URGENT: The city shelter is full, and we can’t save more animals until we have space. By adopting or fostering one pet with PAWS, you’re saving two lives: the one you bring home, and the next one we can rescue in their place.

Walk, wag, and celebrate: Philly’s biggest dog festival is back!

On Saturday, October 4, Philadelphia will once again go to the dogs! Join us for the 19th annual Mutt Strut: the must-attend fall festival for dogs and the people who love them. Enjoy a scenic walk, activities for dogs and people, beer garden by Dock Street Brewery, food trucks, live music, contests, prizes, and much more to help save Philadelphia’s homeless pets. Don’t wait, register today for the best day of the year!

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Shop our Wishlist: Send essential supplies for shelter pets

Looking for an easy way to support at-risk pets? You can help by sending essential supplies for the animals waiting at the shelter right now! With our kennels at capacity, our most-needed items run out quickly. You can be a hero by sending wet kitten food to keep tiny rescues nourished, paper towels to keep living spaces clean and comfortable, and much more. Shop our most-needed items and make sure pets have the essentials they rely on every day.

SEND SHELTER SUPPLIES

Adopt Molly

Molly is a 2.5-year-old lovebug with a big personality: playful, silly, and has the best “welcome home” wiggles. She’s house-trained, knows her basic cues, and is always up for long walks, new adventures, or snuggles on the couch. While she can get a little anxious when you head out, she settles down nicely and will be waiting by the door to greet you with kisses when you return. Could she be your new best friend?

Meet Molly

Fall fosters needed: Help save lives!

Foster homes are at the heart of PAWS’ ability to save lives. We currently have more animals than we have capacity for, and when you foster a homeless pet, we rescue the life of another. With a brief commitment, you can be a hero for cats, dogs, and small animals. We provide you with supplies and support; you provide the love and care!

SIGN UP TO FOSTER

Adopt Cardi

How can you say no to this face?! Cardi is a 13-year-old lovebug who’s happiest when she’s on your lap or gently head-butting you for attention. She’s not big on playtime but adores her scratching board and will chat to remind you it’s time for cuddles. She takes a daily steroid and GI diet to keep her tummy happy—and she’ll go home with a three-month care package to get you started!

Meet Cardi

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!

Piper
Grays Ferry Clinic

I'm a pocket-sized princess who loves laps, snuggles, and showing everyone my favorite stuffy toys!
Barbie Dreamhouse
Foster Care

Barbie’s my name, abd being your future dreamboat is my game! I’m a gentle house hippo who loves nothing more than playing with toys, soaking up attention, and even hanging with other pups.
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!
Johnny Cash
Foster Care

"Hey there, I'm Johnny Cash" — a sweet, squishy homebody. If you need a relaxation coach for naps, toy time, and guilt-free TV binges, I’m your guy!
Andre
Foster Care

I'm a gentle and mellow senior who loves to rock a bow tie and gets along with dogs and cats!
Lady Zinnia
Foster Care

I’m a shy but sweet little panther who’s learning to blossom into my playful, affectionate self! With patience and love, I'll reward you with head bonks, zoomies, and plenty of purrs once I feel 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

07.21.25

PAWS’ 4th Annual ‘Paw it Forward’ Campaign Will Keep Pets and Families Together


The bond between people and their pets is powerful: it enhances mental and physical health, strengthens social connections, and improves the wellbeing of the community. It’s a bond that deserves to be protected, regardless of a pet owner’s resources or socioeconomic status. That’s what drives PAWS to prevent pets from entering shelters through its Safety Net […]
Read More
07.07.25

A Lifeline for Philly’s Outdoor Cats: PAWS Rallies Support for Community Trap-Neuter-Release


There are an estimated 400,000 stray and feral cats living on the streets of Philadelphia. The health and safety of these cats, and the communities where they live, depend on the efforts of community cat caretakers and the availability of Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) programs. That’s why PAWS (Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society), the city’s largest rescue partner […]
Read More
View All

42,779 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.

399,048 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.

161,636 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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Together, we will make Philadelphia a no-kill city.

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