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Wanted: Foster homes for the holidays!

If you’re staying in town this season and would like to host an adorable four-legged guest, PAWS is seeking short and long-term fosters now through the New Year! Help by pet sitting (usually for 3-7 days) for other PAWS foster parents who are traveling, or commit to fostering a pet until they find their family (a few weeks to a few months) if you won’t need a sitter during the holidays.

foster this holiday

Adopt Philly Phil

Philly Phil is a playful and energetic pup bursting with potential as an amazing companion for an active adopter! He thrives on learning new tricks, adores his toys, and might even enjoy a dog buddy to help burn off some of his boundless energy. One thing is certain: his curiosity and goofy nature will keep you laughing.

Meet Philly Phil

Adopt Passie

Looking for top-notch rodent control? Meet Passie, a five-star professional hunter ready for the job! Passie is part of our Working Cat Program and is eager to patrol your property. She would thrive in a country setting where she can stay stimulated and active. If you have space for a dedicated mouser, Passie is your perfect match!

Meet Passie

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.

VIEW JOBS

Meet your new best friend!

Hephaestus
Foster Care

I'm a gentle soul who thrives on cozy couch cuddles, scritches and head rubs, and charms everyone with my endearing tiny chirps!
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!).
Maisy from Minneapolis
Foster Care

If you're on the hunt for a real-life teddy bear, I'm your pup! I'm full of playful energy but also incredibly cuddly and affectionate once I feel at ease with you.






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!
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

11.21.24

From Heartbreak to Happiness: Cobalt’s Long Journey Home


When Pat and Heidi came across a photo of Cobalt on Facebook in March 2024, they did a double take. The dog in the photo looked strikingly similar to their beloved Black Lab/Great Dane mix, Moe, who had passed away just months earlier. Moe had been the center of their universe for over 12 years, […]
Read More
10.24.24

The Sweet Story of Butter Pecan’s Adoption: Philly’s Own Patty Jackson Finds Love Again


For many Philadelphians, Patty Jackson is a familiar voice — the beloved DJ of WDAS (105.3FM) who’s been a fixture in the city’s music scene for decades. But this summer, her voice has taken on a new sweetness as she recounts her journey of adopting a furry friend, Butter Pecan, through PAWS. The summer of […]
Read More
View All

41,174 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.

379,939 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.

154,154 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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Looking for the quintessential family dog? Hustle is a big-hearted softy who loves getting pets, sharing kisses, and playing with his favorite toys. Raised with young kids, he’s a gentle giant around people of all ages, and is also friendly with other pups!

At 5 years old, Hustle is a seasoned snuggler and couch connoisseur, but he’s also got plenty of pep when it comes to walks, playtime, and his beloved tug-of-war. Plus, this smartie already knows his “sit” and “stay,” is housebroken and crate-trained, and sleeps soundly through the night. The total package!

So don’t delay: hustle up and adopt Hustle today! Email adoptions@phillypaws.org, or read more about him at our dog adoptions page (link in bio)!
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Our triple match ends at midnight! There’s still time to be a hero for fragile pets like Marcus. This little one was just days old when he was found orphaned in an alleyway, hungry and fading fast. Without help, he had hours left to survive. Luckily, a Good Samaritan rushed him to PAWS, and he got his second chance at life.

Our medical team immediately sprung into action, stabilizing his body temperature and providing the nourishment he desperately needed. Marcus was weak when he arrived, but it was clear he was a fighter from the very beginning! Now in a dedicated PAWS foster home, this brave boy is safe, loved and growing stronger each day.

If you’d like to deliver hope and new beginnings to more pets like Marcus, please give before the clock runs out on this incredible opportunity. Your kindness will go three times as far, ensuring we can be there for other pets whose lives are on the line.

Make your gift now via Instagram, Venmo (username @phillypaws), or through our #linkinbio!
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By the time 14-year-old Shoshana arrived at PAWS, she had already endured so much heartache. This gentle senior lost her lifelong home when her owner became too ill to care for her, then faced another upheaval when her second family lost their pet-friendly housing. She was scared, confused, and suffering from a painful case of untreated dental disease. As Shoshana snuggled into our arms for the first time, the look in her eyes told us she desperately needed relief — and love once again.

Thanks to supporters like you, Shoshana found more than shelter when she walked through our doors. She found treatment for her ailments, hope for her future, and love to heal her heart.

PAWS’ medical team determined that Shoshana needed surgery to address her dental disease, and following a successful procedure, she regained her strength in the comfort of a foster home. After several weeks together, her foster family realized they couldn’t part with her, and made her an official part of the family.

Shoshana now enjoys a life filled with love, safety, and snuggles alongside dog siblings (and many more canine foster friends) who adore her. The generosity of PAWS’ community ensured this sweet girl could receive all she needed to begin her new chapter of health and happiness — which she is now relishing!

While Shoshana’s story has a happy ending, many more are waiting for their chance. Whether they’re seeking a loving home or help staying with their beloved family, thousands of pets will count on us in the coming year. The good news? You have the power to ensure we’ll be ready for them.

Right now, a group of generous donors is TRIPLE-matching every gift to PAWS, up to $75,000. So your kindness will provide 3X the safety, medical support, and loving care for animals with nowhere else to turn. Please, help us take advantage of this rare opportunity by making a donation before midnight tonight, and deliver TRIPLE the hope to pets who need us in the year to come!

Make your gift now via Instagram, Venmo, or through our #linkinbio.
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Together, we will make Philadelphia a no-kill city.

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