Helping Paws is an independently owned veterinary surgery and dentistry practice in Wheat Ridge, built for pet owners who want choices that feel right emotionally and work financially.
Helping Paws Animal Hospital was built to give pet owners an affordable option when surgery, dental work or end of life care is needed. Everything about how we operate is designed to help you say yes to the care your pet needs without breaking the bank.
We use clear pricing packages so you can see the full cost upfront. Knowing the price early helps you decide what makes sense for you and your pet, without pressure or last-minute surprises.
We focus exclusively on dog and cat surgical and dental procedures, and we do them every day. Because we are not juggling unrelated appointments or services, our team stays focused and efficient. That focus means less wasted time, a smoother experience, and more affordable care for pet owners.
Helping Paws is privately owned and woman-led by our co-founders, Dr. Carla Mack and Dr. Sarah Kappel. Decisions are made by our team here in Wheat Ridge, not by a corporate parent company. That independence allows us to keep pricing grounded in what our community actually needs.
We believe that every pet deserves a peaceful and compassionate end-of-life experience, and that no family should have to worry about whether they can afford this important moment. Saying goodbye to a beloved dog or cat is never easy, and our team is committed to providing gentle, respectful care during this difficult time. We offer affordable end-of-life options so that families can focus on being present with their pet, sharing comfort and love in their final moments. Our goal is to support both pets and their owners with kindness, dignity, and understanding when the time comes to say goodbye.
Helping Paws was co-founded by Dr. Carla Mack and Dr. Sarah Kappel. After years of performing surgery on dogs and cats and watching families face an impossible reality: the care their pet needed existed, but the price made it unattainable.
That moment is personal for Dr. Mack. As a child, she lost a beloved dog because her family could not afford the care that was needed. Later, as a veterinarian, she saw how often families were forced into the same impossible position.
Dr. Kappel became frustrated working for large veterinary organizations where strict policies often dictated how medicine was practiced. She found it difficult when families were faced with euthanizing their pets simply because they could not afford the high costs set by those larger practices.
Drs Kappel and Mack believe that pets deserve compassionate care and that families should have access to affordable options whenever possible. These experiences inspired them to open Helping Paws, where they could practice veterinary medicine in a way that reflects their values — focusing on quality care, understanding, and more accessible pricing for the families and pets they serve.
By focusing on surgery and dentistry and designing the practice around efficiency and transparency, Dr's Mack and Kappel created an independent option that respects both the bond people have with their pets and the financial reality they live in.
Helping Paws is not a corporate concept or a franchise model. It is a locally owned practice, built to give families in Colorado a path forward when their pet needs surgery or dental care.
Start by filling out a short form with details about your pet and what's going on. This does not book an appointment. It helps our team understand your situation before reaching out.
Our team reviews your information and follows up within one business day. We'll ask any clarifying questions and talk through whether we're a good fit for your pet's needs.
You'll receive clear pricing for recommended procedures so you can understand the full cost upfront and decide what makes sense for you and your pet.
When you're ready, we'll schedule the procedure and walk you through exactly what to expect before and after.
Helping Paws focuses exclusively on surgical and dental procedures as well as end of life care for dogs and cats. While we do not provide routine wellness visits or ongoing primary care. We do offer a vaccine clinic on Monday's from 2-4pm. Your regular veterinarian remains the best resource for wellness exams, preventative care, and long-term health management.
Yes, we provide surgical and dental care along with end of life care (euthanasia) for both dogs and cats.
We don't schedule traditional appointments the way a general veterinary clinic does. Instead, we start by learning about your pet through a short form or phone call. This allows our team to understand what's going on before reaching out. From there, we follow up to talk through options, answer questions, and review pricing. This approach helps us stay focused on surgery, dentistry and euthanasia while giving you clear information early.
Once you submit the form, our team reviews the information and follows up within one business day. We'll ask any clarifying questions, talk through potential options, and review pricing if appropriate. Submitting the form does not schedule a procedure or commit you to moving forward. It's simply the first step in understanding whether Helping Paws is the right fit for your pet.
While we currently do not offer payment plans at this time, we do accept Care Credit and Scratch Pay which are third parties that offer long term financing and you can choose the payment plan that works best for you. We use clear pricing packages for common surgical and dental procedures. These packages include the procedure, medications and follow-ups. This allows you to see the full cost early in the process, before decisions feel rushed or emotionally overwhelming. Pricing can vary based on your pet's specific needs, but our goal is always transparency so you can make an informed decision that works for you and your pet.
Our practice is built specifically around surgery, dentistry and end of life care (euthanasia). By focusing on a narrow set of services and streamlining how we work, we're able to operate more efficiently than a traditional general practice. That efficiency reduces wasted time and overhead, which helps keep pricing more manageable for pet owners without cutting corners.
Yes. Every case is reviewed by a veterinarian, and communication is very important to us. After your pet's procedure, a doctor will follow up to explain how everything went and answer your questions. If something needs clarification before moving forward, our team will make sure that happens.
Yes. Dental procedures, including extractions when needed, are a core part of what we do. If extractions are recommended, we'll explain why, what's involved, and how that affects pricing before anything is scheduled. We believe dental health is an important part of overall health, and we take the time to walk you through your options.
Yes, we do. While we are not a full-service emergency hospital we collaborate with many veterinary emergency hospitals to perform the procedures needed. However, if your pet is experiencing a life-threatening emergency, such as severe trauma, difficulty breathing, or uncontrolled bleeding, we recommend going directly to an emergency clinic. If surgery or dental care is needed after that visit, we are often able to help with the next steps.