Dogs In Need of Foster Care

Thank you so much for fostering and saving a life!

Our dogs in need of foster care are listed below. If you are new to fostering with PAWS, please apply here to get started.

For foster meets with dogs at our shelter (2900 Grays Ferry Avenue, Philadelphia PA 19146), the expectation is that you will meet the dog and take them home the same day, so please come prepared!

All members of your household and resident dogs should be present for the foster meet. If for any reason this is not doable, please email the foster team to talk it through.
We will provide you with a sample of what the dog has been eating in the shelter, but fosters will provide dog food long-term. We can lend out any other supplies you may need including a leash, martingale collar, harness, crate, pee pads, and toys/enrichment items.

Please email foster@phillypaws.org if you have any questions, or see anyone that you think could be a good fit and are interested in scheduling a meet and pick up with!

For a refresher on PAWS’s foster policies and procedures, view our online orientation.

Every time an animal leaves for foster care, it opens a space in our shelters to save another in need. You are truly changing lives: not just for these dog, but also for others whose lives depend on a spot at PAWS. Read on to find your next foster dog!

If you are not able to foster at this time, many of our healthy in-kennel dogs are eligible (and very grateful) for day trips or short-term foster placements as a shelter break. If you are interested, please email us to chat more about what that may look like!

(updated July 24th, 2025)

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Not all heroes wear capes – some open their hearts and homes to fostering!

As of June 20th, PAWS is calling on animal lovers citywide to answer the ultimate lifesaving call and help us place as many pets as we can into foster homes by July 31st! With shelters at capacity and pets in urgent need of a safe place to land, you can be the hero they’ve been waiting for.

Fostering saves lives! By opening your home, you free up shelter space for the next animal in need and help your foster pet prepare for adoption. It’s one of the most direct ways to make an impact – and it might just be your new superpower!

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Dogs Currently at the Shelter

These dogs are currently in our kennels at the PAWS Grays Ferry location (2900 Grays Ferry Avenue).

We are a small facility with only about 6-7 kennel spaces available at one time, so we really rely on foster parents to help us open up kennels so that we can save more dogs!

	URGENT Name: Piper Intake Date: 6/6/25 Age: ~2 years old Weight: 30 lbs Dog Friendly?: No, seeking a pet-free home Cat Friendly?: No, seeking a pet-free home Piper is a special pocket-sized pup still urgently needing an equally special foster home—see here and here! She was returned from her adoptive home almost two months ago after experiencing some challenges coexisting with their resident dog, so she is seeking a pet-free and patient home that can help her feel her best. As soon as possible, please! Piper is a lover of walks, and one of the happiest and snuggly girls around! She’s full of playful energy, and is always up for an adventure where she is able to explore her new environment at her own pace. And then after she’s gotten her zoomies out, she is thrilled to nap right on top of you as long as you’ll have her! Piper is a very sweet gal who just wants to be around her people, and her ideal foster home would have someone who has a flexible schedule to be able to be home often initially as she is getting into a routine—and who is also able to commit to training as well. Piper is extremely smart and food-motivated, already knows “sit,” “down,” and “come,” and is eager to please and learn even more! She is also already crate trained and mostly housebroken after having the chance to get into a routine. Her favorite things? Peanut butter-filled Kongs and snuggling up with her beloved stuffies—and of course, people! This sweet girl is a delightful mix of sweet and spunky, and she’s learning and growing into the amazing dog she’s meant to be. If you are able to help with this next chapter of Piper’s journey, please email us at foster@phillypaws.org to make a very big impact on a small(ish) pup!
	URGENT Name: Freya Intake Date: 6/21/25 Age: ~1.5 years old Dog Friendly?: Yes, and would require the ability to separate from any resident pets for slow introductions at home Cat Friendly?: No, and is seeking a cat-free home Freya is the most sweet and spirited pup with a true zest for life, who is still urgently on the search for a new foster home as soon as possible! Joyful, affectionate, and always up for an adventure (or a cozy cuddle on the couch), she has blossomed into a playful companion who brings fun wherever she goes. Whether Freya is racing around the yard or tossing her toys in the air during a solo game of fetch, she is the life of the party—and her enthusiasm is contagious! Freya’s previous fosters were no longer able to continue caring for her (due to no fault of her own), but have so many rave reviews, and would love for her to head into another foster home that can enjoy her as much as they have. They describe Freya as a “true delight,” and smart, eager to please, and incredibly food-motivated—making her an excellent training buddy. As a younger girl she’s still learning how to channel her excitement in appropriate ways at times, so a patient and consistent foster home will help her thrive while we start the search for her forever home again. And on walks, Freya loves to explore, sniff, and hop after birds and squirrels. However, she is still learning on being totally comfortable with going to the bathroom while out and about, and would appreciate having some dedicated quiet spots in a fosters’ yard or neighborhood where she can continue to work on building up to that. Despite her sometimes energetic side, Freya is a total snugglebug at heart. She loves curling up with her people at the end of the day and finds comfort in being close. A true lapdog! Her routine in her previous foster home included many naps while her foster worked from home, afternoon playtime, and peaceful nights sleeping in her own bed. She’s also crate trained and does well when left alone for shorter periods. If you’re able to host a bright, bouncy, and loving companion who will keep you smiling and melt into your lap at the end of the day, Freya would love to come home with you. Please email us foster@phillypaws.org if you’re able to help by fostering this sweet little lady!
	Name: Ready Freddy Intake Date: 7/17/25 Age: ~3 years old Weight: 38.2 lbs Dog Friendly?: Yes, but seeking a pet-free home Cat Friendly?: Unknown, but seeking a pet-free home Like his name implies, Ready Freddy is very ready for a foster home! This meatball came to PAWS from the city shelter after being found as a stray, and we’d describe Freddy as a happy-go-lucky pup who has been down on his luck, but is just happy to be here and happy to meet you—and see more of his wiggles here! Ready Freddy just needs some time to heal from a few different medical things, like; an upper respiratory infection, a bad knee from an old injury, as well as a wound on his face. He’ll be taking some antibiotics for a few weeks as well as pain meds until he’s feeling better, and would really appreciate some TLC from the comfort of a foster home. Freddy is also a little under 40 lbs and slightly skinny, so we’d love for him to gain a few pounds too! Since we don’t know the cause of the wound on his face, Ready Freddy will need a pet-free foster home until his observation period wraps up. His foster will also need him to bring him to our Grays Ferry Clinic periodically to see our vets for rechecks. We’re still learning about Ready Freddy but he is already delighting us with his wiggly greetings, and love for everyone that he meets! Interested in fostering this lil house hippo? Please email foster@phillypaws.org as soon as possible, and he’ll be ready to shimmy his way into your heart and home!
	Name: Dasher Intake Date: 7/24/25 Age: ~9 years old Weight: 28 lbs Dog Friendly?: No, and seeking a pet-free home Cat Friendly?: No, and seeking a pet-free home Dasher was originally adopted from PAWS back in 2016 as a young pup, and after years of being a beloved companion, he’s now looking for a new beginning in his golden years. His primary owner could no longer care for him, and this sweet senior is hoping to find a foster home where he can feel safe, loved, and comfortable again. Described by his former family as a “very happy boy,” Dasher still brings joy to everyone he meets. He’s house and crate trained, knows a few commands, and is very food motivated—making him an easy and eager companion to have around. At this stage in life, Dasher would thrive in a calm, pet-free foster home where he can truly relax and settle in. He’s generally a good walker, though he can pull on leash at times, so a quieter neighborhood with low dog-traffic would be ideal for him to enjoy his strolls without stress. Fostering Dasher means giving this happy boy the chance to shine again, so please email us at foster@phillypaws.org if you are able to help!

Dogs in Need of a Foster Sitter

These dogs are currently in foster homes, and looking for a short term foster sitter to help keep them out of the shelter.

	Foster Sitter Needed from Friday August 1st through Sunday August 3rd Name: Meisha Intake Date: 5/30/25 Age: ~7-8 years old Weight: 53 lbs Dog Friendly: Yes, but seeking a pet-free home for her short stay Cat Friendly: No, and seeking a cat-free home Meisha is looking for a sitter from Saturday August 1st through Sunday August 3rd, and would love to crash on your couch—and also play the role of both big and little spoon for as long as you’ll allow! Meisha’s fosters describe her as, “house trained, super chill, incredibly affectionate, and great with kids.” And for her party trick, she’ll run around grabbing her favorite toys (or as many as she can fit in her mouth) and make you so proud, while showing off her amazing Chewbacca-like noises! If you are able to give Meisha a safe spot to crash while her fosters are out of town, please email us at foster@phillypaws.org for more information! You can also read even more about Meisha and see her highlight reel on her adoption profile here.
	Foster Sitter Needed from August 2nd through August 9th Name: Meeyo Intake Date: 5/21/25 Age: ~8 years old Weight: 18.4 lbs Dog Friendly: Unknown, and seeking a pet-free home Cat Friendly: Unknown, and seeking a pet-free home Meeyo is in need of a sitter for one week from Saturday August 2nd through Saturday August 9th! Meeyo’s foster describes him as, “a very sweet, easy going guy.” He’s content to mostly lounge around all day with an occasional toy session, and loves to show off his snuggly side too. And, you can see even more of him and his sweet and spunky personality on Instagram, @fosters.and.fiber! Since Meeyo can be reactive to other dogs and cats, he would ideally like to hang out in a neighborhood where other animals can be easily avoided—and he is also looking for a pet-free home. If you are able to host Meeyo while his foster is out of town, please email us at foster@phillypaws.org for more information! You can also read even more about Meeyo and see even more of his highlight reel on his adoption profile here.

Dogs in Need of a Foster Transfer

These dogs are currently in foster homes, and looking for a new foster home to help keep them out of the shelter.

	No one at the moment, but please check back soon!

Upcoming Intakes

Due to our limited kennel capacity, we cannot intake every surrender request. The dogs listed below may either be an upcoming owner surrender appointment, or a dog at ACCT Philly we are hoping to rescue. Lining up a potential foster home prior to their arrival can help them avoid staying at the shelter altogether!

	No one at the moment, but please check back soon!