Our Story
Helping Paws Animal Shelter: A Legacy of Compassion
Established in 1969 as the Fox Valley Helping Paws Animal Welfare Association, Helping Paws began as a foster program rehoming orphaned animals into loving homes. In 1971, we became McHenry County's first no-kill animal welfare association, operating from a storefront on Route 14 in Crystal Lake.
By 1995, we expanded to a rented facility in Ridgefield, IL, exclusively housing cats. Three years later, we purchased and remodeled the old Culligan Building in Crystal Lake, creating a 3,000-square-foot space for 60 cats and seven dogs.
In 2006, Helping Paws moved to our current 10,000-square-foot facility at 2500 Harding Lane, Woodstock, IL. This space enables us to care for approximately 125 kittens/cats and 45 puppies/dogs at any given time.
As a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, our team includes a dedicated staff of 11 employees and over 300 volunteers. Together, we care for more than 800 animals annually, serving over 300,000 residents in McHenry County and beyond. At Helping Paws, every animal is treated with respect, kindness, and compassion because we believe, “Second Chances Start Here.”
Board of Directors
Donna Matejka
President/CEO
donna@helpingpaws.netSharon Bono-Fabian
Vice President/Chairman of the Board
sharon@helpingpaws.netDebbie Dufield
Director
debbie@helpingpaws.netKathy Taylor
Director
kathy@helpingpaws.net
Teri Walker
Director
teri@helpingpaws.net
Advisory Board
Dr. Amy Goodnow, DVM