Hands 4 Paws

Hands 4 Paws Mission Statement

Our mission is to work with the public and government to facilitate the legal and humane protection of domestic companion animals in Douglas County. This includes providing protective shelter care for animals in need, as well as promoting responsible pet ownership through outreach, education, and training; and protecting people from animals and animals from people.

Upcoming Events

Dog and Cat Basket Raffles

Two beautiful gift baskets have been donated to us. The baskets each contain over $100 of donated items. The baskets would make a great gift! The dog basket contains a medium sized crate, a 5 pound bag of Hill’s dog food, a bag of treats, rawhide treats, food dish, several toys, a blanket, a Frisbee, a collar, a Santa hat, a stocking and other items. The cat basket contains a small crate, a 5 pound bag of Hill’s cat food, several bags of treats, a food dish, toys, a stocking, a blanket, a picture frame and other items.

Tickets are $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00. Tickets can be purchased at the Okaw Veterinary Clinic in Tuscola. The clinic is located at 140 W. Sale Street. The phone number is 253-3221. Tickets will be drawn on Dec 12 at our Santa Paws events. You do not need to be present to win.

Dog Basket Cat Basket

Angel Tree at Pamida

Visit the Angel Tree we have sponsored at Pamida in Tuscola. The tree will be at Pamida from Nov 7 - 30. The items listed on the tree are items needed at the Douglas County Animal Shelter. Stop in and select an item to purchase for the shelter. Items can be dropped off in the box by the tree.

Items listed on the tree include: Cat litter, Kitten food, Chew treats (small, medium and large), Dangly cat toys, Towels, Leashes, Canned kitten and cat food, Canned puppy and dog food, Scratching post, Catnip toys, Small stuffed animals and Blankets.

Santa Paws

Bring your pets for pictures with Santa. Children are also welcome to have their pictures taken with Santa. Santa Paws will be held on Dec 5th and 12th from 1 - 4 pm. Santa will be at Tuscola East, the downtown elevator office near the community building. Each photo will be a $5.00 donation. Raffle tickets for the dog and cat baskets will also be sold during both days.

Remembrance Tree

Visit the Remembrance Tree at the Okaw Veterinary Clinic in Tuscola. The tree will be decorated with ornaments made from photos of departed pets. Your pet can be featured on the tree. Donations would be accepted. Bring a copy of your pet's photo to the clinic. Photos will be cut to make the ornament. You may pick up your ornament after January 1st. Ornaments not picked up by February 1st, may be discarded. The tree will be on display during the month of December.

Next Board Meeting

Members are welcome to attend our next board meeting. The meeting will start at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, December 1st in the dining room at Jarman Center, Tuscola. If you would like to attend, but are not a member, please email us so we know you will be attending.

Next Animal Control Board Meeting

The next Animal Control meeting will be Tuesday November 9th. The meeting starts at 1:30 pm. The meetings are held at the Douglas County Court House, on the first floor in the back right corner room. If you have any questions, please email us at hands4pawsinc@yahoo.com.

"Happy Tails: The Call of Nature" book for sale

We are selling the Kirby and Cindy Pringle's new book "Happy Tails: The Call of Nature." You can purchase the book by contacting Tanya at 217-253-3221 or stopping by the Okaw Veterinary Clinic. Each book is $17.00.

News

Are you creative? Would you like to head a committee to build a float for the Tuscola Christmas parade? Please email us at hands4pawsinc@yahoo.com if you would be interested.

Twenty six fire departments from Champaign County were invited to attend a Pet Rescue seminar on Sept 29th. They learned how to help pets who have been injured during fires or automobile accidents. Most of the fire departments also received a pet rescue kit. Some of the fire departments already had pet rescue kits. Those fire departments were invited to attend the class to learn how to use their kits.

Hands 4 Paws, the Eastern Prairie Fire Department and Pampered Pet Grooming raised money to purchase the kits. Together we raised around $2,000 to purchase the 20 kits that were presented at the class. Dr. Sally J. Foote, a member of Hands-4- Paws, was the instructor for the class. She brought her dog "Butterscotch" and her cat "Ranger" to use as models during the class.

Shawn Flaningam, a Lieutenant in the EMS Division of the Eastern Prairie Fire Department, contacted Hands 4 Paws after learning about “Tank” Gaston’s rescue in July. “Tank” was alone in his owner’s home when the house caught on fire. The Villa Grove Fire Department found “Tank” unconscious and having trouble breathing. The fire fighters used the pet rescue kit to revive “Tank.” He regained consciousness and was taken to the Animal Emergency Clinic in Champaign.

Hands-4-Paws raised money in 2007 to purchase kits for the fire departments in Douglas County. Tanya Kern, a member of Hands-4-Paws, had the idea to raise money for the pet rescue kits. She began making calls to local businesses and asked for donations. Tanya and other members of Hands 4 Paws were able to collect enough money to purchase the kits. The kits were presented to the Douglas County Fire Departments during the instructional class.

Thanks to everyone who attended our pet first aid class at the Camargo Woolly Worm Festival on Saturday. Check out some of the photos on our photo page.

Douglas County Animal Shelter Wish List

Donated items can be dropped off at the shelter Monday - Saturday from 8 am - 1 pm and 3 - 6 pm. If you have any questions please call Nicole at 253-4921.

- Frontline and Advantage flea medicine for dogs and cats

- Play pen for puppies

- Litter

- Dangly cat toys

They would love to have volunteers come out and walk the dogs and play with them as well. If you would like to volunteer, please stop by the shelter or call Nicole at 253-4921.

They also are in need of foster homes for some of the dogs. If you would like to foster a dog, please call Nicole at 253-4921.

Thanks to everyone who attended our Pet show during Villa Grove's Ag Days. We had lots of people stop by and look at the exotic animals, wild birds and rescued birds. The winner of the Owner/Pet Look a like contest was "Skeeter" Graber and her owner. The winner of the Best Trick contest was "Daisy" Graber. Take a look at some of the photos we took during the event. We want to thank everyone who attended, the Ag Days committee, A Zoo to You, Corbin's Exotic Pets, U of I Wildlife Clinic, Feathered Friends, Jean Fisher and the Arthur Police Deptartment for making the event such a success.

"Tank" was saved thanks to the Pet Rescue Kit we donated!

On June 26th, 2009 Villa Grove Fire Department responded to a house fire. While putting out the house fire, they were informed a dog named Tank was trapped inside the burning house. Anthony Bennett entered the house and found Tank, who was unconscious and not breathing well . Anthony carried Tank outside where he and Fire fighter Mike Akers used the mask and ambu bag to revive Tank. (An ambu bag is a bag that is squeezed to force air and oxygen into the lungs). Leeza Chapman, a graduate of Parkland College’s Veterinary Technician program, was called to help with the injured dog. Tank was stablilized and was transferred to the Animal Emergency Clinic in Champaign. Tank is recovering well due to the quick response of the Villa Grove Fire Department, Leeza Chapman and the Pet Rescue Kit.

In the fall of 2007, Tanya Kern, head of our fundraiser committee, was inspired to make dog and cat rescue kits for the local fire departments. Thanks to the generosity of local businesses, we were able to raise the money. Rescue kits for dogs and cats were purchased for all the fire departments in Douglas County. We purchased 9 of these kits and held a demonstration for the fire departments and presented them with their kit at that time.

Back row: Fire fighter Mike Akers, EMS Coordinator Anthony Bennett

Middle row: Tanya Kern (Head of Fundraiser committee), Rachael Green (Shelter Liaison), Vet technician Leeza Chapman

Front row: Bert Gaston and Tank

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has classified us as a 501(c)(3) public charity!

The new designation means that financial contributions to the organization are now tax-deductible. Hands-4-Paws will also be able to receive tax-deductible bequests, transfers or gifts. In addition, the organization may now apply for grants from a number of foundations to fund various projects.

Upon hearing of the organization’s formal approval as a 501(c)(3), President Kelley Drake commented, “I really want to thank all of the people who have supported our organization from its formation and through continued growth. Being designated as a 501(c)(3) public charity will help Hands-4-Paws further its mission. Now that contributions and gifts to Hands-4-Paws are tax-deductible, we will be able to attract funding from a wider group of donors.”

Hands-4-Paws members assist in various community outreach projects, provide socialization and fostering of rescued strays, identify and report animal abuse, and provide training and educational programs for the advancement of responsible animal ownership.

Thank you to everyone who helped us raise money for a new grooming tub for the Douglas County Animal Shelter. We were able to raise more than enough money for the tub. We were able to donate the grooming tub, 2 bottles of shampoo, 7 DAP diffuser refills (to help calm the dogs), 2 kinds of cat toys and 10 large and 10 small bowls that attach to the kennel doors. A special Thank you! goes to Norma and Cletus Day for making a $150 donation toward the tub.

Norma and Cletus Day, Jodi Lytle (Douglas County Animal Control Administrator), Kelley Drake (Hands 4 Paws president)

Intrested in helping out with parade events? We are looking for help to form a parade committee. If you are interested, please call Tanya at 253-3221 or email us at hands4pawsinc@yahoo.com.

Thanks to everyone who atttended our Easter Bunny Photos and Easter Egg Hunts. We had a great attendance this year. Miss Tuscola, Junior Miss Tuscola and Little Miss Tuscola attended and helped stuff eggs for the egg hunts and helped hide the eggs. Check out some of the photos we took over the two weekends on our photo page.

Support Hands 4 Paws when you are searching online!

Go to www.goodsearch.com and under "Who do you GoodSearch for?" enter in Hands 4 Paws. Use this search engine and we will receive a donation each time you use it.

Go to www.goodshop.com and under "Who do you GoodShop for?" enter Hands 4 Paws. Use this page to shop hundreds of online stores, including Macy's, Walmart, Target, Petsmart, Ebay, Ralph Lauren, Kohls.

Past Events

Loyalty Day in Villa Grove, Easter Bunny Pictures and Egg Hunts in Tuscola, Santa Paws in Tuscola, Woolly Worm Festival in Camargo, Broomcorn Festival in Arcola, Fall Craft Show in Tuscola, Fourth of July Puppy Parade in Tuscola, Raggedy Ann and Andy Festival in Arcola, Petstravaganza at the University of Illinois

If you would like to make an donation please send to:

Hands 4 Paws

PO Box 204

Tuscola, IL 61953

E-mail: hands4pawsinc@yahoo.com

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