Summer brings a surge in shelter intakes as animals are found as strays or surrendered, but it also brings opportunity. With more people home and routines more flexible, there’s no better time to make a lifesaving difference by fostering an animal in need. To meet this critical moment, PAWS (Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society), the city’s largest rescue partner, is launching its Everyday Heroes: Foster Challenge — a two month-long initiative and urgent call to action to place 300 pets into foster homes between June 1 and July 31.

Fostering is one of the most powerful ways to help Philadelphia’s homeless and at-risk pets. By caring for an animal temporarily, foster parents free-up shelter space, provide crucial socialization, help prepare pets for adoption, and even make joyful reunions possible for beloved pets whose owners are navigating challenging times. PAWS’ Everyday Heroes: Foster Challenge aims to recruit both seasoned fosters and first-timers — empowering more people to discover the lifesaving impact they can have. Throughout the next two months, PAWS will provide information on pet fostering, host foster events across the city, and share moving foster success stories – all to encourage community members to step forward and become the heroes so many homeless pets are waiting for.

PAWS provides foster parents with everything needed to ensure a successful and rewarding experience. Each foster animal is carefully matched with a foster parent by PAWS’ Adoptions and Foster Team based on lifestyle, experience, and household considerations, including resident pets. PAWS covers all medical care for foster animals and offers consistent communication and support throughout the fostering and adoption matchmaking journey. Supplies such as food, cat litter, toys, enrichment supplies, and leashes are also provided as needed.

The animals currently in the greatest need of foster homes include kittens and nursing mothers, adult cats with medical conditions, dogs of all sizes, and owned pets requiring temporary housing through PAWS’ Safety Net Foster Program. The Safety Net Foster Program offers short-term housing for pets whose families are navigating crises such as housing instability, medical emergencies, or other life transitions. By providing a temporary haven, fosters don’t just keep animals out of shelters – they preserve the precious bond between pets and their families and make stressful times less painful. The demand for safety net fostering continues to grow, and PAWS’ ability to help depends entirely on the availability of compassionate foster homes. Becoming a foster in this program offers tangible, immediate relief to families in crisis and plays a critical role in keeping beloved pets with the people who love them.

Tigress (below), a two-year-old cat currently enrolled in PAWS’ Safety Net Foster Program, is just one example of the many pets waiting for foster homes. Tigress has a family who loves her dearly, but they are currently navigating a temporary housing challenge and need a safe place for her to stay until they can be reunited. While she is currently safe in PAWS’ care, Tigress would much prefer the comfort of a cozy home where she can relax and settle into a daily routine. She is spayed, has experience living with children, and simply needs a temporary foster home while her family gets back on their feet. Her story highlights the vital role Safety Net fosters play in keeping pets safe during difficult times and ensuring they can be reunited with the families who love them.

Churro (below, a 1.5-year-old pup currently in PAWS’ care, is one of the many dogs in need of foster homes. Churro is just as sweet as her name, with a happy-go-lucky personality and plenty of playful charm. She loves meeting new people, enjoys spending time with other dogs, and is quickly winning over everyone she meets with her signature smile. Because Churro was found as a stray, we’re still learning all her favorite things, but she’s already shown us that she’s ready to be someone’s loyal companion. Fostering dogs like Churro gives them a chance to decompress from shelter life, build confidence, and experience the comfort of a home environment while they wait for their future family. By opening your home temporarily, you’re helping a deserving dog grow and build confidence on their journey to adoption.

PAWS is also seeking foster homes for dogs and cats with a variety of medical conditions who need a little extra TLC while they heal from surgery or receive treatment for illnesses or injuries. PAWS focuses on rescuing the most vulnerable animals from the city shelter—many of whom are sick, injured, or have age-related medical needs and require care before they can be adopted. Vet care is provided at PAWS’ clinic and coordinated by its experienced team.

“Foster homes are more important than ever, and there’s no greater feeling than opening your home temporarily for a pet in need,” says Tammy Miller, PAWS’ Senior Foster and Adoption Manager. “Our goal is to place 300 pets into foster homes by July 31, and we can only get there with the support of our community. Every foster who steps up helps save lives — not just the pet they welcome into their home, but also the next animal we’re able to rescue because space has opened up. Fostering truly creates a ripple effect that makes everything we do possible!”

PAWS is completely donor-funded, so its ability to rescue and care for animals depends on the generosity of its supporters. Whether through adopting, fostering, volunteering, or donating, individual community members make PAWS’ lifesaving work possible. Here are a few other ways to support PAWS and save lives during the foster challenge:

• DONATE FOSTER SUPPLIES: PAWS relies on large quantities of wet and dry food, cat litter, and other essential items to care for animals both in the shelter and in foster homes. The public is encouraged to send items through PAWS’ Foster Program Wishlist, which ensures PAWS has the supplies needed to set up fosters for success.
• MAKE A MONETARY DONATION: Donations help provide veterinary and supportive care for all animals PAWS rescues.
• FOLLOW PAWS ON SOCIAL MEDIA & SHARE THEIR CONTENT:One of the simplest and most effective ways to support the foster program is by engaging with PAWS’ social media accounts on Instagram, Facebook, and BlueSky. PAWS posts daily updates featuring specific animals in need of foster homes, urgent supply needs, and success stories. Liking, commenting, and sharing these posts helps broaden their reach and increases the chances of connecting pets with the homes they need.

The benefits of fostering are immense and far-reaching—not only for the animals, but also for the families who care for them and the larger community. PAWS remains focused on rescuing pets who are unlikely to be saved otherwise and placing them into loving homes. To join the cause and become a hero for pets in need, sign up to foster at phillypaws.org/foster. To learn more about the Everyday Heroes: Foster Challenge, as well as PAWS’ other programs and services, visit phillypaws.org.