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. 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.

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.

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!

Read on to find your next foster dog!

(updated November 26th, 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 8 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: Kane Intake Date: 11/1/25 Age: ~2 years old Weight: 14.5 lbs Dog Friendly?: Yes, and would require the ability to separate from any resident pets for slow introductions at home Cat Friendly?: Yes, previously lived with cats, and would require the ability to separate from any resident pets for slow introductions at home Kane is an adorable, poodley-doodley young guy who’s playful, affectionate, and smart! He already knows “sit”, “down”, “stay”, and “come”, and is ready to learn even more from foster care. He loves toys and walks and bonds quickly with his people, and just watch him go here! At the shelter Kane is having a hard time managing his excitement inside and outside, so he’ll do best with a foster (or adopter!) who can provide structure, consistency, and positive reinforcement while he continues learning the ropes, and finding appropriate ways to channel his energy. We’re ideally looking for a calm home in a quiet neighborhood where Kane can decompress from kennel life, focus on training, and establish a steady routine. A yard would be a big plus to help with exercise and house training while he continues to work on things, and he would love as many opportunities for enrichment as possible! If you can give this sweet, spunky boy the space and guidance he needs to relax and thrive, please email us at foster@phillypaws.org to learn more!
	Name: Nala Intake Date: 11/22/25 Age: ~4.5ish years old Weight: 20 lbs Dog Friendly?: Unknown, 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 If you’re looking for the perfect pre-Thanksgiving pick me up, new arrival Nala is ready to wiggle her way into your heart, home… and leftovers (just kidding)! This ~4.5ish month old lady just arrived to PAWS after her owner was no longer able to continue caring for her, and would love to find a home with a resident dog that can match her energy, and fosters that are patient, committed, and ready for all that puppyhood has to offer—the good, the less good, and the occasionally messy. But SO worth it! Nala is already picking up on “sit” and other training very quickly, and has puppy eyes down pat. She will need some additional help learning the ropes with all of the basics like house and crate training, walking on leash, and more, but is very eager to please! So what are you waiting for? If you are able to foster sweet and spunky Nala, please email foster@phillypaws.org to learn more!
	Name: Side Salad Intake Date: 11/22/25 Age: ~1 year old Weight: 21 lbs Dog Friendly?: Yes, has previously done well with other dogs, 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 Have any room on your Thanksgiving table for a little… Side Salad? This adorable pup with an underbite to die for is looking for a foster home before the holidays, and beyond! Side Salad is a young, eager-to-please cutie who loves nothing more than snuggling up and flopping right into your lap. He can get a little overstimulated during play, so we’re looking for a mindful foster who can help him regulate his excitement and continue building good habits. Side Salad’s finder shared that he did very well living with their resident dogs for a short period of time, and after slow introductions and being cleared from his upper respiratory infection (kennel cough), he should do well spending time with another pup who matches his energy. Side Salad isn’t just a side dish—he’s ready to be the main course. If you’d like to learn more about fostering this lovable little guy, please email foster@phillypaws.org!

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!

Photos are from 2016 (More Recent Ones Pending)	Name: Ray Intake Date: 11/28/25 Age: ~11.5 years old Weight: 18 lbs Dog Friendly?: Yes, and would require the ability to separate from any resident pets for slow introductions at home Cat Friendly?: Yes, and would require the ability to separate from any resident pets for slow introductions at home Ray was adopted from PAWS back in 2016 and has spent many loving years with his person. Sadly, due to his owner’s dementia and transition to assisted living, Ray now needs a new home to help him through this difficult change. He’s a gentle, loyal soul who deserves a soft landing and a patient heart, and would love to head into foster care as soon as possible to start this next chapter! Ray is described as easy to leave home alone and is happiest curled up on the couch, embodying lots of couch potato energy. When he’s in a yard, he enjoys little bursts of play before returning to his favorite hobby: lounging. He is also reported as being mostly house trained, though he may have an occasional accident. On walks, Ray can be nervous about the world around him, but he does well on leash and tries his best. He’s deeply bonded to his person and, understandably, is wary of new people and new environments. Because of this, Ray will thrive in a calm, adult-only foster home in a quiet neighborhood with someone willing to give him the time, patience, and gentle reassurance he needs to feel safe again. If you’ve been looking for a mellow companion who just needs someone to believe in him, Ray would appreciate all of the TLC during this next phase in his golden years. With the right foster, this shy senior guy will slowly rediscover that the world can still be warm—and you just might become his new ray of sunshine!

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.

	Foster Transfer Needed Name: Barbie Dreamhouse Intake Date: 7/11/25 Age: ~3 years old Weight: ~71 lbs, and on a weight loss journey! 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 You already know and love this beautiful sentient meatball, and now you have the chance to enjoy all of her wiggles and smiles for yourself, and foster Barbie Dreamhouse! Barbie is currently living in South Philly, and she has been finding it a little bit too dense and foot traffic-y for her liking, and would really appreciate moving somewhere that is a bit quieter where she can ideally have her own yard until she is adopted. She is looking for a foster transfer to a more ideal environment, and see her adoption profile here to fall even more in love! Barbie Dreamhouse’s favorite activities are; carrying a toy on walks (or wherever she goes), leaning in for pets, and being the center of attention. A triple threat! She has also done well meeting other dogs that match her energy, but is looking for a cat-free home. If you can give this happy hippo a comfy spot to relax until she is adopted, please email us at foster@phillypaws.org to learn more about helping out!

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.

	No one at the moment, but please check back soon—and let us know if you are interested in helping out over the holidays specifically!