Foster parents are needed for. . .
Adult cats with illnesses
Foster homes are needed for felines in our medical wards with a variety of conditions including upper respiratory infections, eye infections, dental conditions, digestive issues, and more. Some are very ill and urgently need a home setting to heal, and others just need to finish a round of meds before they’re ready for adoption.
Dogs with Medical Needs
PAWS is seeking loving foster homes for dogs of all sizes while they heal from surgery or receive treatment at our clinic for illnesses and injuries. We focus on saving the neediest dogs, many of whom are seniors with special medical needs requiring ongoing care.
Adult Dogs
Fosters are especially needed for medium and large size dogs to provide walks, play, and training to help them transition to home life and reach their potential as family pets. Rise to the occasion, take the leash, and transform the life of a fun-loving dog who needs you!
Nursing cats with litters
The best kept secret of fostering: mom does all the work! With just the basics (food, litter, vet care, and love) the kittens will grow healthy and strong and ready for forever homes. When Mom’s done nursing, she’ll go on to find a loving family too. Fosters are especially needed during the summer months – also known as “kitten season.”
Orphaned Kittens
Take a pair, three, or more! Kittens who are too young for adoption need temporary foster care where they can grow big enough to be spayed/neutered. The need is most urgent during summer months, especially for bottle-feeding newborns.
Healthy pets of all kinds
Take in a healthy, adoption-ready pet just to open up a space in the shelter. Your foster will thrive in your care while they wait for a home, and we’ll use the spot they leave behind to rescue the next pet in need!
Program Spotlights
Bottle Feeder Program
Join our bottle-feeding team! The tiniest and most vulnerable homeless pets are orphaned newborn kittens. PAWS’ innovative program takes a team approach to giving them the round-the-clock, intensive care they need to survive and thrive.
Ringworm Recovery
This common fungal infection requires methodical care, but it doesn’t have to stand in the way of a new life. PAWS has dedicated shelter space for pets with ringworm, and provides fosters with everything needed to help them recover.
Hospice Program
When a pet we have rescued becomes incurably ill, our veterinarians, lifesaving staff, and the foster parent form a team to provide compassionate comfort care for as long as the animal is able to enjoy their time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I foster as a trial adoption?
Fostering is not a trial run before adoption. While fosters may potentially adopt the pet they are fostering, all animals in foster care remain available for adoption by the public. If you’re specifically interested in adopting, our staff can work with you to find a good fit for your household: matchmaking is our specialty!
Can I choose how many foster kittens I take at a time?
We can help match you with fosters based on your preferences. Kittens are sometimes with their mom, and sometimes they are orphaned. Litters come in all sizes, and we often split larger litters into pairs or threes for foster placement. Even if you can only foster two kittens, you will be making a tremendous difference! We typically do not send single kittens into foster care, since they need companionship and socialization of at least one other kitten as they grow.
How do I get started if I want to foster an animal?
Just complete the foster care application and you will be contacted shortly by a PAWS staff member. You can also contact us at foster@phillypaws.org and we can help you find an animal who suits your needs, abilities, and lifestyle. There are always animals at the shelter who need foster care!
How can I find an adopter for my foster pet?
There are lots of opportunities to find a loving homes: a listing on PAWS’ website and other adoption websites, adoption events which we hold frequently on weekends, promotion on social media, placement at a PAWS adoption location, and more. We also encourage you to promote your foster to your own friends and family to widen the adopter pool even further!
How long do I keep my foster animals?
Length of stay generally ranges anywhere from 2-8 weeks depending on the needs of the particular animal.
I have animals of my own, how do I keep them safe?
Even if you have pets of your own, you can still take in kittens and give them the chance they deserve. A small room that is separate from the rest of your living space, such as a bathroom, is the perfect place for new fosters. Sick or injured animals may or may not need to be kept separate from other pets in the house; a PAWS staff member can tell you about animals’ specific needs and precautions you’ll need to take to keep your pets healthy and safe. If you have a dog and wish to foster another dog, we’ll conduct “meets” to ensure we pair you with a dog who’ll get along well with your own.
What do I have to provide?
Foster parents are responsible for providing the basics: food, water, a litter box, litter, bedding and toys. If you need help with the start-up supplies, please ask; we may have donations we can provide to you. Daily care required for foster kittens depends on their age. PAWS provides evaluation and treatment for conditions we are able to treat. If a foster animal has a condition we are unable to treat, the foster parent may choose to have the condition treated at a private veterinary practice at their own expense or they may return the animal to our shelter.
I can’t foster. Is there anything else I can do?
Absolutely! Donations are always needed to save more homeless animals. And, you can become a PAWS volunteer and help care for animals in the shelter while they wait for foster and adoptive homes. Learn about volunteering and complete the application, and you will be contacted promptly with information on how to get started.
Everyday Acts of Lifesaving
Treston and Mooch are who two charming bonded sisters seeking a loving foster or forever home! At 4 months old, these cuties are bright, energetic, and all about the cuddles.
As the extrovert, Treston is much faster to welcome new friends, while sweet and shy Mooch sometimes gets overwhelmed when lots of new people are around. Luckily, they’re a perfect match and bring out the best in each other! Both are communicative and very snuggly – don’t be surprised if Treston smashes her face into yours with love. When the time is right, Mooch will go into “wiggle mode” and aak for some cuddles and some well-deserved chin scratches of her own!
Learn more about this adorable duo at our adoptions page (link in bio)!
#kittensofinstagram #catsofphilly #phillypaws #phillypawsfoster
Looking for a dog without all the work? Mr. Spoopy is the cat for you! Energetic, super-social, curious, and sweet, this friendly 1 year old loves to play — batting at strings, running through his rainbow tunnel, and chasing ping pong balls — but he also loves to keep you company. Everyone who meets him adores him, and you will too!
Mr. Spoopy is FeLV (feline leukemia) positive, but it doesn’t slow him down or require any special daily care. Learn more about Mr. Spoopy at our adoptions page (link in bio)!
#felvcats #catsofphilly #felvcatsofinstagram #phillypaws #phillypawsfoster
Have you ever wanted your very own sugarplum fairy? Maybe one with floppy jowls, silly antics, and mixed feelings about holiday attire? Sweet Stuff is ready to bring you tons of cheer throughout the year!
This lovable pup is a full-time wiggle butt whose love for squeaky toys is matched only by her love for snuggling (seriously, she’s 100% convinced she’s a lap dog). A fast learner with tons of joy and enthusiasm to spare, Sweet Stuff will make a wonderful companion for anyone who’s looking for an adventure buddy by day and a cuddle queen by night.
Learn more about this affectionate 3 year old at our adoptions page (link in bio)!
#dogsofphilly #holidaycheer #adoptarescuedog #adoptlocalphl #phillypaws #phillypawsfoster
Pierogi needs your help! This affectionate little energizer bunny is reaching the end of her foster period next week, and will have to come back to the shelter if a foster or forever home can’t be found. As an outgoing lovebug who wants to spend all day with her humans, Pierogi finds the shelter especially difficult, and she’s really hoping her special someone is out there!
Pierogi will be a great fit for an active, dog-experienced household where she can spend lots of time with her people, especially if there’s another playful pup for her to zoom around with!
Visit our #linkinbio to learn more about Pierogi at our adoptions page, or to sign up as a foster (you can also help by sharing this post)!
#getyourrescueon #dogsofphilly #phillypaws #phillypawsfoster
Hearts, prepare to be melted! Jay and Bob are two cuddly best friends who adore long cozy naps, lap sits, and tummy rubs — especially together! True to their names, Bob is a quiet kitty, whose purrs get louder with the more pets he receives, and Jay is a little more playful and curious (but just as rumbly when in your arms).
Bob is also blind, which means he'll love playing with jingly toys and listening for your voice singing as you cook dinner. Jay enjoys zooming around the floor with a ball on a string, and you’ll be hard pressed to find a more outgoing and affectionate kitty. Such a great pair! We promise you’ll be head over heels as soon as you meet these sweet bonded besties, so learn more about them and apply today at their adoption page (link in bio)!
#cuddlepuddle #besties #bondedforlife #catsofphilly #phillypaws #phillypawsfoster
We hit our goal thanks to YOU! 112 pets left the shelter during PAWS' Thankful For Fosters Challenge this month, allowing us to save 159 others in November! We are so grateful to the foster parents of all experience levels who opened their homes to tiny kittens, ailing seniors, friendly pups, and pets recovering from illnesses and injuries. Thanks to you, every one of them has a brighter future ahead!
With the shelter at capacity, each animal we placed in a foster home meant another we could bring into our facility to receive the individualized care they need. Every life saved is something to celebrate and we couldn't do it without you!
Short term and long term fosters are still needed for the holiday season and beyond. Learn more and join our foster family at our #linkinbio!
#fosteringsaveslives #getyourrescueon #phillypawsfoster #phillypaws
Pumba here to remind you there’s just hours left to have your gift matched!
#GivingTuesday is almost over, but there’s still time to double your impact for pets who are waiting for their chance to be safe and loved. This little grandpa ended up at the city shelter when his heartbroken owner was unable to keep him, but he got his second chance at PAWS and is hoping you’ll give what you can for other pets who need our help!
You can give through our Instagram fundraiser, Venmo (username @phillypaws), or through our #linkinbio!
#snaggletooth #getyourrescueon #dogsofphilly #phillypaws #phillypawsfoster
Muffin Man is in biscuit overdrive with some exciting news: our $60,000 match is now $75,000! A donor was so inspired by the outpouring of generosity for animals who need us that they have pledged an additional $15,000 in matching funds, which means we need your help to reach our goal before midnight!
Your kindness will provide healing and hope for pets like Muffin Man who desperately need it. This affectionate senior spent 8 years as an outdoor cat, but was brought to the city shelter when his neighborhood caretaker saw that he was unwell. He needed medical evaluation beyond their resources and was at risk for euthanasia if a rescue couldn’t be found to take on his care.
Thanks to supporters like you, we were ready to rescue Muffin, evaluate his needs, and start him on a path to spend his golden years happy and healthy. Now recovering from dental surgery in foster care with a PAWS vet tech, Muffin Man will be safe and loved for the rest of his days!
Please give before midnight to double your impact for more pets who needs us! You can give via Instagram, Venmo (username @phillypaws), or at our #linkinbio!
#givingtuesday #makingbiscuits #phillypaws #phillypawsfoster
Will you be a hero to homeless pets like Eloise and Lorelei? She and her sister were alone, hungry, and cold when they were found without their mother in the freezing cold last week. At just ten days old, they needed round-the-clock bottle feeding to survive. Thanks to supporters like you, they found safe haven at PAWS, and are now in a loving foster home and growing stronger every day. We’ll give these little ones all the care they need for as long as it takes until they are ready for a forever family.
Today only, gifts are being matched up to $60,000, so your gift will be doubled to ensure we can be there for twice as many pets whose lives are on the line. You can give via Instagram, Venmo (username @phillypaws), or through our #linkinbio!
#getyourrescueon #phillypaws #phillypawsfoster
🚨 Stop scrolling and boop this snoot! 🐽
Flower Pot is a 55 pound bundle of love with one of the cutest pouts we’ve seen (and we’ve seen a lot in our time). When she’s not hamming it up with her toys, this goof can be found wiggling her booty to wherever you are to request snuggles and tummy rubs.
Flower Pot is currently living it up in foster care, but a forever home where she can be the center of your attention is her dearest holiday wish! Learn more about this cheerful girl at our adoptions page (link in bio)!
#boopmynose #boopthesnoot #dogsofphilly #adoptlocalphl #phillypaws #phillypawsfoster #adoptarescuedog
Good looks and a winning personality to match? That’s Miss Tea! A social butterfly who charms everyone she meets with her friendly demeanor, sweet girl loves affection and will stand on her hind legs to ask you for pets.
Miss Tea is friendly with the cats in her home, and would be happy to have a feline sibling in the future! Learn more about this adorable 7 year old at our adoptions page (link in bio)!
#catsofphilly #lapcat #adoptlocalphl #rescuecat #phillypaws #phillypawsfoster
It’s been over 100 days for Denny. This sensitive boy lost his home at less than a year old when his owner passed away in August, and he’s been at the shelter ever since. All he wants in the world is love and reassurance from someone he trusts, and we’re hoping that person is reading this post right now. Could it be you?
Denny is full grown at about 1 year old, but in many ways he’s still very much a puppy. He loves to goof off and play, and will shower you with enthusiastic face kisses once you’re in his circle of trust. He’s also very unsure of himself, and is looking for someone to bond with and help him feel more confident.
A quiet, dog-savvy foster or adoptive home with some training experience (or interest in learning) would be a dream come true for young Denny. If you’d like to help this very special boy, we’d love to tell you all about him! Email foster@phillypaws.org to speak with our team about Denny, or learn more about him at our adoptions page (link in bio)!
#getyourrescueon #fosteringsaveslives #dogsofphilly #rescuedog #phillypaws #phillypawsfoster
Every day is Friday as far as Kai is concerned! This spunky and affectionate 3 month old is SO excited to see us every time we step into PAWS’ ringworm ward, and is literally falling over himself to ask for snuggles and playtime. He’s been stuck on his own in a kennel for six whole weeks while being treated for ringworm, and is desperate to leave the shelter for a foster or adoptive home where he can finish his treatment. Could that be with you?
If you’d like to take home this little one for a few weeks — or for life! — email foster@phillypaws.org with his name in the subject line.
(Kai would also be thrilled to have another feline friend to play with once he tests negative)!
Ringworm fast facts:
🔹 It’s not a worm — it’s a fungal infection of the skin that usually shows up as small patches of hair loss in pets.
🔹 It’s a mild infection, but contagious to people and pets, so a separate room for fosters is the best way to prevent it from spreading during treatment.
🔹 It usually takes 4-8 weeks to clear up (and Kai is already several weeks into his treatment)!
🔹 We have twice weekly “dip days” at our Grays Ferry clinics for ringworm fosters/adopters to drop their kitties off for medicated baths — no need to do it at home!
#getyourrescueon #ringwormkittens #fosteringsaveslives #kittensofinstagram #catsofphilly #phillypaws #phillypawsfoster
Tilly is the sweet, quiet companion you never knew you needed! Her trademark move? Squeezing into small spaces between you and wherever you are sitting 😭
Ever respectful, Tilly will sit by a door until it is opened. Yell at you she will not! Tilly also enjoys ice cubes, laying flat in the sun, joining you in the bathroom & playing with string.
Learn more about this loyal girl by visiting the link in our bio!
#phillypaws #fostercats #thankfulforfosters #fosteringsaveslives #PAWSFosterChallenge #phillypawsfoster #catsofphilly
The Thankful For Fosters Challenge is about more than finding pets homes for the holidays. It’s also about celebrating the life-changing power of foster care for pets like Lugosi.
This gentle senior spent his younger years living in a managed cat colony, but was brought to the city shelter when it became clear that his health was declining. When PAWS rescued him and discovered that his senior ailments had progressed too far to treat, we put out the call to find him a hospice placement, and foster hero Julia answered. Working with PAWS' medical and foster teams, she began pulling out all the stops to give Lugosi the best possible life until it was time to say goodbye.
"I can’t describe how much giving these moments to an animal like Lugosi means to me," she shared. "There is something so precious and valuable in giving him the dignity and grace in his final time that he likely went so long without as a colony cat. He developed food preferences. And brush and comb preferences. He could do what pleased him every single day and I could not ask for any more than that!"
When Lugosi's quality of life began to decline, our medical and foster teams, in partnership with Julia, made the decision to peacefully say goodbye. We are profoundly grateful to her for showing Lugosi such kindness, and for filling his final weeks with love and all the comforts of home.
This week, Julia continued to change lives by taking home Sportsball, a sweet orange kitty needing foster who she chose in memory of Lugosi, as well as mom cat Tulip and her three babies. We are so thankful for Julia and our extraordinary foster community for saving and transforming lives every day.
Join our foster family by signing up at our #linkinbio ❤️
#thankfulforfosters #fosteringsaveslives #PAWSFosterChallenge #hospicecare #phillypaws #phillypawsfoster
What’s the best pie to take home for Thanksgiving? Pierogi, of course! Sweet, zesty, and way more fun than hosting your in-laws, this bouncy girl will keep you smiling with her endless enthusiasm and giant radar ears.
Pierogi has a passion for squeaky toys, outdoor adventures, and games of fetch, and she especially loves to zoom around and play with other pups. Her fosters also share that she adores cuddling, and will take every opportunity to snuggle up next to you!
This wiggle-butt would love to join an active adult home, with or without another dog friend to goof off with. If you’re looking for a smart, energetic sidekick who doesn’t take herself too seriously, learn more about Pierogi at our #linkinbio!
#earsfordays #energizerbunny #dogsofphilly #phillypaws #phillypawsfoster
The shelter remains FULL and fosters are still very much needed! These PAWS pets are our most urgent foster candidates at the shelter, and many more need us.
We had to postpone a rescue trip to the city shelter yesterday because our housing was at capacity, and in order to save the at-risk pets who are counting on us, we need to make more space at the shelter by finding foster homes for the pets in our care. That’s where you come in!
If you’d like to take home a temporary friend for the holiday season, we’d love to match you with a shelter pet in need. Whether you’re available for 3 days or 3 months, a beginner or an expert, there’s a furry friend who can’t wait to meet you.
Our goal is to send home 100 pets in November for the #PAWSFosterChallenge, so learn more and sign up today at our #linkinbio!
#fosteringsaveslives #getyourrescueon #catsofphilly #dogsofphilly #phillypaws #phillypawsfoster
The shelter remains FULL and fosters are still very much needed! These PAWS pets are our most urgent foster candidates at the shelter, and many more need us.
We had to postpone a rescue trip to the city shelter yesterday because our housing was at capacity, and in order to save the at-risk pets who are counting on us, we need to make more space at the shelter by finding foster homes for the pets in our care. That’s where you come in!
If you’d like to take home a temporary friend for the holiday season, we’d love to match you with a shelter pet in need. Whether you’re available for 3 days or 3 months, a beginner or an expert, there’s a furry friend who can’t wait to meet you.
Our goal is to send home 100 pets in November for the #PAWSFosterChallenge, so learn more and sign up today at our #linkinbio!
#fosteringsaveslives #getyourrescueon #catsofphilly #dogsofphilly #phillypaws #phillypawsfoster
Thanks to all the fosters who took home pets this week, our tally is now at 64 for the Thankful For Fosters Challenge! Our goal is to send 100 pets into foster care by the end of November, and that includes short-term foster homes for Thanksgiving🍁
Whether you open your home to a dog or cat whose foster will be traveling for the holiday, or to a dog in our kennels in need of a shelter break, you’ll be brightening your weekend and also ensuring that a formerly homeless pet enjoys the love and comfort of home! If you’d like to join the fun for the #PAWSFosterChallenge (and beyond), sign up today at our link in bio!
#getyourrescueon #fosteringsaveslives #phillypaws #phillypawsfoster
These kittens were positively ✨glowing✨ during their welcome exam! Harper, Hoskins, and Noka are just a few of the very friendly felines in PAWS’ ringworm ward who are urgently seeking foster homes.
Ringworm is a skin infection that’s mild, but it’s also easy to spread at the shelter and can take a while to clear up. That means cats and kittens in our ringworm ward can spend weeks being isolated in their kennels if they don’t find foster homes to finish their treatment. While we pull out all the stops to give them lots of enrichment and affection, it can’t compare to a loving home, and is especially hard on young kittens who just want to snuggle and play 💔
The good news is, fostering or adopting a ringworm kitty is easier than you think! If you’d like to take home an adorable fungal friend, email foster@phillypaws.org.
Ringworm fast facts:
🔹 It’s not a worm — it’s a fungal infection of the skin that usually shows up as small patches of hair loss in pets.
🔹 It’s a mild infection, but contagious to people and pets, so a separate room for fosters is the best way to prevent it from spreading during treatment.
🔹 It usually takes 4-8 weeks to clear up (and most of these babies are already a few weeks into their treatment)!
🔹 We have twice weekly “dip days” at our Grays Ferry clinics for ringworm fosters/adopters to drop their kitties off for medicated baths — no need to do it at home!
#ringwormkittens #getyourrescueon #fosteringsaveslives #rescuekittens #phillypaws #phillypawsfoster