programs, pets in tow! Kim also became active in City Government as well, working with officials to make changes in laws for the betterment of pets and those housed in shelters. Her devotion to the cause was steadfast and her mission was clear ... homeless animals needed a voice and she was there to speak for those who could not speak for themselves. Since 1995, Helping Hands for Little Paws has become the premier rescue organization in central Arkansas. Helping Hands' volunteers have saved thousands and thousands of pets from death row from central-Arkansas shelters, such as Little Rock Animal Services, Benton Animal Control, Conway Animal Control, Jacksonville Animal Control, Cabot Animal Control, Beebe Animal Control, Sherwood Animal Control and many, many others. Receiving non-profit status from the Internal Revenue Service in 1996, Helping Hands moved forward seeking more volunteer help in the way of foster homes, and then began asking citizens to donate more than time, what was needed was the monetary funds to run this organization properly and make sure all animals could receive the vet care they needed before being placed in new homes. The community came to the rescue by donating money, food, vet services and other much needed items that are vital to a successful rescue program. Kim has seen volunteers come and volunteers go ... this is not a business that everyone can handle ... it's not only hard work, but it's emotionally draining as well. Kim has been the only constant with Helping Hands for Little Paws since its inception. She has never wavered in her mission. Now in its 8th year, Helping Hands for Little Paws continues to grow, rescuing more pets than ever before and it all began with one lost kitty and a determined woman who wanted to make a difference in her community. Kim is that woman ... she has made a difference and she continues to do so. On a particularly harrowing spring day a volunteer stood among all the homeless dogs, puppies, cats and kittens inside Petsmart. Tears welled up in her eyes and she exclaimed to Kim, "It is never ending! We adopt out one and we get in three! It's just overwhelming ... hopeless. What difference are we making?!" Kim simply bent down, picked up a tiny orphaned puppy who was sleeping in a shopping cart with her siblings and said, "We are making a difference for this one." Kim handed the pup to the volunteer ... who cuddled the pup for a moment, placed it back in the cart where it quickly snuggled back with her littermates, tied on an apron and got busy! There are literally thousands of happy pets and happy pet guardians out there today thanks to the tenacity, caring and sheer determination of the founder of Helping Hands for Little Paws, Kim James.
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