Meet your new best friend!
Samantha
Foster Care
I'm a snuggly 9-year-old lap cat whose favorite place in the world is wherever you happen to be!
Greta
Foster Care
I'm a chatty senior known for being a perfect blend of quirky, sassy, and sweet!
Flex
Foster Care
I'm a gentle grandpa with a go-with-the flow temperament and endless love to give!
Donatella
Foster Care
I'm a delightful feline who will steal your heart with my sweet nature and playful spirit!
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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.
Recent News
07.21.23
Paw It Forward with The Landenberger Family Foundation
Celebrate the love you share with your pets by paying it forward so others can find — or preserve — that same joy. Our pets mean the world to us. They are part of our families and play a profound role in our lives. Now, imagine making all that love possible for another pet and […]
06.26.23
Community Cat Caretakers on the Importance of TNR (Trap-Neuter-Release)
We asked Community Cat Caretakers about the importance of TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return), and they had so much to say! Christine Rock is just one of the dozens of Community Caretakers who shared in their own words why support for PAWS’ TNR voucher program is so important: “TNR is vital in a city like Philadelphia where there […]
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We’ve got a whole line up of sweet and friendly felines who are waiting to meet you at @pawsbroadwashington PetSmart location! Just apply ahead of time and make an appointment once you’re approved to fall in love with your new best friend. From shy and sweet to bright and frisky, there’s someone for everyone, so apply today through our #linkinbio! In order of appearance:
🐾 Oscar, 1 year, Male
🐾 Jee, 5 months, Female
🐾 Seward, 3 months, Female
🐾 Sitka (Seward`s sibling), 3 months, Male
This dollop of sweetness is Miss Honey, and all she wants is to add some joy to your world!
Gentle, loving, and always by your side (or right on top of you), this cuddlebug will take any opportunity she can for a nap or pet, ideally both at the same time. She shows her affection by joining you wherever you are for pets, sidling up next to you and politely asking for attention and belly rubs. If she really needs to get her point across, she might offer you a paw or roll into your lap!
When she isn’t in full blown snuggle mode, Honey loves going for walks and will treat you to excited prances and wiggles when she hears her leash!
She likes to enjoy all the sights, sniffs, and people whiles she’s out, but does prefer not to encounter too many other pups (they bring out her inner drama queen).
Miss Honey was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease a few months ago, but this peppy 5 year old still lives a normal and active life with prescription food and a little extra vet monitoring.
If you’re looking for a snuggly princess who will adore you with her whole heart, check out Miss Honey at @philafosters, or learn more about her at our adoptions page (link in bio)!
Best. Day. Ever. The #PAWSMuttStrut is just 3 weeks away!🍁🐶🍁 It’s the can`t-miss fall festival for dogs and the people who love them ❤️🐾⠀
Join us October 7 as we walk the scenic route at @navyyardphila to raise funds and awareness for Philly’s neediest dogs (and cats, too)! We have lots of activities in store including games, agility course, food trucks, live music, raffles, costume and talent contests, doggy yoga, pet portraits with @pawtraitpopup, and more!
Sign up now at pawsmuttstrut.org (link in bio)!⠀ ⠀
Special thanks to our sponsors: @livecasinophl • @cioccasubaruofphiladelphia • @vca • @annamaetpetfoods •. @psp_fishtown • @veterinary_emergency_group • @lovecityvet • @wedgewoodpetrx • @heilerpainting
#philadelphianavyyard #fallfestival #phillyfallfestival #friskyinphilly #dogsofphilly #phillyeats #phillypaws #visitphilly
VSK (Very Special Kitty) alert 🚨 Sassy is 18 pounds of pure perfection, and she’s looking for a foster home to help her slim down, stat!
This sweet girl arrived at ACCT Philly suffering from severe obesity and matted hair, to the point that she was in pain and had urine and more stuck in her mats 🥺 We rescued her and shaved her down and wow, what a reveal! This poor girl’s joints are suffering from all the extra weight but she’s sooooo happy to be “nakey”after her shave, and loves being pet and rubbed 🥰
With all the extra weight on her joints, 7 year old Sassy’s mobility is understandably poor. She’d love to find a foster home that can keep her on a diet to shed some pounds, help her recover from a recent dental surgery, and help her on her way to adoption! If you can help, please email foster@phillypaws.org.
Mornin’! Did you need a big round orange boy to brighten your feed? How about your life in general? Astley is here to oblige! This friendly dumpling is every bit as sweet as he looks. Some things we’ve learned about him:
✨ Meows when you make eye contact but no sound comes 😭
✨ SUPER easy to handle; he’ll ignore or roll with just about anything and would likely be good with kiddos
✨ Independent, but runs to greet you at the door
✨ Retires to his bed and makes biscuits while staring you down once you leave his room at the adoption center
✨ Prefers petting and affection over play time
✨ Loves napping in sun beams ☀️
2 year old Astley has been stealing hearts at our Old City Adoption Center, but he’s still in the market for true love. He’s FIV and feline leukemia positive, but is a happy and robust boy who doesn’t need special daily care — just regular monitoring to make sure he’s continuing to feel his best!
Come visit Astley at our Old City location, or learn more about him at our adoptions page!
Banana Split wants a home so badly, she’s started waiting at people’s front doors during walks 🥺
Our favorite goofball has been trying to stay positive here at the shelter, and has been keeping busy by working on some fun tricks like “paw”, “touch”, and “roll over”. But kennel life is really hard for a pup who loves people and play time as much as this girl does, and she’s desperate to get back into a home where she belongs!
Banana’s shelter stress has made it hard for her to show her best self to adopters and fosters, which is a real shame because this girl is a total gas. As a true goober who thinks dignity is overrated, Banana will gallop after toys, flop over for belly rubs, and sploot on any surface with reckless abandon. She’s also a total cuddle bug once she’s gotten her zoomies out!
Banana Split would be overjoyed to find a foster or adoptive home where she can decompress and get back to her goofy and carefree self. She could also love with a dog friend whose energy matches hers!
Our team would love to tell you all about Banana Split, so please email foster@phillypaws.org or adoptions@phillypaws.org to learn more about this silly goose!
Karlie and her babies are here to confirm that kitten season is still going strong! Dozens of orphaned kittens moms with nursing litters are arriving at shelters across the city every day, and PAWS has rescued over 75 in the last two weeks alone. Some are healing from injuries, while many others are too young for adoption and very vulnerable at the shelter.
If you’d like to welcome some adorable tiny houseguests, sign up to foster today at our #linkinbio, or email foster@phillypaws.org!
Dashing Dasher is a nervous boy at the shelter, but it’s clear he’s an undercover lovebug just waiting to shine! This poor guy was clipped by a car during his time as a stray, and is recovering from a fractured pelvis. Dasher would be so grateful to find a quiet foster home where he can heal, come out of his shell, and enjoy lots of chin scratches and head nuzzles.
If you’d like to help this friendly 1-2 year old, email foster@phillypaws.org!
PAWS’ September volunteer spotlight is Dale Sturgess!
Dale began as a volunteer in 2021 and it’s hard to remember PAWS without her. She is currently a staple in our cat room at Grays Ferry every week, but she has also helped with surgery recovery and administrative tasks.
"I retired in April 2021 and couldn`t wait for PAWS to allow in-person volunteering,” shared Dale, “PAWS has my support in Philly because they are the most efficient and broad reaching independent rescue and community partner in this city. They keep expanding their services of which my favorites are: spay/neuter for community cats, low-cost vet and surgery for owned pets, and the new safety net program." She even took advantage of our TNR clinic for her outdoor cat, Cassie, who is now a part of her family!
Dale also helps to train new volunteers during their very first shift at PAWS and mentioned this being one of her favorite parts of volunteering. This role is so crucial because it can be intimidating to start something new and she makes sure that new volunteers feel welcomed, answers questions and shows the nuances that can go along with volunteering.
"The reason I keep coming back is because I feel appreciated when I volunteer. PAWS staff is friendly, helpful and always grateful for the work that volunteers do. I look forward to coming in every Friday for my regular shift."
We are so grateful to Dale for spending part of her week with us every week. We hope that she stays with us for many more years to come!
“Maybe my adopters are trying to reach me by mail! Let’s check just to be sure…” Sweet and silly Coffee Cake hasn’t been getting many adoption applications, but she’s as hopeful as ever that her family is out there!
It’s a real head scratcher, because this girl is an absolute gem: she’s got excellent house manners, a playful side that will have you in stitches, and a love for her humans that knows no bounds. Affection is her favorite thing in the world, and she has yet to let her size get in the way of a good snuggle session!
Coffee Cake was born with a malformed eye, but we think it just makes her more special. If you agree, this 60 pound lap dog would love to meet you! Learn more about Coffee at our adoption page, or at @adoptcoffeecake!
**Time sensitive** We need food transport help! Amazon is donating desperately needed pet food for the pantry we’re cohosting this weekend with @phillynokill, but we need to pick it up in Swedesboro, NJ on Friday. Drop off can be directly to our pantry location at Petco Unleashed in Northern Liberties on Saturday, or to our Northeast PAWS location on Friday.
Folks with a pick-up truck/SUV are most needed, but really, any help will be HUGE! If you can help, or have questions, please email allison@phillypaws.org
SOS: we’re urgently seeking a foster to take home this very sweet cat so we can save three more whose lives are at risk!
Pilar is healing from an eye removal in one of our special mini-housing rooms, which she can’t share with any other cats at the moment. Meanwhile, there are three cats at ACCT Philly who are currently at risk for euthanasia due to their medical issues. If we can free up Pilar’s room, we can rescue all three of them — which is where you come in!
Pilar is looking for a foster home where she can finish recovering from her surgery and enjoy lots of love and affection! She was indirectly exposed to a feline virus called panleukopenia, so she should be the only cat in the home for now just to be safe. If you’d like to change Pilar’s life and save three more while you’re at it, please email foster@phillypaws.org!
Whether your kids have two legs or four, they`ll have a blast at the 17th Annual #PAWSMuttStrut!
Registration is FREE for kids under 12 and all canine companions, so join us at @navyyardphila on October 7th for a dog walk and fall festival with fun for the whole family🍁
Register today at pawsmuttstrut.org! You can create a team, fundraise for prizes, and even have them matched in the weeks leading up to the event. Right now, @livecasinophl is doubling all Mutt Strut donations, so join us today!
Merlin’s tiny meows are magical! ✨ This sweet former stray is under the weather and looking for a foster home — but you don’t need special powers to help him feel well again. He’s just looking for a quiet space where he can rest, regain his strength, and enjoy lots of TLC and chin scratchies with someone who makes him feel safe. Could that be you? Email foster@phillypaws.org to learn more about Merlin today!
Make lifesaving a part of your legacy! By planning a future gift to PAWS through your will, trust or other financial plan, your kindness will have a lasting impact on the city`s most vulnerable pets. Estate planning is an important step you can take at any age to ensure the people, animals, and organizations you love are protected. We encourage you to explore your options with your attorney, estate planner, or tax professional, and to learn more about planned giving with PAWS at phillypaws.org/planned-giving!
These very sweet kitties are still desperate to leave the shelter! O’Malley, Arden, Roger & Riley, and Pajamas have spent weeks in our ringworm ward watching their friends go home, and they’re hoping their turn will be next. They only have a few more weeks of treatment left, and would be overjoyed to spend them with a foster or adopter like you!
O’Malley and Arden are especially eager to find homes — they’ve been all alone without siblings to snuggle or play with since July, and all they want is love and affection. If you’d like to take one of these cuties home for a few weeks — or for life — email foster@phillypaws.org for more info!
Some ringworm fast facts:
🔹 It’s not a worm — it’s a fungal infection of the skin that usually shows up as small patches of hair loss in pets.
🔹 It’s a mild infection, but contagious to people and pets, so a separate room for fosters is the best way to prevent it from spreading during treatment.
🔹 It usually takes 4-8 weeks to clear up (and many of these babies are already a few weeks into their treatment)!
🔹 We have twice weekly “dip days” at our Grays Ferry clinics for ringworm fosters/adopters to drop their kitties off for medicated baths — no need to do it at home!
Thank you @petcolove for supporting our lifesaving work! With cat intake rising across the city, their $25,000 investment in PAWS’ lifesaving work will enable us to continue rescuing the most at-risk pets, like Mop and her three kittens. We are so grateful for Petco Love`s continued support and long-time partnership!
#PetcoLovePartner
Snuggle time? Billy Beefsteak has elevated it to an art form! Cheek to cheek, little spoon, chesty rest, full lap flop, Billy does it all. As an easygoing house hippo whose #1 goal in life is to be as close to you as possible, this dreamboat will be the perfect companion for anyone who loves affection as much as he does.
If you’re looking for cozy naps, soft jowls, and non-stop cuddles, 8 year old Billy is ready to drape himself across your couch! Learn more about him at our adoptions page or at @adopt.billybeefsteak!
Looking for a senior sidekick (or even two)? Come meet Captain Anchovy & Mayor Marion at our Old City Adoption Center! These friendly boys grew up in the same home together, but their vibe is more roommates than best friends. They`d be happy to join your home together or separately!
Captain Anchovy (grey and white) is a fluffy, lazy boy whose adorable quirk is napping in the tub! He`s a bit of a scaredy-cat by nature, but once he warms up to you, he loves to get brushed, especially with a good scritch on the cheeks.
Mayor Marion (black and white) has an adorable grumpy face and a super-sweet personality! He`s a laid-back guy who loves rubbing up against ankles and being held like a baby. He`s also got some extra toes that make a very sassy tapping sound when he walks on hardwood floors!
Say hello to these lovable 13 year olds at our Old City location, or learn more about them at our adoptions page (link in bio)!
We’ve taken in 35 kittens this week, and every ones of these cuties is looking for a foster home! From newborns with moms, to orphaned siblings, to single babies fighting illnesses or injuries, there’s tiny friend for almost every household and experience level.
Our kennels are now 100% full, and there are still dozens of babies at the city shelter who we didn’t have room to take with us. By opening your home to a litter of kittens or a singleton needing some TLC, you’ll open up lifesaving shelter space so we save more feline friends who are counting on us!
Email foster@phillypaws.org to learn more, or sign up now at phillypaws.org/foster!