Last week, Burgess put the finishing touches on the Paws of Hope tree that can be found in the lobby at the Hampden Veterinary Clinic.

"We have people throughout the year who can't afford things for their pet. Their pet will need two or three shots and they'll have to choose one shot over the other because they can't afford it all at once," she explained.

Since Burgess's boss, Doctor Barbara Farren, began providing vet care in Hampden, she has seen approximately 7,000 animals come through the doors.

"You'd be surprised at the incidents we see. We had a man come in who lives in his car with his dog. He called the clinic and said he had no money but his dog was itchy and he wanted help," explained Burgess. "Dr. Farren does a good job to help people when she can but he is someone who could benefit from the Paws of Hope tree."

The Paws of Hope tree also has tags with various dollar amounts on it for donors who just want to contribute a cash donation.

"It's going really well so far," said Burgess. "We've done $480 in donations in just four days. I think I may have to make up more tags."

If you'd like to donate to the Paws of Hope tree, stop by the Hampden Veterinary Clinic or call 945-4825.