JJ's Helping Paws

11/06/2026

🐾 Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Voucher Sale! 🐾

Join our JJ’s volunteers tomorrow, Saturday 11/7, from 10 AM to 12 PM at Tractor Supply in Cañon City!

We’ll be selling low-cost spay/neuter vouchers for Fremont County residents to help make responsible pet ownership a little more affordable!

🐈‍⬛ Cats: $25 total (includes spay/neuter and two required vaccines)
🐩 Dogs: $106–$112 total (includes spay/neuter and required vaccines, depending on age and vaccination history)

🐾 Just to clarify: Tomorrow is a VOUCHER SALE, not a spay/neuter clinic. You'll be purchasing a voucher to schedule your pet's surgery and vaccinations for a later date with one of our participating veterinary partners or an upcoming clinic.

NO surgeries or vaccinations will be performed at Tractor Supply tomorrow!

And while you're welcome to bring your furry friends along, the only services they'll receive from our volunteers are free hugs, kisses, and probably a few photos for our page! 😂

We look forward to seeing you tomorrow!

For more information, visit http://www.jjshelpingpaws.org where you can check out our voucher flyer and FAQs!

11/06/2026

🐾 Another successful TNR clinic - 20 more cats! 🐾

Tuesday was another busy and successful day for our hardworking TNR team!

Thanks to the dedication of our volunteers and the wonderful teams at the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region and Fremont Veterinary Hospital, 20 more community cats were spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and returned to their original colonies!

🐾 10 males
🐾 10 females
🐾 20 cats who will never contribute to the cycle of unwanted litters!

Every surgery brings us one step closer to healthier, more stable community cat populations throughout Fremont County!

A special shout-out to our incredible TNR volunteers! From coordinating with property owners and colony caretakers to setting traps, caring for and transporting cats, and making sure every kitty is safely returned home, there is so much work that happens behind the scenes. These are long days that require patience, dedication, and a whole lot of heart. We are so grateful for the time and energy you give to helping Fremont County’s community cats. 🥰

And of course, a heartfelt thank you to the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region for hosting this TNR clinic and supporting our ongoing efforts! We also appreciate the team at Fremont Veterinary Hospital for providing care for one of these kitties. Partnerships like these make such a difference in our ability to help community cats throughout Fremont County!

An important reminder about the cats pictured:

All cats featured were unaltered colony cats temporarily trapped at the request of their property owner or colony caretaker for spay/neuter and vaccinations. All have been returned to their colonies where they will continue to be fed and cared for. These cats were not surrendered to JJ’s Helping Paws and are not in our care or at our shelter.

If you’re missing a kitty, our hearts are with you! Please see our pinned post for helpful tips on finding your lost companion.

11/04/2026

🐾 Whisker Wednesday Feline Fun Fact 🐾

We’re going back to where it all began… WHISKERS!

Did you know cats have whiskers in more places than just their cheeks?

Those magnificent facial accessories are actually highly sensitive sensory tools called vibrissae! Cats have whiskers on their cheeks, above their eyes, along their chins, and even on the backs of their front legs!

The extra-long whiskers above their eyes, called supraorbital whiskers, help detect nearby objects and can trigger a protective blink when touched.

And unlike ordinary fur, whiskers are deeply rooted in follicles surrounded by sensitive nerves, helping cats navigate their surroundings.

So, those glorious whiskers aren’t just for looking adorable. They’re essential tools for exploring the world!

✨ Featured Feline: Moo Shu, who apparently ordered the deluxe whisker package, with little sister Miso photobombing in the background! ✨

11/04/2026

🐾 Our hearts (and food shelves) are full of gratitude! 🐾

Less than a week ago, we put out an urgent plea for help with food for the community kitties of Fremont County, and WOW, did you answer that call!

You shared our post, donated funds, and sent much-needed food from our Amazon and Chewy wishlists. And the donations are still rolling in!

As much as we would LOVE to show you just how excited these colony kitties are, you’ll have to take our word for it. Every bag of food, every can, every dollar, and every share has made a difference.

Because of your generosity, we can continue helping supply much-needed food to the dedicated colony caregivers who feed hundreds of TNR’d community cats throughout Fremont County.

We know we ask a lot of our community, and we never take your kindness or generosity for granted. You continue to show up for these kitties, many of whom you’ll never meet, and that means more to us than we can put into words. 🫶🏼

If you’ve made a donation and would like a receipt for your records, please email us at [email protected]. Our administrative team will be happy to assist! Please include a phone number in your email, just in case we need to reach you.

From all of us at JJ’s Helping Paws, the dedicated colony caregivers, and hundreds of very grateful furry faces, THANK YOU!

We are so, so thankful for this incredible community. 🐾

11/03/2026

🐾 Missing a cat? Please read and share!

Few things are more frightening than realizing your beloved cat is missing. We understand the worry, desperation, and hope that come with searching for a furry family member.

At JJ's Helping Paws, we receive frequent calls, messages, and comments about missing cats. We want to share a helpful resource AND clarify something important about the cats featured in our Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) clinic posts.

🐈 If your cat is missing, please watch this video:
🎥 https://youtu.be/g2eCoC63B9I

It walks you through practical steps to help locate a missing cat, especially during those critical first hours and days.

🐾 An important clarification about our TNR clinics.

We frequently share photos of cats receiving spay/neuter services through our TNR program. We understand that some may closely resemble someone's missing pet, especially when colors and markings are similar.

However, these cats are NOT randomly picked up around town or brought to us as strays.

The cats featured in our TNR clinic posts are unaltered colony cats, temporarily trapped at the request of their property owner or colony caretaker. They receive spay/neuter services and vaccinations before being returned to their original colonies.

These cats were NOT surrendered to JJ's Helping Paws, are NOT housed at Molly's Place, and are NOT in our care after their return.

What happens if a cat trapped through our TNR program is already spayed or neutered? We scan for a microchip to help identify a possible owner. If the cat remains in our custody, a seven-day hold is observed to allow time for an owner to come forward.

Our TNR program is designed to humanely reduce community cat overpopulation, not to collect, relocate, or rehome cats from neighborhoods.

We understand the hope that comes from seeing a photo resembling your missing cat. But resemblance alone does not mean they are the same animal. Our colony caretakers and veterinary records help us verify the cats participating in our clinics.

We love happy reunions and sincerely hope every missing kitty finds their way home!

Please save and share this post so this information and the lost-cat video are easy to find whenever someone needs them.

An in-depth, evidence-based guide to getting your lost cat home whe...

10/31/2026

A heartfelt plea to our community. We need your help.

Not with donations or supplies, but with helping others understand what JJ’s Helping Paws can and cannot do.

Our all-volunteer team is exhausted. We receive dozens of calls daily requesting services we simply don't provide: emergency vet bills, food for personally owned pets, injured animals needing immediate care, and dog surrenders.

We understand that people are struggling and don't always know where to turn. We truly do. But compassion doesn't create resources we don't have.

JJ’s focuses on low-cost spay/neuter vouchers, vaccinations, TNR, and limited cat rescue and rehoming assistance. We cannot solve every animal-related crisis in Fremont County.

Here's where we need your help.

When someone on social media asks for assistance and a well-meaning person suggests “Call JJ’s,” please help ensure the referral is appropriate.

A referral to the wrong organization doesn't solve the problem. It creates false hope for the caller and another difficult conversation for a volunteer explaining why we cannot help.

These conversations take a toll. Volunteers spend valuable time listening to messages and returning calls, sometimes facing frustration or arguments over our limitations. That's time taken from the animals and families we can help.

Effective immediately, we will no longer return calls requesting services outside our programs.

Our voicemail explains what we provide. Please listen before leaving a message. Calls about our services will be returned as volunteers are available. Cat rehoming requests are prioritized by urgency, not call order.

We know this may disappoint some, but boundaries protect our volunteers and our mission.

Please share this message and gently correct referrals when JJ’s isn't the right resource.

For pet food assistance, contact Colorado Pet Pantry. For injured animals or emergencies, contact Animal Control or the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office at 719-276-5555.

Learn more at JJsHelpingPaws.org.

We care deeply, but cannot be everything to everyone. Thank you for helping us focus where we can truly make a difference. 🫶🏼

10/29/2026

🐾 National Cat Day - A tribute to Bean & Socks 🌈

Today is National Cat Day, a day we would normally spend celebrating all the wonderful felines who have touched our lives. But this year, our hearts are a little heavier.

October has been an incredibly difficult month for our JJ's Helping Paws family. We said goodbye to two very special souls, Bean and Socks, and the tears have been flowing.

Our beloved Bean, the 22-year-old office manager of Molly's Place, came to us after his only human companion of more than 20 years passed away unexpectedly. Imagine losing the only home and person you've ever known at that age. 🥺

But Bean found a new family in our volunteers, who adored his larger-than-life personality, his endless conversations, and his insistence on supervising absolutely everything. Even as age and health challenges caught up with him, he was surrounded by people who made sure his golden years were filled with comfort, warmth, and love. A special thank you to Auntie Deb for opening your home and heart to our sweet boy. He was home with you, and we know he was adored and loved right up until the very end.

And then there was Socks. Oh, sweet Socks. ❤️

Two and a half years ago, this beautiful boy came into our care as a full-grown adult weighing less than five pounds. He was severely malnourished, suffering from painful dental abscesses and multiple serious health conditions. He was FIV-positive, and those first few weeks were touch and go. But beneath all that suffering was one of the most affectionate, determined little fighters we have ever known.

With extraordinary veterinary care, patience, and an abundance of love, Socks blossomed. He gained weight, found his strength, and showed everyone just how much life he still had left to live. Eventually, his foster family realized what Socks had probably known all along. He was already home. He was officially adopted and spent his remaining years exactly where he belonged, surrounded by the family who loved him.

And oh, how he loved his dad, Tom. While Socks adored both of his humans, he had a special place in his heart for Tom, and Tom's lap was his favorite place to be. Every morning, without fail, Socks would seek him out and climb into his lap, even on the days he wasn't feeling his best. Their bond was something truly special, and saying goodbye was especially heartbreaking. There is no replacing a love like that, and we hope Tom knows just how much those quiet moments meant to Socks.

Last night, Socks crossed the Rainbow Bridge, leaving behind his devoted mom and dad, Chris and Tom, and the furry family he shared his home with. Our hearts ache for you both, but we are forever grateful that you gave this extraordinary boy the beautiful life he deserved.

There is something incredibly bittersweet about opening your heart to a senior cat or one with significant health challenges. You know your time together may be shorter. You know the goodbye could come much sooner than you're ready for.

But the alternative? These precious souls spending their final months or years without a family, a warm blanket, a favorite lap, or someone to love them unconditionally.

That is a trade we will make every single time.

Because loving them, even for a little while, is one of the greatest honors rescue can give us.

Today, on National Cat Day, we celebrate Bean, Socks, and every senior, special-needs, or medically fragile kitty who reminds us that every life is worth saving, every moment matters, and love is never wasted.

Rest peacefully, sweet boys. You were loved beyond measure, and you will be missed more than words can express. 🌈🐾

10/28/2026

🐾 Whisker Wednesday: An Urgent Request 🐾

We're skipping this week's feline fun fact because we have a much more pressing issue. We need your help feeding some very hungry cats!

Yesterday, our TNR team was back at the property we've been working tirelessly to stabilize. Another 15 cats were trapped, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and returned today!

Here's what we've accomplished at this ONE property so far:

🐾 57 cats and kittens taken into our care
🐾 32 transferred to rescue partners
🐾 More than a dozen in foster or at Molly's Place
🐾 47 trapped, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and returned (TNR) - thanks to Fremont Veterinary Hospital and the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region!

That's 104 cats helped, and we're STILL not finished! At least 30 MORE need our help.

But right now, our most urgent need is FOOD.

We're currently feeding more than 70 cats DAILY at this property alone. They consume 11 pounds of dry food every day. That's 330 POUNDS every 30 days, just for this ONE colony!

And that's in addition to the approximately 600 community cats we already help feed daily throughout Fremont County.

Many of these cats simply aren't getting enough to eat. With winter approaching, we're racing to stabilize this colony and keep their bellies full.

Despite the incredible generosity of our community during recent food drives, our stockpiles are disappearing faster than we can replenish them.

We desperately need canned wet cat food, preferably Friskies pâté.

Want to help fill some hungry bellies? Our Chewy, Amazon, and Walmart wish lists are all available on our donation page and we've added the links to our FB's About Links section - purchases can be shipped directly to us!

Prefer to donate locally? Molly's Place is at 224 N. Cottonwood Avenue in Cañon City. Please contact us via email to coordinate a drop-off, as our all-volunteer shelter is open by appointment only.

We've made tremendous progress, but there's still so much work ahead. Every can donated means another full belly.

These cats didn't choose their circumstances. Thank you for helping us change them. 🫶🏼

And, thank you in advance for sharing and helping us spread the word!

** All cats featured are unaltered colony cats, temporarily trapped at the request of their property owner or colony caretaker for spay/neuter and vaccinations. All have been returned to their original colonies. These cats were not surrendered to JJ’s Helping Paws and are not at our shelter or in our care.

10/27/2026

🐈‍⬛ Happy National Black Cat Day! 🐈‍⬛

Sleek, stunning, mysterious, and occasionally impossible to photograph. Today we’re celebrating our gorgeous house panthers!

Over the years, we’ve had so many beautiful black cats pass through Molly’s Place and our incredible network of foster homes. These are just a few of the faces that have stolen our hearts along the way. 🖤

Black cats have spent centuries being associated with superstition and bad luck, but we know better! The only thing unlucky about a black cat is missing out on the opportunity to love one.

Sadly, black cats can still be overlooked in shelters, despite having just as much personality, affection, and mischief to offer as their more colorful counterparts.

So today, we’re giving the little voids of the world the spotlight they deserve!

Do you have a house panther of your own? We’d love to see yours in the comments! 🐾

10/26/2026

🍂 Winter is coming… even if Colorado didn’t get the memo!

What an absolutely beautiful day here in Fremont County, Colorado! But we all know how quickly Mother Nature can change her mind. Before we know it, those chilly nights and freezing temperatures will be back!

While we’re enjoying this gorgeous fall weather, now is the perfect time to start preparing for our outdoor feline friends who depend on us. 🐾

The good news? You don’t have to spend a fortune to provide a warm, dry place for community cats to escape the elements!

Here are a few simple shelter ideas:

🐾 Styrofoam coolers make excellent insulated shelters. Just add a small entrance and some straw.

🐾 Plastic storage totes work wonderfully, too! Place a smaller tote inside a larger one, with rigid foam insulation between them.

🐾 Already have an outdoor cat house? Make sure it’s waterproof, protected from the wind, and properly insulated.

And here’s the most important tip of all!

Straw, not hay!

Hay absorbs moisture, which can lead to damp bedding and dangerously cold conditions. Blankets, towels, and other fabrics can do the same. Straw repels moisture and traps warmth, helping outdoor kitties stay dry and cozy.

Remember, straw is for strays 🐈 and hay is for horses! 🐎

A few additional tips: Keep shelter entrances small, elevate shelters off the ground, and position openings away from prevailing winds.

We’ll share some additional photos and ideas for building inexpensive outdoor cat shelters, because a little preparation now can make a life-saving difference when winter arrives.

Our community cats can’t bring themselves inside, but together we can help make sure they have somewhere safe and warm to weather the cold. 🫶🏼