Volunteer Opportunities with Helping Paws

There are many ways to assist our wonderful program in continuing to rescue beautiful doggies and kitties from all over the High Desert.

• Dog and Cat food donations
  • We always accept and are in desperate need of dog and cat food donations, open or unopened, no matter what type or brand.
• Foster Homes
  • You will keep and care for an animal, dog or cat, until they are adopted into their forever home. You will welcome them into your family and show them what a pet's life should be like. We will provide everything necessary to care for the animal.
• Follow-ups
  • You would be doing follow-up phone calls on animals that have been adopted. You can do this from home at your convenience, and you can do as many as you want to per day. We will provide log sheets to fill in and certain questions to ask. You would need to make a report of what you find out and give us these reports at least once a week. If you feel that the animal is in danger or needs help immediately, you will need to give us the report as soon as possible.
• Adoption weekend/event volunteers
  • Helping Paws is at Petsmart in Victorville on Amargosa every Friday and Saturday from 3:30-9 pm. We need around 6-8 hardworking volunteers each day to help set up, disinfect, and line the cages with newspaper before the adoptable animals come each night. Throughout the night, the volunteers are expected to clean any messes made by the dogs, such as water spilled or dog waste produced. Volunteers are also expected to keep each water dish filled as needed. All volunteers are expected to stay until 9pm each night and possibly later to tear down and reload all adoptable animals and all other necessary items back into Lacy and Sherree's vehicles. There are other expos or adopt-a-thons that will need extra volunteers and sign-ups will come available as these events arise.

First batch of our adoptable animals

This is Snow Mom, a 1 1/2-2 year old female Husky mix. She was found in Lucerne Valley at a hoarder's house, starving to death with a litter of puppies underneath a blown down roof. Her owner is currently in jail for one year because she severely starved her animals. 

 This is Bandit, a 1 1/2 year old male Plotthound/Lab mix. He was originally adopted out from us as a puppy and returned to us via animal control. His owners lost their job and could no longer keep him.

 This is Patches, a 1 year old female Border Collie mix. She was rescued from the same horrible circumstances as Snow Mom. 

This is Chewy, a 1 year old male Chihuahua mix. He was rescued from the pound, just before he was set to be euthanized. He is very sweet, but a little timid around men. 

This is Sweetheart, a 1 year old female White German Shepherd mix. She was also rescued from the same horrendous property as Snow Mom and Patches. She is a little timid, but she just needs someone who is willing to be patient with her and let her come out of her shell.

This is Tiny Timmy, a 1 year old male Chihuahua that was rescued from the pound in terrible condition. He was a very rail thin, 2 pounds but now he is a very healthy rambunctious little guy.

What we're all about

My name is Elizabeth, and I am one of many Helping Paws volunteers. I work mainly for the Petsmart/Helping Paws adoption weekends and other adoption events. I will be posting pictures of adoptable pets daily. If you see any pets you are interested in, feel free to call Sherree or Lacy at the phone numbers listed under "About Me" or email myself at vvhelpingpaws@yahoo.com or Sherree or Lacy at xhelpingpawsx@aol.com.

HD Helping Paws

Helping Paws was established in 2004. We have rescued and adopted out over 3000 pets so far into loving homes. Many of these animals would not have stood a chance in our animal shelters, since they were so deathly afraid of people and were deemed unadoptable. We feel capturing and putting them to sleep because they are so afraid is just not acceptable. We don't give up on any dog in need. In most cases, they come around within a few days although some may take a few weeks. No matter how long it takes, we will convince them that we are their friends. We are a no kill pet rescue and adoption group. Pets that are too timid to be adopted are worked with until they are adoptable or they will stay with us where they feel secure for the rest of their lives. Helping Paws is located in Lucerne Valley, California (in the High Desert), but we do not have an open to the public facility yet. Most of are pets are located in foster homes throughout the High Desert. If you are interested in one of the cuddly k-9's or frisky felines please feel free to call (760)694-7187 or (760) 694-7192 any time and set up a visiting appointment or visit us at one of our many adoption events.