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Catalina has HAD it with online dating and is ready to find love the old fashioned way: at PAWS’ Old City Adoption Center! This mellow sweetheart has been absolutely adored in her foster home, but after getting zero bites on her adoption profile, she’s decided it’s time to put herself out there and make some real-life connection.

At 13 years old, Catalina is a gentle couch potato, a chatty lap cat, and a top-notch work from home buddy. She’s never needy or demanding, but still loves to be pet and enjoys quality time curled up with her humans. She’s your girl if you’re looking for an affectionate friend to join you for quiet mornings, cozy evenings, and everything in between.

Catalina has a whole meet and greet room to herself, and can’t wait to melt your heart with her tiny meows and gentle companionship. Visit her this week to fall in love, or learn more at our adoptions page! ...

We heard 2016 is the new 2026, so we pulled out some snapshots from our camera roll (plus a few iconic before and after stories that took our socials by storm)! A lot has changed in the last decade, but a few things remain constant: our commitment to Philly’s pets, our love for the work we do, and our gratitude for PAWS’ amazing community of supporters who make it all possible.

We tracked down the info for almost everyone featured here, but if you recognize any of our mystery pets – or if you took a pet home in 2016 – please shout them out in the comments!

In order of appearance:
1. An adorable puppy-kitten duo (identities are a mystery!)
2. Brick, a truly unique individual (still living it up with the staff member who adopted him)!
3. Emmy, a PAWS icon and legend who still graces some of our greeting cards
4. Zoey gettin’ frisky
5. 2016 Calendar girl Tessa posing with her portrait
6. Madame Grande, absolute unit
7. House hippo Pepper and her magical jowls
8. April enjoying our office furniture
9. Ivy, a mange patient who spent weeks in recovery
10. Mystery pup! Any adopters out there who remember this princess?
11. Patches mid-photoshoot
12. ...And the finished product! An incredible collab between PAWS, @freepeople, and @sophiegamand 👑
13. A few months later, PAWS pup Melody was a Sophie Gamand Pit Bull Flower Power model!
14. Poppy taking a break halfway through a VERY needed shave down
15. Toua and kitten friend 🩷
16. We *think* his name was Jambalaya
17. Cuddle puddle with team member Sara!
18. Roxxy: from an emaciated stray to a life of love with her dad Anthony!
19. Lumpy’s incredible transformation
20. Lucy had the worst tick infestation we’d ever seen before she was rescued by PAWS and found love with Lou and Karen! ...

All sugar, zero spice: meet Pepper! Her foster calls her a “sweet old lady” and the “perfect companion,” and it’s easy to see why 🩷

Pepper is one of those dogs who just radiates love. She has a gentle, calming presence, and does the cutest little bunny hops when she’s excited. At 14 years old, she enjoys short, easy strolls but is happiest relaxing indoors, cuddled up with her people. As her foster shares, “She has brought me so much joy in such a little time!”

Pepper may do well with a calm canine companion of similar size and temperament after slow, thoughtful introductions. She has chronic kidney disease, a common senior condition which is well-managed with medication and a special diet.

If you’re looking for a gentle, loving companion to share cozy days and quiet moments, Pepper is ready to fill your home with warmth and love!

🐾 Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society📍 2900 Grays Ferry Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19146 (by appointment only) ⭐️ PA License # 06172 ...

You’ve never met a girl as sweet as Missee! This calico cutie adores spending time with her humans, whether that means curling up on the couch for a good snuggle, snoozing at the foot of the bed, or settling into a warm lap with a happy purr. Her goofy, lovable energy makes everyone she meets fall head over heels, and we know you’ll feel the same way!
At 13 years young, Missee proves that age is just a number. She still has plenty of pep and loves to play — tossing her toy mouse, chasing wand toys, and enjoying her scratching post and catnip favorites. When playtime winds down, she’s more than happy to return to cuddles and companionship. Missee has lived with other cats before but was bullied 😭so she may be happiest as the only feline in the home where she can truly relax and shine.

If you’re looking for a loving, affectionate companion with a big heart and an even bigger personality, Missee might be your perfect match. Reach out to learn more about adopting this lovely gal today! ...

Amazing matches and new family bonds were made every day at @pawsbroadwashington in 2025! Thanks to the dedication of nearly 30 PAWS volunteers, the center helped 187 cats and kittens find loving homes —making 2025 our second-highest adoption year ever since adoptions began in 2018.

Made possible by PetSmart Charities, this volunteer-powered location changes lives everyday. Volunteers are there seven days a week providing care, enrichment, and love while helping cats connect with wonderful families.

If you’re looking to adopt, be sure to stop by the PAWS PetSmart Broad & Washington PetSmart adoption location between 12-2 today for PetSmart’s Adopt Joy event! You’ll be able to meet adoptable PAWS cats and dogs, enjoy exclusive PetSmart discounts for adopters, and learn about the many ways you can get involved with PAWS. Thank you, @petsmartcharities, for saving lives with us! ...

Looking for snuggles *and* star power? Ashlee Simpson is ready to take center stage in your life!

This cheerful 5 year old is an absolute sweetheart who shows her love through gentle nuzzles, calm companionship, and an ever-present wagging joy. She loves being close to her people and truly lights up with even the smallest bit of affection. A few head or belly scratches? She’s “LaLa” living her best life.

If you’re busy, Ashlee is content relaxing nearby, just happy to be part of your world. She’s good-natured, affectionate, and has a quietly fun personality that keeps shining brighter as she settles in!

Smart and eager to please, Ashlee learns quickly and thrives on positive connection. She’ll happily follow you from room to room (because every great hit needs a loyal fan), but she’s already gaining confidence and learning that it’s okay when her human steps away for a bit.

If you’re looking for a loyal best friend who will be your “Shadow” (in a cute way), your couch buddy, and your biggest fan, Ashlee Simpson is the superstar companion you’ve been looking for!

🐾 Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society📍 2900 Grays Ferry Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19146 (by appointment only) ⭐️ PA License # 06172 ...

✨ PAWS FOSTER SPOTLIGHT: MEET TESSA! ✨

At just 13 years old, Tessa is already making a huge difference for Philadelphia’s most vulnerable kittens. She began fostering with PAWS in December 2024 and in just one year, has helped care for six groups of kittens — opening her home (and her heart) to tiny lives in need. Tessa was inspired to foster after a lifetime of loving animals and a clever compromise when she asked for a puppy. “I liked the idea of making a difference in the community and helping the overlooked animals of Philadelphia,” she shared. That sense of purpose keeps her and her family coming back to help again and again.

One of the most meaningful lessons she’s learned? “It’s always eye-opening to see what the animals are going through and what they need to help them get through their journey.” Seeing so many stray kittens in Philly is heartbreaking, but Tessa is doing something about it. Some of her foster moments are especially unforgettable, like the time her very first litter, Lilac, Hunter, and RoseMary, decided their dry food bowl just wouldn’t do. “They climbed into the food bag and started eating straight from it!” she shared. But her favorite moments are quieter ones: “When timid or scared kittens finally trust me enough to let me pet them or feed them treats...it’s really beautiful.”

For anyone thinking about fostering, Tessa has wise advice beyond her years: “It’s completely fine to feel overwhelmed at first. There’s nothing wrong with asking for help, and it’s better than trying to wing it.” And perhaps most importantly, she reminds us that simply spending time with young animals matters: “Even just sitting near a frightened animal helps them get used to you.”

✨ We’re so proud of Tessa and incredibly grateful for the compassion, patience, and love she brings to every foster kitten. Feeling inspired? Follow in Tessa`s footsteps and become a foster today by signing up at phillypaws.org/foster (link in bio). ...

We got some *very* tiny new arrivals at PAWS’ Old City Adoption Center today! Minun, Plusli, and Pikachu are 6 weeks old and less than half a pound each 😭 Yes, they’re as cute as you think, and yes, we are already obsessed.

We’re still getting to know their emerging personalities, but we do know that piggy companionship will be especially important for these little ones since they’re so young. Minun and Plusli are looking for a home together, but because Pikachu is the only male, he has to be kept separate from his sisters and is especially eager to find another male piggy who can be his BFF.

If you have a male piggy at home who’s looking for another bud to bro down with, or if you’d like to take home a pair of adorable piggy sisters, visit our adoptions page or stop by our adoption center soon! ...

Need to de-stress after that Birds game? Take a deep breath and say hello to Chip 🩷 She’s a tiny conversationalist with a huge heart!

If you’ve been dreaming of a sweet, affectionate kitty who’s happiest curled up beside you, this tuxie princess might be your perfect match. She warms up quickly to new friends, loves being pet, and is a certified cuddle queen at bedtime. She’s also very chatty, and loves to “talk back” and have little conversations with her people!

Chip has hyperthyroidism, which is easily managed with twice-daily medication that she gobbles right up with her food. When dinner’s coming, expect the cutest meows and a tail that literally vibrates with excitement!

Chip is around 10 years old, and would thrive in a patient, loving home that respects her boundaries. In return, she’ll shower you with purrs, biscuit-making sessions, and loyal companionship. Bonus: she’ll home with her own care package, with 3 months of her medication included! Want to learn more? Visit our adoptions page or reach out to our team today at adoptions@phillypaws.org! ...