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Fee waived adoptions: help PAWS clear the shelter!

Clear the Shelters is here, and so are fee-waived adoptions! From August 1 – September 6, adoption fees are waived for cats over 6 months and dogs over 25 lbs, and we’re calling on adopters AND fosters to help us save lives by welcoming a shelter pet into their home. With city shelters critically full, every animal who finds a home opens a spot for us to rescue another who has nowhere else to go. Please join us: there are so many ways to save lives!

ADOPT A PET TODAY

19th Annual Mutt Strut: Saturday, October 4

On Saturday, October 4, 2025, Philadelphia will once again go to the dogs! Join us for 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.

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Adopt Kona

Kona is a 7-year-old sweetheart who’s fully house-trained—even during big transitions—and one smart cookie! She lives for attention, loves being the ultimate wing-woman, and is always ready for a good cuddle. She lived with another dog before, but she’s looking for a cat-free home—and while she’s been thriving in a loving foster home, she’s ready to find her future family. Could it be you?

Meet Kona

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

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

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!

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 >

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!

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 >

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!

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 >

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.

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Create a Fundraiser

Raise support from family and friends for your birthday, in honor of your pet, or for any occasion.

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More ways to give

Donate needed supplies, provide for the animals in your planned giving, plan an event, and more.

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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.

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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 […]

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 […]

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42,566 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.

396,792 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.

160,829 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

More Shelter Statistics

Join us on social media

View Instagram post by phillypaws

Sep 2

Open post by phillypaws with ID 18498758239068986

We wish we could snuggle these two all day long! New Hampshire and Professor are the last remaining residents in our ringworm ward, and all they want is to swap their kennels for a couple of loving foster homes.

New Hampshire is the last remaining kitten of his litter (every one of his siblings tested negative except for him😭) and is having an especially hard time being all by himself. His neighbor, the lovely miss Professor, is also a very social and affectionate kitty who is eager for love and petting!

Either one of these sweet friends would be overjoyed to finish their ringworm treatment at home with you, so if you’d like to transform their lives from lonely to loved, email foster@phillypaws.org to learn more
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 most 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! ...

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View Instagram post by phillypaws

Sep 2

Open post by phillypaws with ID 17940216911932738

For Clear the Shelters, @nbcphiladelphia is giving some of Philly’s most overlooked pets a chance to shine! Our favorite cat lady @sheilawatko featured two of our longtime residents, Kona and Choco Taco, who have been waiting months — and in Choco’s case, years — to find families of their own. 💙 Sheila has been a true friend to PAWS and Philly’s animals, and we’re so grateful for her support as we work to #ClearTheShelters!

Thanks to support from our friends at @apexgamingpcs, adoption fees are currently waived for PAWS cats over 6 months and dogs over 25 lbs. Plus Clear The Shelters will culminate with a fee-waived cat and kitten adoption event at our Old City and Broad & Washington PetSmart locations this Saturday, September 6!

Visit our adoptions page (link in bio) to meet adoptable pets like Kona & Choco Taco and fill out an application today! ...

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View Instagram post by phillypaws

Sep 1

Open post by phillypaws with ID 18087611173837085

Her name is Soup Dumpling and she loves her pink ball 😭 This nugget has us wrapped around her chunky little paws, and is ready to serve up a hearty portion of silliness and affection to whoever is lucky enough to adopt her!

At 5 years old, Soup is a sweet, friendly girl who loves spending time with her people and is always ready to play (or just carry around her ball and gaze at you lovingly). She’s happiest when she’s close to her humans, whether she’s in the middle of a game or simply relaxing by your side.

With her playful spirit, loving nature, and ever-ready smile, this friendly short stack is sure to make life with you even more comforting. Soup Dumpling just might be the missing ingredient in your life, so drop us a line about miss Soup today! Email adoptions@phillypaws.org, or visit our adoptions page to learn more (link in bio). 🍲

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

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View Instagram post by phillypaws

Sep 1

Open post by phillypaws with ID 18363802408155330

Bombshell hopes you’re enjoying lots of fun in the sun for Labor Day! PAWS’ locations are closed to the public today, but regular hours will resume tomorrow ☀️

...

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

Get Involved

Fee waived adoptions: help PAWS clear the shelter!

19th Annual Mutt Strut: Saturday, October 4

Adopt Kona

PAWS is Hiring: Join our team!

Adopt Cardi

Meet your new best friend!

Piper

Grays Ferry Clinic

Choco Taco

Foster Care

Johnny Cash

Foster Care

Andre

Foster Care

Kona

Foster Care

Quartz

Foster Care

PAWS is the city's largest rescue partner.

Support Our Lifesaving Efforts

Donate Today

Create a Fundraiser

More ways to give

Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinics

Recent News

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

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

42,566 animals saved

178,607 volunteer hours served

396,792 clinic patients served

160,829 spay/neuters performed

PAWS Partners

Our lifesaving work is possible with the meaningful support of business and community partners.

Current Partners

PAWS' impact grows as our services expand & progress continues

Join us on social media

Stay up-to-date on lives saved and happy beginnings or maybe even find your new best friend!

#phillypaws

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