Get Involved

We’ve shared a lot about Johnny Cash since he came into our care, but this time, we’re letting the person who knows him best do the talking! The voice in this video belongs to Maddie, Johnny’s foster mom of well over a year. Over the last 18 months, she’s gotten to know the sweet and goofy soul behind the terrified dog who first arrived on our doorstep — and every day, he proves he’s more than worth the wait!

Johnny is a sensitive guy, but once he feels comfortable, he’s a total homebody with a silly, endearing side. He enjoys slow mornings, familiar walks, cozy evenings on the couch, and especially loves having a dog friend to pal around with. He’s also a big fan of snuggling anything soft he can get his paws on!

He may need time to warm up in new situations, but Johnny isn’t starting from scratch. He knows routines, understands how to settle at home, and thrives in a calm, predictable environment. He’d love to join a household in a quieter area where he’ll have a confident canine friend to lean on, and maybe even a yard for sunbathing.

Johnny may need a special fit, but he’s already shown just how great he can be as a companion. If you can picture him saving you a spot on the couch, sharing your snacks, and sharing all of life’s quiet moments, he might be your perfect match!

Email adoptions@phillypaws.org to learn more about Johnny Cash today 💖 ...

PAWS celebrated 1,971 adoptions in 2025! 🎉 That’s hundreds of pets who once had nowhere to turn, now enjoying warmth and love with their families because of your support. These are just a few of the happy beginnings we snapped last year, with hundreds more cats, dogs, and small animals finding homes off-screen through PAWS’ adoption locations and extensive network of foster homes.

Every smile and new beginning is thanks to YOU, our amazing lifesaving community who makes our work possible every day! We’re looking forward to many more in the year to come, so if you’ve been thinking of welcoming a furry friend into your life, our experienced team can’t wait to make you a match. See who’s waiting to meet you at our adoptions page (link in bio)! ...

Take home a delicious Ciabatta with absolutely zero carbs! Ciabatta is a chatty little lad who’s searching for a very special foster home. All he wants is human companionship, but he tested positive for scabies and has to be quarantined from people for the next month.
⠀
This sweet boy is heartbroken about having his human contact limited, and would be so much happier if he could finish his separation period in a loving foster home instead of a kennel!⠀
⠀
While Ciabatta’s “brand” of scabies vastly prefers cat hosts, it can technically spread to humans through direct touch, so he’ll need to stay in a smaller, easy to clean space like a dog crate or playpen that we can provide to you and also disinfect afterwards. We can also share PPE and linens if you need them!
⠀
All of his medical care will be handled by PAWS, and staff will be more than happy to answer any questions you might have about his condition. If you can help and have an extra room at home, email foster@phillypaws.org with the subject line “Ciabatta” for more info! ...

Bubba’s just here, being perfect, still waiting patiently for you to come foster him! This sweet squish got to enjoy all the comforts of home with his holiday fosters last week, and was an absolute hit. Now that he’s back at the shelter, he’s more eager than ever to find a longer term foster home where he can settle in and truly shine!

Although he was found as a stray, we’re certain Bubba was once someone’s baby, because this boy is as loving and devoted as they come. He adores people and just wants to be close to his friends, soaking up all the attention you have to offer and then settling down to relax while you do your own thing.

Bubba is about 2 years old and has a few medical needs we’re helping him with, including a cornea condition we’re managing with daily eye meds. He’s seeking a foster who can set him up for success by keeping up communication with our foster team, getting him to our clinics for periodic check ups as needed, and most importantly, giving him all the snuggles and booty scritches his heart desires.

Want to help this special thrive and receive tons of love and cuddles in return? Email foster@phillypaws.org to learn more about Bubba today! ...

Need a stress reset after a rough day back at work? Pound Cake’s purrs are just what the doctor ordered! This beefcake is medically proven to lower your blood pressure (as long as you don’t fact check that).

Pound Cake has been melting hearts since he landed at PAWS, but he’s unfortunately not feeling his best due to a mouth full of bad teeth and a painful eyelid condition that will require surgery (hence why he’s so squinty). He’d really love to find a foster home where he can get his own stress reset away from the shelter, and have a cozy place to recover after his dental and eyelid surgeries. In return, you’ll get all the purrs, trills, and sweet head bonks you could ask for!

Pound Cake is 6 years old and would love to join a mellow home with teens and up. If you’d like to learn more about this lovable guy, email foster@phillypaws.org for more info! ...

This sweet, perfect, snuggly bean is Baby Girl! If your love languages are cuddling and quality time, she just might be the wobbly little soulmate you’ve been looking for.

Baby Girl is an incredibly loving, affectionate cat who wants to be wherever her humans are. She follows you from room to room, purrs nonstop, and loves curling up beside you for snuggles — couch, bed, you name it! Her holiday foster was none other than @nbcphiladelphia’s @sheilawatko , who called her “an ANGEL!” who was curled up in bed with her by day 3.

Baby Girl’s balance is wobbly because of a condition called cerebellar hypoplasia, but don’t let that fool you — she’s determined, adaptable, and full of charm. She carefully climbs onto couches and beds (“like a little rock climber,” says Sheila), can manage small amounts of stairs (albeit slowly), and when she falls over, she always pops right back up.

Baby Girl is about 7 years old, and has a medical condition that causes anemia but is currently well managed with medication she takes very easily. Because this prevents her from safely getting her spay surgery, she’s seeking an indoors-only home where she can be the only cat — which suits her perfectly, since she loves having all the attention to herself!

If you’re looking for a devoted companion with a huge heart, gentle soul, and endless affection to give, Baby Girl is ready to get the lovefest started! ...

Kratos might be mostly blind, but even he can see you’d be perfect together. This cheerful hunk is looking for a foster or adopter to cozy up with, and yes, we think he’d do great with dogs of all sizes! He’s 65 pounds of love in a goofy, charming package, and equal parts playful and snuggly (tummy rubs and full body pets are his love language)!

Kratos is around 2 years old and loves walks, car rides, and being close to his people. His vision is impaired enough that he can be clumsy at times (we think he can see shapes and light, but he’s also walked right into some walls), but he adapts to his environment quickly and is a quick learner for treats.

If you’re looking for a social and kind-hearted canine companion to warm your feet on the couch, email foster@phillypaws.org or adoptions@phillypaws.org to learn more about Kratos today!

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

Melo is serving looks to pass the time while he waits for a foster home. Which do you think he wore best?

Our buddy arrived at the shelter with a broken hip that requires special surgery, but we’d really like to line up a foster home where he can recover first. Melo’s a really affectionate little guy, and he’d would be so grateful to get some much-needed TLC in foster care with someone who can transport him to his appointments as needed (and give him lots of head scritches, of course).

Melo will need several weeks of crate rest to help his leg heal before and after his surgery, and we’ll be happy to provide you with any supplies you’ll need, including a crate or playpen. We’d love to tell you all about this 4 year old sweetheart, so reach out to foster@phillypaws.org to learn more about Melo today! ...

We’re not kitten around: only a few hours remain to have your gift DOUBLED for Philly’s homeless and at-risk pets! 🎉 A generous group of donors is matching all gifts through midnight, up to $75,000, and the countdown is on. These are just a few of the tiniest rescues who found safety at PAWS in 2025, but pets of all sizes rely on us each year for safety and second chances.

Your gift today will deliver twice the hope to fragile kittens, ailing seniors, sick and injured strays, and thousands more with nowhere to turn. Whether they need a loving home or help staying with the people who adore them, your kindness will make pets safe and keep families whole in the year ahead!

Don’t wait — this match expires when the clock strikes 12. Please act now to ensure that your gift is matched. Your support will make all the difference! Donate via Instagram, Venmo (username @phillypaws), or through our #linkinbio. ...

Let’s ring in the New Year by saving lives! 🎉 Give before midnight to double your impact for pets like Bette Davis ♥️♥️

This sweet girl was found tied to a gate in Melrose Park, cold, frightened, and severely matted. At PAWS, she received a much-needed haircut, treatment for an upper respiratory infection, and something even more important — security.

Thankfully, Bette thrived in foster care, soaking up affection and proving just how resilient these creatures can be. And earlier this week, Bette joined a family of her own, just in time for them to celebrate the New Year together!

“Our hearts are completely full with joy, and we feel incredibly lucky to have Bette in our lives,” share adopters Will and Natalie, “She has already brought so much happiness into our home in just a few short days.”

This transformation didn’t happen by itself; it happened because people like you believed Bette was worth saving. Your support ensures PAWS can be there when animals like Bette have nowhere else to turn, providing medical care, comfort, and a soft place to land. Thanks to you, Bette is resting easy tonight, surrounded by love with a bright future ahead.

As we prepare to welcome 2026, many more animals like Bette will be counting on us to keep them safe. Please give now and make your generosity go twice as far, thanks to this exciting matching opportunity. You can donate via Instagram, Venmo (username @phillypaws), or through our #linkinbio. ...