PAWS’ executive director Melissa Levy shares opening remarks

It was a beautiful morning in South Philadelphia as PAWS officially broke ground on our future headquarters, marking an exciting new chapter in our 20-year history and for the future of animal welfare in Philadelphia.

The groundbreaking marks a major step forward in PAWS’ Our Home, Their Haven capital campaign, a $15 million effort to build a new, 18,500 sq. ft. headquarters that will bring rescue, adoption, affordable veterinary care, and pet owner support services together under one roof. With three times the space of our current facilities, our future home will expand our capacity to save and serve Philadelphia’s most vulnerable pets and the people who love them for generations to come.

We were joined by Pennsylvania State Representative Regina Young and Tiphanie White, Chief of Staff to Philadelphia Council President Kenyatta Johnson, both of whom delivered remarks in celebration of the milestone. Major donors, longtime supporters, PAWS staff, clinic clients, construction partners, community leaders, and adoptable dogs also gathered to commemorate the occasion.

PAWS staff and board members, project partners, elected officials, and supporters break ground

We want to thank our friends at Camfred Construction, who are helping turn our new home into a reality. Thank you to PAWS’ board chair Jocelyn Barton, Representative Young and Ms. White for sharing words of wisdom on what this project will mean for our community, as well as to longtime PAWS clinic client Terrance Duren for sharing such beautiful words on the impact of our services.

We want to thank our friends at Camfred Construction, who are helping turn our new home into a reality. Thank you to Representative Young and to Ms. White for sharing words of wisdom on what this project will mean for our community, as well as to longtime PAWS clinic client Terrance Duren for sharing such beautiful words on the impact of our services. We’re also deeply grateful to the incredible team of partners working alongside us to make this dream possible: Meyer Design, Animal Arts, Colliers, Paradigm, and AR Spruce. And, of course, to our PAWS staff and board, our fosters, adopters, volunteers, donors, longtime supporters, and everyone who believes in our mission: we could never do this without you!

PAWS’ board chair Jocelyn Barton shares words of hope and excitement for the future of animal welfare in Philadelphia

For 20 years, this community has made it possible for PAWS to be there for Philadelphia’s most vulnerable animals and the people who love them. Now, we get to build on that foundation and imagine all that lies ahead. We cannot wait to open our doors, welcome our community, and fill this new space with the compassion, dedication, and lifesaving work that have always been at the heart of PAWS. Thank you for helping us get here. The best is yet to come!

Supporters, members of the press, and key partners gathered to celebrate this historic milestone

To view more photos from the groundbreaking ceremony, please click here.

To learn more about Our Home, Their Haven and how to help build PAWS’ future, visit ourhometheirhaven.org. For more information about PAWS and our lifesaving programs and services, visit phillypaws.org.

Seven-year-old adoptable pup Over the Luna helped supervise the groundbreaking site