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 August 14th, 2025)

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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, here, and now here! She was returned from her adoptive home over 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, this little lady has been waiting far too long! Piper is a lover of walks, and seriously 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! Piper 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: 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 (and has been) very ready for a foster home! This peppy meatball has been waiting very patiently since arriving to PAWS from the city shelter almost one month ago, and is urgently looking for a place to call his own. 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 you can see more of his wiggles here and here! Ready Freddy is excited to enjoy some TLC, but since we don’t know the cause of the wound on his face, he will need a pet-free foster home until his observation period wraps up. But, he is the best at providing companionship and spreading love wherever he goes! We are still learning about Ready Freddy but he is continuing to delight us with his wiggly greetings, and we can’t wait to see him thrive outside of the shelter. Able to host this lil house hippo? Please email foster@phillypaws.org as soon as possible, and he’s already ready to shimmy his way into your heart and home!
	Name: Soup Dumpling Intake Date: 7/26/25 Age: ~5 years old Weight: 49.8 lbs Dog Friendly?: Yes, but seeking a pet-free home Cat Friendly?: Unknown, but seeking a pet-free home Short stack Soup Dumpling is still on the search for a foster home to call her own after almost three weeks, as soon as possible! This super sweet girl (and sentient potato) was originally found as a stray with some ouchy skin, but now is on the up and up and would very much appreciate some TLC from the comfort of a cozy foster home while she recovers from her spay. Soup Dumpling also has some healed wounds, but since we don’t know the cause of them, she will also require a pet-free foster home until her observation period wraps up. But, she is able to be promoted for adoption in the meantime, and start the search for her forever home! We are still learning more about Soup Dumpling, but she has continued to show off her amazing personality, and is ready to take up some real estate in your heart and home. Able to foster this amazing lady and help her have the hot girl summer that she deserves? Please email us at foster@phillypaws.org to learn more!
	Name: The Jersey Angel Intake Date: 8/5/25 Age: ~1 year old Weight: 32 lbs Dog Friendly?: Yes, and would require the ability to separate from any resident pets for slow introductions at home Cat Friendly?: Unknown, and would require the ability to separate from any resident pets for slow introductions at home The Jersey Angel is every bit as sweet as her name suggests, featuring that good ol’ Jersey “pizzazz”! She’s a total cuddlebug who lives for snuggling up close and showering her people with love. Her adorable personality and wiggly charm make her impossible not to fall for—and she’s ready to steal your heart, from the comfort of your couch! Jersey would absolutely love a soft place to land while she decompresses from shelter life, and gets ready for her spay surgery. If you have room in your home for this uniquely lovable girl, email foster@phillypaws.org to learn more. The Jersey Angel can’t wait to meet you!
	Name: Gizmo Intake Date: 8/5/25 Age: ~6 years old Weight: 13.8 lbs Dog Friendly?: Yes, but seeking a pet-free home Cat Friendly?: Unknown, but seeking a pet-free home Gizmo is a cuddly, wiggly little lovebug who’s ready to leave the shelter behind and find comfort in a foster home! He was recently surrendered after his owner had to move, through no fault of his own. At about ~6 years old, Gizmo is affectionate, playful, and eager for connection—but like many dogs coming from a stressful shelter environment, he’ll need time to decompress and adjust to a new routine. And to begin his glow up journey, he’s already gotten a body shave down to help give him a fresh start, but is still rocking his adorable scruffy face! Also, since Gizmo had some wounds on his nose that we don’t know the cause of, he will need a pet-free foster home until his observation period wraps up. If you’re ready to help Gizmo rest, reset, and rediscover the joys of home life, we’d love to hear from you! Please email foster@phillypaws.org to learn more.

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 22nd through Saturday August 30th Name: Ms. Frizzle Intake date: 5/27/25 Age: ~4 years old Weight: 65 lbs Dog Friendly?: Yes, and would require the ability to separate from any resident pets for slow introductions at home Cat Friendly?: No, and seeking a cat-free home Ms. Frizzle is a delightful, four-year-old lady looking for a loving sitter from August 22nd to the 30th! This wiggly sweetheart adores people, enjoys leisurely long walks, and is happiest snuggled up on the couch. She’s the perfect mix of playful and relaxed, making her a truly wonderful houseguest. She’s had friendly interactions with other dogs, but would be happiest in a cat-free home. When she first settles in, she may need a little time to get into the routine, but once she does, she’s fully housebroken and right at home. Ready for a magical week of learning and fun with Ms. Friz?! Reach out to foster@phillypaws.org if you can help!

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!