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Turn your adopted pet into the face of Dock Street Brewery's Found Friends IPA!

Love craft beer and rescue pets? Enter for a chance to have your adopted pet featured on the label of Dock Street’s limited-edition Found Friends IPA, brewed in support of PAWS! Now through May 8 at noon, every raffle entry helps save Philly’s most vulnerable animals. The more you give, the bigger your chance to make your adopted pet a star and help save lives!

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Fosters needed: help save lives!

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

Start fostering

Adopt Humble

Part muppet, part alpaca, and 100% original, Humble is playful, ridiculously cute, and marches to the beat of his own drum. He’s looking for a dog-savvy, adult-only home where his quirks will be appreciated. He’s got opinions (especially about neighbor noise—expect some colorful commentary!), but with the right family, we know he’ll gain confidence and embrace his independence.

Meet Humble

Adopt Andre

Andre is a big-hearted 10-year-old who loves human company and coexists well with other cats. He enjoys flexing his playful streak—pouncing on feather toys, scaling his scratching post, and expertly tracking tossed kibble—before settling in for well-earned chin scratches. While he eats a special diet and manages asthma with daily medication, his endearing quirks make him the perfect mix of silly and lovable.

Meet Andre

PAWS is Hiring: Join our team!

Join PAWS for a meaningful career in animal welfare! Work alongside passionate animal lovers and help us fulfill our mission of saving lives and building a better future for Philadelphia’s pets and people.

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Meet your new best friend!

TriSarahtops
Foster Care
In my previous home, I was full of energy and always ready for adventure. Since arriving at the shelter, though, I’ve been feeling a bit nervous. I’d love to find a home with another dog who can help me regain my confidence so I can get back to enjoying zoomies and snuggles!
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 >
Hustle
Foster Care
I'm a a seasoned snuggler and couch connoisseur who loves getting pets and belly rubs, sharing kisses, and playing with my favorite toys!
Meet Me >
Bumpy
Grays Ferry Clinic
I'm Bumpy, a 46-pound lap dog with a snuggly nature, named after the lovable dinosaur from Jurassic Park. While I'm adjusting to some life changes, I'm looking for a chill home where I can relax, get plenty of affection, and slowly build confidence in my new routine.
Meet Me >
Quartz
Foster Care
At 12 years young, I'm the definition of peaceful companionship. I dare you not to fall in love when I gaze into your eyes!
Meet Me >
Andre
Foster Care
I'm a gentle and mellow senior who loves to rock a bow tie and gets along with dogs and cats!
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

04.02.25

2025 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
03.24.25

PAWS Announces Participation in PetSmart Charities® National Adoption Week & Receives Grant Funding

Pets are family. They offer hope, companionship, and unconditional love to their people. By adopting a pet in need, you not only gain a loyal friend but also help ease the strain on overcrowded shelters, which positively impacts the entire community. That’s why PAWS (Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society) is proud to participate in PetSmart Charities® […]
Read More
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41,775 animals saved

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.

387,529 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.

157,209 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

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Apr 29

Open
TOMORROW! Interested in becoming a kitten foster, but want to learn more? Come join us for our Kitten Foster Orientation on Wednesday, April 30 at 6 PM at our Grays Ferry clinic! Prefer to join from home? No problem – we’ll be live-streaming so you can participate virtually. During this session, you’ll learn everything about PAWS’ foster program and how to care for adorable young kittens, have a Q&A with foster staff at the end, and you’ll get the chance to meet some of our tiny furry friends! Once you’re ready, you can start fostering right away. Register today to join us in-person or online at our #linkinbio!

TOMORROW! Interested in becoming a kitten foster, but want to learn more? Come join us for our Kitten Foster Orientation on Wednesday, April 30 at 6 PM at our Grays Ferry clinic! Prefer to join from home? No problem – we’ll be live-streaming so you can participate virtually.

During this session, you’ll learn everything about PAWS’ foster program and how to care for adorable young kittens, have a Q&A with foster staff at the end, and you’ll get the chance to meet some of our tiny furry friends! Once you’re ready, you can start fostering right away. Register today to join us in-person or online at our #linkinbio! ...

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Apr 29

Open
Dog fosters are urgently needed! PAWS’ kennels are completely full right now, and our ability to save at-risk dogs from the city shelter is directly tied to the number of fosters who can open their homes. Fostering is an incredibly rewarding experience, and spending even a couple of weeks in a home can have enormous health and behavior benefits for homeless dogs! PAWS can make a foster match for many types of households (although pet-free adult homes are especially needed!) and we’ll provide you with all the support you’ll need for your new friend, including: 🏥 Medical care at our clinics ⁠ 🐶 One-on-one behavior and training support⁠ 🐾 Supplies like collars, leashes, and crates⁠ 📝 Adoption screening ⁠ ⁠💻 Advice and support through our foster community page Our foster team would love to get you started, so if you’d like to help us save lives and take in a canine companion in need, learn more and sign up at through our #linkinbio or email foster@phillypaws.org!

Dog fosters are urgently needed! PAWS’ kennels are completely full right now, and our ability to save at-risk dogs from the city shelter is directly tied to the number of fosters who can open their homes. Fostering is an incredibly rewarding experience, and spending even a couple of weeks in a home can have enormous health and behavior benefits for homeless dogs!

PAWS can make a foster match for many types of households (although pet-free adult homes are especially needed!) and we’ll provide you with all the support you’ll need for your new friend, including:

🏥 Medical care at our clinics ⁠
🐶 One-on-one behavior and training support⁠
🐾 Supplies like collars, leashes, and crates⁠
📝 Adoption screening ⁠
⁠💻 Advice and support through our foster community page

Our foster team would love to get you started, so if you’d like to help us save lives and take in a canine companion in need, learn more and sign up at through our #linkinbio or email foster@phillypaws.org! ...

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View

Apr 28

Open
Helpppp! We’re low on paper towels AND wet kitten food, and our smallest residents would be very grateful for any items you can send. Kitten season is officially in full swing, and with so many little ones to feed and clean up after, we’re running through supplies much faster than usual! If you'd like to help, there are a few ways to donate: 🔸Send through our Chewy or Amazon wishlists (link in bio)! 🔸Drop off at any PAWS location during open hours 🔸Ship through the retailer of your choice to: PAWS 2900 Grays Ferry Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19146 Thank you for your support! And don’t forget: if you can’t send supplies at the moment, you can still help tremendously by liking and sharing this post!

Helpppp! We’re low on paper towels AND wet kitten food, and our smallest residents would be very grateful for any items you can send. Kitten season is officially in full swing, and with so many little ones to feed and clean up after, we’re running through supplies much faster than usual!

If you`d like to help, there are a few ways to donate:

🔸Send through our Chewy or Amazon wishlists (link in bio)!

🔸Drop off at any PAWS location during open hours

🔸Ship through the retailer of your choice to:
PAWS
2900 Grays Ferry Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19146

Thank you for your support! And don’t forget: if you can’t send supplies at the moment, you can still help tremendously by liking and sharing this post! ...

85 0
View

Apr 28

Open
A bit of chaos, a bunch of cute: meet our new girl Cereal! She’s been described by staff as a “silly but chatty and distracting coworker” — a true personality hire! This jaunty little ottoman loves people, but the shelter is causing her some big time stress. She’s looking to wiggle her way into a foster home ASAP! Cereal was found as a stray and has a big personality to match her big smile. She absolutely loves people and is quick to seek out affection from anyone she meets —whether it’s in our office, the hallway, or out on walks. She’s easy to handle, enjoys toys (especially anything squeaky!), and settles beautifully once she’s had a chance to burn off some energy. Cereal Milk would do best in a foster home where she can be the only pet to start (she has *opinions* when it comes to other dogs), and where she can enjoy a calm, comforting space. She’s already shown that once things quiet down, she’s able to relax, snuggle, and show off her very best side — but we’d still recommend a spot with thicker walls since she sometimes has a LOT to say! If you’d like to help this sweet and goofy 1-2 year old decompress, email foster@phillypaws.org to learn more about Cereal today! 🐾 Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society📍 2900 Grays Ferry Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19146 (by appointment only) ⭐️ PA License # 06172

A bit of chaos, a bunch of cute: meet our new girl Cereal! She’s been described by staff as a “silly but chatty and distracting coworker” — a true personality hire! This jaunty little ottoman loves people, but the shelter is causing her some big time stress. She’s looking to wiggle her way into a foster home ASAP!

Cereal was found as a stray and has a big personality to match her big smile. She absolutely loves people and is quick to seek out affection from anyone she meets —whether it’s in our office, the hallway, or out on walks. She’s easy to handle, enjoys toys (especially anything squeaky!), and settles beautifully once she’s had a chance to burn off some energy.

Cereal Milk would do best in a foster home where she can be the only pet to start (she has *opinions* when it comes to other dogs), and where she can enjoy a calm, comforting space. She’s already shown that once things quiet down, she’s able to relax, snuggle, and show off her very best side — but we’d still recommend a spot with thicker walls since she sometimes has a LOT to say!

If you’d like to help this sweet and goofy 1-2 year old decompress, email foster@phillypaws.org to learn more about Cereal today!

🐾 Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society📍 2900 Grays Ferry Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19146 (by appointment only) ⭐️ PA License # 06172 ...

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

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