Each month, Helping Hands features a mortgage professional or group that has volunteered to lend a hand to others in need

Ivanna C. Sukkar

As published in Scotsman Guide's Residential Edition, December 2008.

Name Cheryl Lang, owner, Integrated Mortgage Solutions

Project No Paws Left Behind

Site Houston

How Lang founded No Paws Left Behind this past June. The nonprofit organization helps borrowers facing foreclosure who are looking for new homes for their pets. It also aids animals that have been abandoned in foreclosure situations, Lang says.

Through the organization's Web site, nopawsleftbehind.org, homeowners can find no-kill pet shelters or area foster care for their pets, she says. When the organization learns of abandoned pets -- through real estate agents or Lang's field representatives, who visit properties in or facing foreclosure -- it also works with animal-control officials to provide food and water for the animals before transporting them to a no-kill shelter, she says.

Why Lang says that as the volume of foreclosures increased in the past year, her company's collateral-protection team saw a "marked increase" in the number of pets in visits to foreclosed-upon properties. The animals often were left with no food or water, Lang says.

"They're basically left to die," says Lang, who adds that this inspired her to start the organization.

Also, seeing a dearth in organizations focused on finding solutions for foreclosure pets nationwide, Lang says she felt the need to start one that proactively works with borrowers.

Impact Since its inception this past June, No Paws Left Behind has saved "countless" abandoned pets, Lang says.

"It's difficult to quantify how many," Lang says. "I know that we personally have helped more than 150 pets, but a lot of real estate professionals have found pets and found services or shelters on our Web site."

The organization also is working to help repeal a national law that prevents the removal of pets from abandoned properties prior to the eviction process, Lang says. It has a petition on nopawsleftbehind.org that more than 1,100 people have signed, as of press time; Lang says her goal is 10,000 signatures.

Try it www.nopawsleftbehind.org

Ivanna C. Sukkar is senior associate editor at Scotsman Guide. Reach her at (800) 297-6061 or ivanna@scotsmanguide.com.

To share your company's story, e-mail helpinghands@scotsmanguide.com.