With your support, PAWS has always strived to meet the needs of our community — whether caring for homeless animals and finding them love for the first time, or providing support so that pets can remain with their families who cherish them.

There has been great need in Philadelphia for decades, but right now, our neighbors are facing truly unprecedented hardships. As the Federal shutdown continues, SNAP benefits are set to expire tomorrow and service providers of all kinds — including human shelters that once welcomed pets — are being forced to close. We are hearing daily from pet owners who cannot afford or access even the basics for themselves or their pets — food, supplies, and housing — as well as people who are vulnerable due to their immigration status, forcing them to make life-altering decisions.

While this is deeply distressing, it only fortifies our commitment to do all we can. If, like us, you feel moved to take action, there are a variety of ways you can join us — and our partners — to make an immediate difference in the lives of people and pets who have nowhere else to turn. Our ability to save lives and keep families together depends on the number of caring and compassionate people who step forward to help, so we urge you to do so if you can.

Here’s how you can help. Below, you’ll find more detail on each opportunity.

• Contribute food, supplies, or funds to our Pet Food Pantry, which thousands of pet owners rely on for support. Right now, donations are being matched, up to $5,000!

• Offer a temporary home through our Safety Net Program for a pet whose owner needs time to get resettled, and make a joyous reunion possible.

• Adopt or foster a homeless pet, so we can fill their space by rescuing another whose life hangs in the balance.

• Support our partners, who work tirelessly to provide food and other essential services to people throughout the city — despite budget cuts, funding freezes, and great uncertainty.

As the need for support surges, let’s all come together to help families stay together, ensure vulnerable pets and people have what they need, and lift up our partners who offer support in countless other ways.

Support our Pet Food Pantry Fund

Make a donation to our Pet Food Pantry Fund so we can purchase food, litter, and other essentials to distribute directly to families in need. Right now, every dollar you give will be matched — up to $5,000 — doubling your impact for pets and their people. Each gift brings relief to struggling pet owners and hope to animals counting on us. This matching opportunity is made possible through the generosity of Sarah Dykstra.

Send supplies to our Pet Food Pantry

Donate supplies such as cat food, dog food, and litter through our Pet Food Pantry Wishlist. Since the program’s inception in 2020, our Pet Food Pantry has provided hundreds of thousands of pounds of supplies to support over 11,000 households across Philadelphia. These donations will continue to ease financial strain for pet owners and help keep pets nourished.

Foster a homeless pet or an owned pet

By fostering, you open your home to a pet who needs temporary care and stability. In turn, you make space for another animal in PAWS’ shelter. When you foster through our Safety Net Foster Program, you welcome for a pet whose owner is going through a time of transition. These fosters give families the time they need to get back on their feet, while ensuring their pets remain safe, loved, and ready for a joyful reunion when the time comes.

Adopt a homeless pet

When you bring an animal into your family, you also create space for us to rescue another who is waiting for the same chance. Every adoption creates a loving ripple effect for pets whose families are displaced or facing hard times. Whether it’s a cat, dog, or small animal, your choice to adopt changes lives — and makes room for countless others to find safety and companionship.

Support our partners

PAWS works with many organizations that provide food to community members throughout Philadelphia. These groups need extra support now and in the coming months, while Federal funding and SNAP benefits are in jeopardy. Here are just a few of our outstanding partners; we encourage you to get to know them!

• Young Chances Foundation

• Homies Helping Homies

• South Philadelphia Community Fridge

• TCRC Community Healing Center

• Mazzoni Center Food Pantry

• R.E.I.D. Foundation

Share Food Program, in addition to doing incredible work itself, offers a comprehensive list of Philadelphia-area food pantries, which means there is likely a location near you to explore if you prefer. If you have any questions, or would like more information about our partnerships, please reach out to allison@phillypaws.org.

Thank you for being part of PAWS’ extraordinary community. Your compassion brings our work to life. Together, despite the hardships, we will make Philadelphia a place where every savable pet has a home, precious bonds are protected, and families have the resources they need to remain whole.