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By the Numbers

Leading Philadelphia to Become a No-Kill City

Every year, PAWS serves more animals than we did the year before, and we will continue until Philadelphia is a place where every healthy and treatable pet is guaranteed a home. Our efforts are working: fewer pets are entering city shelters and more lives are being saved than ever before.

Lives Saved

As Philadelphia’s largest rescue partner, PAWS saves at-risk animals from the city’s animal control shelter, provides all the veterinary care they need, and finds them loving homes. We focus on populations least likely to survive: adult dogs, cats with treatable illnesses, fragile kittens too young for adoption, and animals with injuries or other special medical needs.

2,309 Rescued in 2022
Dogs
0
Cats
0
38,023 Rescued to Date
Dogs
0
Cats
0

Pets Served In Our Clinics

PAWS’ two clinics keep families together and prevent pet homelessness by providing a crucial safety net: affordable basic veterinary care to those who cannot otherwise access it. With 1 in 4 of Philadelphia’s 1.5 million residents living in poverty, PAWS helps pet owners keep and care for their beloved pets rather than face having to surrender them to a shelter. 

26,348 Served in 2022
Grays Ferry
0
Northeast
0
342,748 Served to Date
Grays Ferry (opened 2010)
0
Northeast (opened 2014)
0

Spay/Neuter Surgeries Performed

By providing affordable spay/neuter for owned pets, feral cats, and animals in the care of other rescue organizations, PAWS curbs the birth of unwanted litters, prevents health conditions that lead to shelter surrender, humanely manages stray cat populations, and reduces the number of pets needing to be rescued.

12,398 Spay/Neuters in 2022
Grays Ferry
0
Northeast
0
136,610 Spay/Neuters To Date
Grays Ferry
0
Northeast
0

Fewer Pets Becoming Homeless

As a result of community-wide efforts, the number of stray and surrendered pets entering Philadelphia's animal control shelter has declined by 54%. Spay/neuter, owner retention, and rescue/rehoming alternatives are essential and growing elements of what has become a robust animal welfare movement in our city.
2011
30139
2013
28502
2015
23605
2017
17946
2019
15567
2020
11260
2021
14200
2022
13955
Animal Intake 100 100

Rising Citywide Lifesaving Rates

The goal of all PAWS' programs is to increase the lifesaving rate at Philadelphia's animal control shelter, with the ultimate goal of ensuring survival for every savable pet. While we have much work to do, the current save rate of 87% is a world away from the abysmal 11% that prompted PAWS' founding nearly 17 years ago. The dip in 2022 can be attributed to a variety of factors, including the long-term effects of the pandemic and economic downturn. (Approximately 93% will signify no-kill, since 6-8% of animals entering the shelter are unsavable due to severe medical or behavioral issues.)
2011
60
2013
66
2015
78
2017
83
2019
87
2020
89
2021
89
2022
87
ACCT Live Release Rate (%) 100 100

Shelter Statistics

PAWS is a limited-admission, no-kill shelter. We rescue dogs and cats primarily from Philadelphia’s animal control shelter based on available space in our facilities and foster homes, and on our ability to provide proper care for animals’ behavioral and medical needs. Once we rescue an animal, we remain committed to its care until we can find it an appropriate, loving adoptive home. PAWS only euthanizes animals who are suffering from untreatable illnesses/injuries, or whose behavior would make them a danger to the public if released.

2022 Shelter Statistics
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2021 Shelter Statistics
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2020 Shelter Statistics
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2019 Shelter Statistics
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2018 Shelter Statistics
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2017 Shelter Statistics
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2016 Shelter Statistics
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2015 Shelter Statistics
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2014 Shelter Statistics
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2013 Shelter Statistics
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2012 Shelter Statistics
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There is more work to be done.

Together with like-minded organizations and a vast and caring community of animal lovers, PAWS is leading the effort to save and serve the city's most vulnerable pets. With each passing month, we move closer to our goal: a no-kill city, where every savable pet in Philadelphia is guaranteed a home.
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