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Fostering Saves Lives

Foster homes are at the heart of PAWS’ ability to save lives. We currently have more animals than we have capacity for, and when you foster one animal we rescue the life of another. With a brief commitment, you can be a hero for dogs, cats, and small pets. We provide supplies and support; you provide love and care!

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Adopt Gucci Girl

We’re urgently searching for an adopter to provide Gucci Girl with a loving home. At 9 years old, she’s fully house-trained, adores people of all ages, and gets along famously with other mellow pups — just ask her current senior Yorkie foster sibling!

Meet Gucci Girl

Vote for Bailey

Bailey needs your vote! PAWS has a chance to win up to $10K for The Dirty Dogs Contest with Greater Good Charities and Wahl Pets. Help PAWS win vital funds to support our lifesaving mission by casting your vote now through May 31!

Vote now

Adopt Shae

We’ve rescued a lot of pets over the years, and this sweet soul is one of the most gentle, affectionate cats to come through our doors. Four-year-old Shae may have some special needs, but what really sets her apart is her endless capacity for lap cuddles and love.

Meet Shae

Dock Street Found Friends Release Party: Thursday, May 30

Dock Street Brewery is reintroducing Dock Street Found Friends for its second year, a delectable hazy IPA crafted to support PAWS! Join us at the dog-friendly Found Friends release party on Thursday, May 30 from 5-8pm at Dock Street Brewery South.

join the fun

Meet your new best friend!

Ace
Foster Care
I'm a goofy and lovable senior who is gentle and affectionate with every human I meet!
Meet Me >
Kira
Foster Care
I'm a mellow and friendly house panther who is equally happy enjoying affection or doing my own thing!
Meet Me >
Cobalt
Foster Care
I'm a goofy and affectionate grandpa who will take every chance I can get to let you know how much I love you!
Meet Me >
Choco Taco
Foster Care
I'm a sweet treat who just wants to relax, befriend everyone I meet, and be near my people where I'm happiest!
Meet Me >
Cody
Foster Care
I'm a friendly senior couch potato who'd love to spend my golden years snuggling with you!
Meet Me >
Boo Boo
Foster Care
I'm a kind, curious, laid-back older gentleman who is ready to charm you with my sweet and outgoing personality!
Meet Me >
All Available Dogs
All Available Cats

PAWS is the city's largest rescue partner.

We are working to make Philadelphia a place where every healthy and treatable pet is guaranteed a home. We do so through rescue, foster care, adoption, and preventing pet homelessness in the first place by offering low-cost spay/neuter and basic vet care.

Support Our Lifesaving Efforts

Donate Today

Make a one-time gift or commit to monthly support. Give in honor or memory of someone special.

Donate

Create a Fundraiser

Raise support from family and friends for your birthday, in honor of your pet, or for any occasion.

Get Started

More ways to give

Donate needed supplies, provide for the animals in your planned giving, plan an event, and more.

Learn More

Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinics

Keeping pets and families together through low-cost basic veterinary services. Our clinics in Grays Ferry and the Northeast serve tens of thousands of pets every year whose caretakers may not afford care elsewhere.

Get Care

Recent News

04.05.24

It’s Kitten Week at PAWS!

As spring arrives, kitten season begins, bringing an influx of orphaned kittens and new mothers to the city’s shelters. PAWS’ nursery is quickly filling up with litters, and we’re seeking your assistance to support them — and many more who will follow — throughout the warmer months ahead! Help us welcome the little ones by […]
Read More
02.27.24

After 393 days in our care, Coffee Cake is FINALLY home!

At last, the day we’ve been eagerly awaiting has finally arrived! After 393 days in PAWS’ care, we are overjoyed to announce that Coffee Cake, our lovable canine with a heart of gold, has found a family to call her own. Her journey – from the streets, to the city shelter, to PAWS, and finally […]
Read More
View All

39,758 animals saved to date

We rescue animals, primarily from the city shelter, almost daily with a focus on the most vulnerable: adult dogs, kittens, cats recovering from illnesses, and small animals. Once safe at PAWS, they receive everything they need to become ready for adoption, then are matched with loving homes.

178,607 volunteer hours served

PAWS’ dedicated and caring volunteers are essential in every aspect of our lifesaving efforts.

363,338 clinic patients served

Our low-cost Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinics prevent pet homelessness and provide a needed resource in our community, enabling loving pet owners to care for and keep their dogs and cats as family.

146,749 spay/neuters performed

PAWS provides low-cost spay/neuter surgery for owned pets, rescues and community cats to prevent the birth of unwanted litters. Our efforts are working: since our clinics opened their doors, the number of homeless animals entering Philadelphia’s city shelter has declined year over year.

PAWS Partners

Our lifesaving work is possible with the meaningful support of business and community partners.

See our Partners

Current Partners

PAWS' impact grows as our services expand & progress continues

By rescuing, rehabilitating, and finding loving adopters for homeless animals with nowhere else to go, and providing affordable vet care and other services so pets can stay in their homes where they are loved, PAWS provides a vital and growing safety net for Philadelphia's most vulnerable cats and dogs. The pandemic has prompted a shift toward more intensive, individualized care for more complex needs.
2010
7154
2012
16160
2014
26188
2016
36510
2018
40455
2020
33840
2021
34528
2023
34801
Pets Served 100 100
More Shelter Statistics

Join us on social media

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May 17

Open
Makaela might be blind, but she’d love to see herself into a foster home with you! This sweet senior is so kind and gentle, and the noise and activity of the shelter are especially scary for her without any sight. Even though she’s feeling overwhelmed after losing her home, Makaela is always ready to greet you with purrs and head nuzzles. She’s on daily medication for hypertension, and is so easygoing about taking it ❤️ If you have a space in your home where Makaela can enjoy some love and stability, please email foster@phillypaws.org! Makaela is 14 years old and would likely feel most at ease without other pets around, but a very mellow senior who will give her space may be okay after a slow introduction (gentle kiddos are fine though)!

Makaela might be blind, but she’d love to see herself into a foster home with you! This sweet senior is so kind and gentle, and the noise and activity of the shelter are especially scary for her without any sight.

Even though she’s feeling overwhelmed after losing her home, Makaela is always ready to greet you with purrs and head nuzzles. She’s on daily medication for hypertension, and is so easygoing about taking it ❤️ If you have a space in your home where Makaela can enjoy some love and stability, please email foster@phillypaws.org!

Makaela is 14 years old and would likely feel most at ease without other pets around, but a very mellow senior who will give her space may be okay after a slow introduction (gentle kiddos are fine though)! ...

447 4
View

May 17

Open
VOTE FOR BAILEY! PAWS has the chance to win up to $10K in The Dirty Dogs Contest by @greatergoodcharities and @wahlpets. Your vote can make a real difference in supporting our lifesaving services! Voting is open until May 31st, and remember, you can vote once every 24 hours. Plus, using separate devices means extra votes count! Please vote now through our link in bio, and thank you for your help!

VOTE FOR BAILEY! PAWS has the chance to win up to $10K in The Dirty Dogs Contest by @greatergoodcharities and @wahlpets.

Your vote can make a real difference in supporting our lifesaving services! Voting is open until May 31st, and remember, you can vote once every 24 hours. Plus, using separate devices means extra votes count! Please vote now through our link in bio, and thank you for your help! ...

81 1
View

May 16

Open
“Can I be yours for the weekend?” Bella Ella just came down with a shelter cold and urgently needs to leave our kennels ❤️‍🩹 She has a foster home lined up for Monday, but we’re really worried that her health will take a turn if she remains at the shelter much longer. Bella is an absolute sweetheart who just wants tummy rubs and baby talk, and she’s hoping you can help her! If you have a pet-free home and would like to spoil this gentle princess for the weekend, please email foster@phillypaws.org with the subject “Bella weekend foster”! Bella is around 5 years old, prefers not to use too many steps, and would do well with kiddos of most ages who can be mindful that she’s feeling under the weather 🤒

“Can I be yours for the weekend?” Bella Ella just came down with a shelter cold and urgently needs to leave our kennels ❤️‍🩹 She has a foster home lined up for Monday, but we’re really worried that her health will take a turn if she remains at the shelter much longer. Bella is an absolute sweetheart who just wants tummy rubs and baby talk, and she’s hoping you can help her!

If you have a pet-free home and would like to spoil this gentle princess for the weekend, please email foster@phillypaws.org with the subject “Bella weekend foster”!

Bella is around 5 years old, prefers not to use too many steps, and would do well with kiddos of most ages who can be mindful that she’s feeling under the weather 🤒 ...

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Together, we will make Philadelphia a no-kill city.

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