Get Involved
There are many ways to save a life!
PAWS was founded in 2005 as a small volunteer group with a dream to make Philadelphia a no-kill city where every healthy and treatable pet is guaranteed a home. We have made incredible strides thanks to caring supporters who get involved however they can, whether adopting, fostering, making contributions of time or funds, and so much more. Join our mission and start saving lives!
Join the PAWS Community
Become A PAWS Partner
Current Partners






















































Make a Gift and Save a Life
Find Your Newest Family Member
When you adopt a new best friend from PAWS, you are saving a life that might not have had a chance without your kindness.
Join the Conversation
Follow PAWS on Social Media
Our online community helps save lives and celebrate successes. Keep up to date on ways to help the animals and tag us in your happy adoption updates: you may see your story here!
#phillypaws
It’s #WishlistWednesday, and we’re in urgent need of supplies for our pet pantry and shelter animals! By sending one or more items from our wishlists, you’ll be enriching the lives of the pets in our care and helping pets in our community whose families are working to make ends meet. Our greatest need at the moment is for:
🐱 Dry cat food and litter for our pet pantry
🧻 Paper towels to ensure clean living spaces for our shelter pets
🐶 Soft training treats to provide training and enrichment for our shelter pups
Visit our #linkinbio to send items through our pantry and shelter wishlists today!
...
Meet Summer Lovin’: your very own ray of sunshine! ☀️
This sweet and gentle girl is the perfect blend of warmth, calm, and curiosity — like a lazy summer afternoon wrapped up in a four-legged friend. Since settling into her foster home, Summer Lovin’ has been a quiet, easygoing companion who’s just as happy strolling through the neighborhood as she is snoozing by your side.
On walks, Summer has a curious spirit and loves getting out to explore on walks. At home, she’s mellow, affectionate, and full of kisses (her favorite way to show love). She’s also previously lived with another dog, and we think she’d be very happy to do so again!
If you’re dreaming of a companion who brings the easy magic of summer all year long, look no further — Summer Lovin’ is ready to make your days a little brighter!
Email adoptions@phillypaws.org for more info and submit your adoption application today, and you can also follow along for more of Summer’s adventures on Instagram, @mon_ami_fosterdogs!
...
We have 42 more to go to meet our Foster Challenge goal, and we can only do it with YOUR help! 🙏 Are you up to the challenge? Sign up today at phillypaws.org/foster, or email foster@phillypaws.org to learn more!
Thanks to the amazing heroes who`ve stepped up for our Everyday Heroes Foster Challenge, SIXTY pets have found foster homes in the last ten days alone, bringing our foster tally to 108!
That`s 108 pets who are waking up every morning in a loving home instead of in a kennel at the shelter. We`ve already filled their spaces with new rescued pets who had nowhere to turn, but with dozens more arriving at Philly shelters, we need even more everyday heroes like YOU to keep up the lifesaving momentum!
...
Meet Squidward: he’s soulful, he’s snuggly, and he’s ready to fill your life with alllll the puppy joy! This sweet little guy was abandoned at PAWS with his 6 siblings, and is the only member of his litter left at the shelter. While his past is a mystery, he’s already showing what a tender, loving companion he’s meant to be!
Unlike his more rambunctious littermates, Squidward prefers quiet moments and cozy cuddles. He’s a lap dog in the making, happiest when snuggled close and soaking up affection. Of course, he’s still a 3.5 month old puppy, so you can expect plenty of playtime, silliness, and adorable antics!
Squidward has been diagnosed with a heart murmur, and while we’re still learning more about his medical plan, we do know that he’ll have plenty of love to give to a special adopter. He’ll thrive in a quieter home, and would be especially thrilled to have a social dog friend to continue showing him the ropes!
If you have space in your heart for an amazing little guy who will just want to be near you (and your pup), Squidward is ready to return all of the love that you have to give tenfold!
🐾 Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society📍 2900 Grays Ferry Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19146 (by appointment only) ⭐️ PA License # 06172
...
✨ PAWS FOSTER SPOTLIGHT: Meet Mindy!✨
Mindy started as a dog-care volunteer at our Grays Ferry location, and began her journey as a foster in early 2020. During the pandemic, she wanted a 4-legged work-from-home buddy. When there were no dogs available, she asked to foster the friendliest cat...and promptly adopted him within a week. Now known as Otto, he’s been by Mindy’s side as she’s fostered 20(!) cats since then!
Mindy was drawn to PAWS’ Safety Net Program so she could provide a temporary home for pets whose owners were facing hardship, and has also become especially passionate about caring for our diabetic cats. These cats are often overlooked due to their medical needs, even though diabetes care is easier than many realize.
She’s shared how much she loves seeing a cat’s health turn around during treatment (usually insulin therapy), and has come to find that senior cats are more her speed. She’s also shared how glad she is that PAWS provides all medical care for these special fosters so she can continue to open her home to them. Pictured in her spotlight image is her current adoptable foster, diabetic cutie Cupid!
For those deciding whether to foster for the first time, Mindy says, “Don’t worry about not being the perfect home for a foster pet — being in a home at all (even just a room) is much more spacious and less stressful than being in a cage in the shelter.” And “every cage you empty at PAWS becomes available for PAWS to rescue the next animal”. This rings especially true right now: our shelter is currently full, limiting how many pets we can rescue. If you’ve ever thought about fostering, now is the time!
Foster parents like Mindy change lives every day by helping pets transition into homes while recovering from medical issues or big life transitions. Mindy never thought she’d get a cat, but she found her Otto through fostering — and even has an Instagram account, @ottosphillyfosters, to share her journey!
We are profoundly grateful to have Mindy as part of our foster family, and hope her story inspires you as much as it inspired us!
🐾 Ready to transform lives and become a PAWS foster parent? Sign up today through our #linkinbio!
...
Wanted: ringworm fosters! PAWS’ ringworm ward is full to the brim with friendly cats and kittens who’d be overjoyed to finish their treatment at your place. Could you be the foster hero they’re looking for?
Because it’s so easy to spread at the shelter, cats and kittens who test positive for this skin infection have to be fully isolated during their treatment, which can be very lonely for them. When they do get to go home, they’re beside themselves with happiness and brimming with affection!
Fosters and adopters who open their homes to ringworm kitties can attest that they’re some of the most friendly and loving cats you’ll meet, and all it takes to change a life is a separate space in your home and a few weeks of TLC!
To foster or adopt one or more of our adorable fungal felines, email foster@phillypaws.org with the subject “ringworm kittens”!
Some 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 many 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!
...
Get ready for hot tunes and cool treats! Bring your friends and your singing skills, and join the Young Friends of PAWS for Kitty-oke at @the_igloo on July 30! Belt out your best Katy Purr-y or Red Hot Chili Pup-pers while you chill out with ice cream, milkshakes and more. If weather permits, we`ll be outside - meaning you can bring your dog to sing backup. (Pets are not permitted in The Igloo.)
20% of all proceeds will go towards supporting PAWS` mission. We hope to see you there!
...
If you believe the best things are worth a little wait, Zinnia just might be your perfect match!
This special soul has made incredible strides from her shy beginnings. With each passing day, her confidence blossoms, revealing a playful, curious, and affectionate side that’s simply irresistible.
This petite panther is a big fan of playtime—whether she`s chasing a wand toy with gusto or batting around her favorite ping-pong ball, Zinnia knows how to keep herself entertained. Once the zoomies wear off, she’ll reward her favorite humans with gentle head bonks, sweet purrs, and even a peek at her soft belly 🥰
Zinnia would thrive in a calm, adult-only home where she can be the queen of the castle as your only pet. It may take a little time for her to open up, but once she does, you’ll have a loyal and loving companion for life!
Interested? Email adoptions@phillypaws.org to learn more, or check out 7 year old Zinnia at our adoptions page (link in bio)!
...
We’re absolutely blown away! Thanks to our incredible community of TNR advocates, animal lovers, and generous matching donors, an astounding $82,380 was raised for PAWS` TNR Voucher Fund! That means over 1,600 cats can be TNR`d at no cost to the wonderful trappers and community cat caregivers who will utilize our services this year.
Your kindness will help cover the costs of spay/neuter surgery, vaccination, pain medication, flea treatment, and much more for Philly`s stray and feral cats. These services save lives, protect the health and wellbeing of community cats, and reduce the homeless pet population — and you’ve made all of that possible.
Because of you, PAWS can continue delivering essential care and protection to countless community cats across Philadelphia. Your support means the world to these cats and the dedicated caretakers who look after them, and it will change even more lives in the months to come. From all of us at PAWS, thank you for helping to create a safer future for our city’s outdoor cats!
...
Stop scrolling and LOOK at this underbite! If your ideal Friday involves a comfy night at home, Meeyo just might be the grandpa dog of your dreams. This cuddle connoisseur lives for quiet companionship, soulful eye contact, and cozy naps (ideally in his blanket fort).
At around 8 years old, Meeyo is as easygoing as they come — low-key, affectionate, and happiest when he’s curled up right next to you. He likes to take life at his own pace, whether that’s savoring his meals or slowly investigating a toy before deciding it’s worthy of his attention.
Meeyo is friendly with every human he meets, but he’s got some big “get off my lawn” energy when it comes to canine neighbors, so he’d love to be an only pet. He does have a few common senior ailments —chronic kidney disease, a heart murmur, and some allergies — but he takes it all in stride. He’s great about letting you know when he has to go potty (around every 4 hours), and is even better at letting you know just how much he adores you (hint: it’s a lot).
Meeyo thrives in a calm, loving environment and can’t wait to fill your days endless snuggles and sweet companionship. He’s waiting to meet you in foster care, so drop us a line about this little gentleman today!
🐾 Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society📍 2900 Grays Ferry Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19146 (by appointment only) ⭐️ PA License # 06172
...
Sure, the cats and dogs in our care may have superpowers, but they still need a hero. Could it be YOU?! 🦸
With the new #Superman movie hitting theaters today starring Philly’s own #DavidCorenswet and Krypto the Superdog, our PAWS pets are feeling extra inspired! Director @jamesgunn modeled Krypto the Superdog after his own rescue pup, Ozu, showing the world that real superheroes come in all shapes, sizes, and breeds…just like so many of the pets waiting at PAWS.
Our current mission: place 150 pets into foster homes by July 20 as part of the Everyday Heroes: PAWS Foster Challenge. We still have over 50 pets to place, and while it’s a lofty goal, we’re counting on animal lovers like you to answer the call.
The city shelter is currently at maximum capacity, which means more lives are at risk unless we place more of our pets into foster homes.
✨ Suit up. Be their hero. Open your home to a foster pet today at phillypaws.org/foster.
...
Time is running out to protect Philly’s most vulnerable cats: donate before midnight to have your gift TRIPLED for the thousands of outdoor cats living on our city’s streets. These feline friends are often overlooked, but your support will ensure they aren’t forgotten. Don’t miss this incredible chance to give them 3X the health, safety, and hope before tonight’s matching deadline!
Free and subsidized TNR through PAWS’ clinics ensures that Philly’s dedicated and caring Community Cat Caretakers can continue carrying out this vital, life-changing work. All across Philadelphia, hundreds of dedicated individuals and dozens of grassroots groups are out in the streets, alleyways, and backyards, each and every day, caring for our city’s outdoor cats.
They trap, transport, feed, monitor, and comfort cats who have no one else. It’s often tough work, fueled not by recognition or reward, but by love. And more often than not, they do it on their own time and their own dime.
We are endlessly grateful to the deeply devoted folks who care for our city’s community cats. Their generosity drives every quiet act of compassion, transforming everyday people into heroes for the cats who need them most. Your gift today will fuel their efforts and ensure they have the resources they need to continue their lifesaving work and reach even more cats in need.
Take a moment to read in their own words why your support is so important, and please make a gift if you can! Through midnight, your generosity will be triple matched by a generous group of donors. 3X your impact today by giving via Instagram, Venmo (username @phillypaws), or through our #linkinbio.
...
Today is the final day to triple your impact for the thousands of outdoor cats living on our city’s streets. Through midnight tonight, every gift to PAWS’ TNR Program will be triple-matched by generous donors — meaning your donation will go three times as far in providing life-changing spay/neuter surgeries and vaccinations to the community cats who need it most.
For years, people believed the best way to manage feral or community cats was to remove them from their environment. They were taken to overcrowded shelters and often euthanized, simply because they weren’t socialized enough for adoption.
This approach was not only inhumane — it didn’t work. Removing cats creates a vacuum effect, where new cats move in and the cycle repeats. Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) is a humane, effective solution: it prevents future litters and benefits both the cats and the communities they call home.
🐈⬛ There is a decrease in unwanted mating behaviors such as roaming, yowling, spraying, and fighting.
💉 Cats are vaccinated for rabies and other communicable diseases.
❤️🩹 Without the stresses of mating and pregnancy, cats’ physical health improves.
🐁 Cat colonies provide natural rodent control for the neighborhood.
TNR for one cat through PAWS costs $50. Today, your gift of that amount or more will benefit THREE community cats! Give now via Instagram, Venmo (username @phillypaws), or through our #linkinbio.
And remember: this work is only possible thanks to community cat caretakers and organizations like @project.meow, @cattrappers215, @thecatcollaborative, @straycatrelief, @kitten_snatchers, @whiskers_of_love_cat_rescue, @merakianimalsanctuary, and MANY more!
We are proud to be a resource for these fellow lifesavers, and vouchers through PAWS’ TNR program makes it all possible.
Are you a trapper? Do you know anyone else who deserves some love? Tag another trapper or organization in the comments!
...
Working cat Etta wants to know if you`re hiring! This ex-mama was found in a crowded garage caring lovingly for her kittens, despite being painfully thin herself. She was brought to the shelter by a Good Samaritan after sadly being mistreated by some folks in the neighborhood, but if we`re being honest, she`s still not doing so great and is ready to get out of dodge!
While she doesn`t hiss, scratch, or bite, Etta is absolutely terrified, and clearly misses the freedom of the outdoors. That’s why we think she`d thrive as a “Working Cat” — keeping your barn, warehouse, brewery, or backyard shed totally rodent-free in exchange for food, shelter, and space to be her independent self.
Etta may not want cuddles, but she`s got skills, work ethic, and a very cute face (and who knows, she may even decide to be pals once she`s feeling truly safe)! While not a typical adoption, a "working cat adoption" gives special cats like Etta what they want and need: safe and sheltered forever homes without the pressure of human interaction (relatable, if we`re being honest).
Interested? Contact adoptions@phillypaws.org to inquire!
...
PAWS’ TNR triple match starts NOW! Philadelphia is home to roughly 400,000 stray and feral cats, and TNR (Trap-neuter-return) is their path to a safer future. It prevents the birth of unwanted litters, protects against disease, and reduces unnecessary suffering — giving the most vulnerable cats a chance to live healthier, safer lives.
Their wellbeing often depends on the dedication of community cat caretakers and the availability of TNR programs. In Philadelphia, PAWS is a leading provider of these lifesaving services.
Our goal is to make TNR surgery widely accessible — ideally at no cost to the caretakers who already give so much to protect the unseen and often forgotten cats who share our streets. Through PAWS’ TNR Voucher Program, supported by donors like you, we’re able to make this vital work a reality!
For the next 48 hours, every dollar you give to PAWS’ TNR Voucher Program will be tripled — thanks to a group of generous anonymous donors. That means your gift will go three times as far in providing the love, care, and protection Philadelphia’s community cats deserve.
PAWS provides free or subsidized spay/neuter surgeries and vaccinations for community cats at our two clinics in Grays Ferry and Northeast Philadelphia. Right now, your $50 donation — the cost of TNR for one cat — will provide surgery, vaccines, pain medication, and flea treatment for THREE community cats!
Please give now and take advantage of this incredible opportunity. Your gift will make a tremendous difference in the lives of countless felines! Give today via Instagram, Venmo (username @phillypaws), or through our #linkinbio.
...
Tom Cat Jones is an undercover flirt! Can you foster this shy boy so he can blossom into the full-time lover he’s meant to be? He’s tested positive for feline leukemia, and the shelter has been a very hard adjustment for this sensitive guy on top of him being immunocompromised.
His appetite hasn’t been amazing due to his stress and some painful dental disease, but he’ll start chowing down as soon as he’s gotten some petting and reassurance 🥹
If you’d like to help Tom feel better (and enjoy a lot of sweet head nuzzles while you’re at it), please reach out today at foster@phillypaws.org!
...
Please welcome our newest rescue pup! Lenny is safe at PAWS after landing at the city shelter, but he’s just come down with a doggy cold and would much rather be recovering in foster care with you ♥️ He’s hoping you’ll join our Everyday Heroes Foster Challenge so more pups like him can enjoy the comforts of home while they’re looking for love!
Spending even a couple of weeks in a home has enormous health and behavior benefits for shelter dogs, and gives them a chance to show us their true personalities so we can make better adoption matches. We’re still getting to know our pal Lenny, but one thing’s already clear: this squishy-faced sweetheart would rather snuggle up in your lap than do just about anything else!
Each time a dog leaves the shelter for a foster home, we can use that space to rescue another dog who’s waiting. Plus, PAWS provides everything you’ll need for your new friend, including:
🔸 Veterinary care at our clinic
🔸 One-on-one behavior plan and support
🔸 A team of foster and adoption counselors ready to give advice, follow up, and offer support throughout the process
🔸 Matchmaking to help find a great adopter for your foster dog
🔸 Supplies like collars, leashes, and crates
Want to change a life? Sign up at phillypaws.org/foster or email foster@phillypaws.org to get started today!
🐾 Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society📍 2900 Grays Ferry Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19146 (by appointment only) ⭐️ PA License # 06172
...
This little love is still desperate to find a home! You wouldn’t know it from this video, but the shelter has been very hard on our girl Piper. She’s overjoyed when she’s outside with her friends, but the rest of her day is spent in our kennels, hoping the next time the door opens, a foster or adopter will be on the other side.
This sensitive soul isn’t built for shelter life. She’s built for sweet morning snuggles, joyful toy zoomies, and marathon couch naps draped across your lap. People are her happy place, and once you’re one of hers, you’ll have a hilarious and loving friend who will *always* wiggle over to show you her toys (whether you’ve asked her to or not)!
Piper would be thrilled to join a home where she’ll be the only pet, and won’t have to be alone too often to start (adjusting to new situations can be scary)! This smart cookie is very treat-motivated, already knows several basic cues, and is also crate trained and mostly housebroken (she’ll just need a light refresher)!
Piper is around 2 years old and 30 pounds, and can’t wait to show off how well she fits in your lap. Email foster@phillypaws.org or adoptions@phillypaws.org to learn more about fostering or adopting Piper today.
🐾 Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society📍 2900 Grays Ferry Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19146 (by appointment only) ⭐️ PA License # 06172
...
Foster heroes, assemble! These amazing humans spent their holiday weekend changing lives by taking home pets for PAWS` Everyday Heroes Foster Challenge. 53 animals have left the shelter since the challenge kicked off, which means we`re 97 away from reaching our lifesaving goal. Will we be able to find foster homes for 150 pets by July 20th? The answer depends on everyday heroes like YOU!
Animals have been flooding into Philly`s shelters for weeks, and PAWS` animal housing has been so full that we`re not able to rescue nearly as many pets who need us. By temporarily opening your home to a dog, cat, or litter of kittens, you can change the life of a homeless pet *and* save the life of another who has nowhere to turn!
PAWS` can help match you with a pet based on your household and schedule (yes, even if you have other pets!), and will provide all medical care and even supplies if you need them. If you have an extra spot in your home and extra love in your heart, email foster@phillypaws.org or sign up today at our #linkinbio to get started!
...
Are you looking for a cat who’s so sweet, he’ll literally jump into your arms? Meet Cashew! He’s 9 years young and wants to be your number one snuggler. He’s an incredibly sweet boy who makes it his mission to keep you company, whether he’s happily making biscuits by your side or soaking up love in your lap!
When he’s not soaking up affection, Cashew’s got a playful side that rivals cats half his age. He entertains himself by batting around toys, exploring his surroundings, or chasing a wand toy with full enthusiasm.
Cashew is friendly with cats and dogs who are gentle with him, and eats a special diet to keep his skin from getting sensitive. He can’t wait to give you all his love and head boops, so if your lap has been feeling empty, drop us a line about Cashew today (you can also follow his adventures at @adopt_me_philly)!
...