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News & Events
Looking back on 2011, much to do in 2012
 Philadelphia’s animals had many reasons to celebrate in 2011. So while there is much to do in 2012 and we’re off to a busy start, we wanted to take a moment to highlight some of PAWS’ accomplishments last year and give thanks to you, our generous and dedicated supporters, for making them possible.
On January 1, PAWS celebrated three years as Philadelphia’s largest rescue organization and only no-kill shelter. In that time, we have saved more than 6,500 homeless, abandoned and unwanted animals (including Champ, who is waiting at our adoption center for a home).
In 2011, PAWS:
- Provided basic veterinary care to more than 10,000 dogs and cats at our Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinic, helping at-risk pets stay healthy and preventing the birth of thousands of unwanted litters;
 - Rescued nearly 2,000 cats and dogs and placed them in loving homes through our Adoption Center at 2nd & Arch Streets, our network of foster homes, our Mobile Adoption Unit, and our offsite adoption locations in Northeast Philadelphia and Port Richmond. Our last adoption of 2011 (left): Marcy, former West Philly stray, is now a family dog with three human siblings!
- Cut the ribbon on our new Mobile Adoption Unit, which travels Greater Philadelphia to find new homes for PAWS animals. Thanks enables us to adopt out animals in more places than ever before.  Check the schedule to see when it will be visiting your area!
- Held our first Foster Challenge with a goal of finding foster homes for 100 animals between April 18 and May 18. Thanks to PAWS foster parents, we left our goal in the dust and saved 121 lives!
- Hosted the 7th Annual Chefs’ Dinner for PAWS in June, an incredible evening featuring more than 40 top chefs from Philadelphia and beyond, and raising more than $235,000 for our lifesaving efforts.
- Performed nearly 500 adoptions between August and October (a 24% increase over the same period in 2010!) by holding our first-ever Name Your Own Adoption Fee special. PAWS was one of 50 shelters participating in the ASPCA $100K Challenge, a nationwide effort to save more lives over a three month period by finding creative ways to increase adoptions.
 - Held the 5th Annual PAWS Mutt Strut on November 6, bringing more than 1,500 pet lovers together for a day of fun and raising more than $114,000 (a new Mutt Strut record!).
- Served hundreds of the city’s most vulnerable pets at our Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinic by providing free and subsidized veterinary services to those in need. In our ongoing effort to turn no one away because they cannot pay, we have offered:
- Discounted ($20-25) spay/neuter surgeries for pets residing in zip code 19146, thanks to PetSmart Charities
 - Kicked off PAWS Club with the support of more than 100 Philadelphia-area businesses. Become a member and enjoy exclusive discounts for PAWS supporters!
- Held or participated in 129 adoption or community events and 26 fundraisers to find homes for our rescued dogs and cats and garner support for our adoption and foster care programs and clinical services.
None of these lifesaving accomplishments would be possible without our wonderful volunteers, foster parents, and so many other generous supporters. Your commitment to the animals inspires and enables us more than you know, and we cannot thank you enough for all that you do.
2012 is off to a busy start: in just the first 18 days of the year, we did 61 adoptions, provided spay/neuter surgery and basic vet care to more than 500 pets at our clinic, and embarked on 12 "rescue missions" to the city shelter to fill every available space we have with animals in need.
We have big plans to save and serve more animals than ever this year - please stay tuned! In the meantime, please remember that all of our work is privately funded and depends on the generosity of our donors. We stretch donations as far as they will go, saving as many dogs and cats as possible. To lend a hand by making a contribution today, please click here. Together, we will make Philadelphia a city where every healthy and treatable pet is guaranteed a home. They won’t make it without you.
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