Meet your new best friend!
Reggie
Foster Care
I'm a short, stout, and beefy boy with a heart as big as my underbite! I've lived with other dogs and at 7-years-old, I enjoy the couch potato life.
Ace of Spades
Foster Care
If you're looking for an adventure buddy, look no further! I'm a sweet, fun-loving dog who’s ready to find a family that shares my enthusiasm for the great outdoors.
Kona
Foster Care
I'm a loving, smart, and snuggly 6-year-old pup looking for a cat-free home where I can be your BFF and maybe share life with another dog!
Lucy
Foster Care
I love being the center of attention in any room, and I even enjoy belly rubs (it's not a trap, I swear!).
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!
Dr. Tom
Foster Care
I'm an expert birdwatcher and devoted companion who loves to be near my people and even enjoys rocking snazzy bow-ties at home!
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.
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Recent News
12.18.24
Lori and Bella: A Lifelong Journey of Rescue and Care with PAWS
It all began with a simple online search. Lori, a musician and lifelong animal lover, discovered a stray kitten in Brewerytown and turned to the internet for help. That search led her to PAWS. As a West Philadelphia resident, Lori initially became involved in animal rescue through her work with Project Meow, a fellow rescue […]
12.17.24
Gateway Book Club: Teaching Compassion and Change
Sometimes, life gives us unexpected opportunities to make a difference — not just for ourselves, but for others, too. For Elizabeth, a dedicated Philadelphia-based teacher and animal lover, that opportunity came in the summer of 2011 when her scheduled class was canceled. Instead of viewing it as a setback, she embraced it as a chance […]
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Eyes? Soulful. Ears? Iconic. Love? Endless! Judy is our latest rescue from the city shelter, and she’s eager to find a foster home where she can enjoy all the cuddled her heart desires. We are still learning more about her since she was recently found as a stray, but so far Judy has shown us her passion for food and treats, pets and snuggles, and most importantly, baby talk!
Judy is starting to open up more and more, and we would love to send her into a cozy foster home where she can have a chance to decompress and to show off even more her personality. If you are able to give her some TLC and foster this oh so sweet househippo, please email us at foster@phillypaws.org to chat more about Judy!
🐾 Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society📍 2900 Grays Ferry Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19146 (by appointment only) ⭐️ PA License # 06172
One bag of food can change a life! With financial pressures mounting for so many neighbors, covering even basic expenses can be impossible and force painful decisions. Food insecurity is a huge and growing problem in Philadelphia, and in households with pets, the need for support is even greater.
PAWS’ Pet Pantry provides food, litter, and other supplies, allowing families to prioritize other essential costs while still caring for and keeping their treasured pets. Will you help us replenish our pantry so we can continue supporting pets and families who need us?
Last year, PAWS teamed up with over a dozen local organizations to provide over 45,800 pounds of pet food and litter to nearly 9,000 pets. By hosting large community events and offering individualized support, we connect directly with pet owners, understand their particular needs, and offer additional resources like veterinary care and training.
If you`d like to help us ensure pets remain healthy, happy, and cherished in the homes where they belong, please help us supply our pantry for the year to come!
There are a few ways to give:
🐾 Send through our Chewy or Amazon wishlists (link in bio).
🐾 Email allison@phillypaws.org to coordinate dropping off supplies directly at our pantry event or at a PAWS location.
🐾 Ship items through the online retailer of your choice to:
PAWS
2900 Grays Ferry Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19146
He’ll lure you in with the flirty chirps, then hit you with the spice when you least expect it: meet Sheldon! This adorable stinker came to PAWS through our Safety Net Program, and he’s looking for a special foster home to hang in until he can be reunited with his owner.
In his last home, Sheldon’s owner shared that he was a charming, playful boy who enjoyed petting and affection. But with so much recent upheaval in his life, Sheldon’s stress level has made things more complicated. He wouldn’t let anyone near him when he first arrived at the shelter, and during his brief time in a prior foster home, he lashed out a few times when things moved too fast.
As you can see, Sheldon is showing his charming and social side now that he’s back at the shelter with more time to acclimate – but he could still revert to becoming stressed again whenever he moves into foster care. Given his mixed signals, he’s seeking a quiet, cat-savvy home where he can have a room to himself, ideally where there won’t be a ton of in-and-out traffic throughout the day (eg. a spare room versus an office, bathroom, or primary bedrooms).
He may be a little more complicated than some cats, but the true charmers always are! If you have a spot for this sweet and spicy boy to crash while he waits to be reunited with his owner, please email foster@phillypaws.org!
✨ PAWS FOSTER SPOTLIGHT: Meet Phil!✨
Phil has been a cherished PAWS foster parent for many years. He was inspired to open his home — alongside his pet ferret Reesee — after realizing his travel schedule for work made owning a dog impractical. “I started working from home full-time and thought, why not try fostering?” Phil recalls. Since then, Phil’s life — and the lives of countless dogs— has been transformed.
The bond Phil forms with his fosters and the progress he witnesses keep him motivated. Watching dogs blossom into loving, obedient, social companions is his favorite part. He also treasures small, unexpected joys, like morning wake-up kisses from the dogs. His fostering journey has given him more than just companionship -- it’s encouraged him to prioritize his own wellbeing, from walks in the park to meeting neighbors with their dogs.
Phil’s advice for anyone considering fostering is simple: be patient and show love. “In three days, three weeks, and beyond, you’ll see a difference. It can be bittersweet letting them go, but knowing you’ve helped them find a home is the greatest reward. And when you’re ready, there’s always another dog who needs you.”
Foster parents like Phil change lives daily by helping pets transition into loving homes. We are incredibly grateful to Phil and all our fosters for devoting so much time, care, and love to the pets who need it most!
🐾 Ready to transform lives and become a PAWS foster parent? Sign up through our #linkinbio!