PAWS (Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society)
Our Mission
PAWS is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to saving Philadelphia’s homeless and at-risk pets while serving pet owners in need. We are working to make Philadelphia a place where every healthy and treatable pet is guaranteed a home.
The Need for Change
Founded in 2006 to address a critical need in our city, we have played a leading role in transforming animal welfare in Philadelphia. Our efforts have contributed to a nearly 50% decrease in the number of animals entering the city shelter, helping thousands of families keep their pets and finding loving homes for thousands more each year.
How We Help
Our work is powered by a dedicated team and a robust network of foster homes. By balancing our boutique-style adoption center with an extensive foster-based model, we ensure every animal receives the care they need in a supportive environment. Our two wellness clinics in Grays Ferry and Northeast Philadelphia provide vital, low-cost veterinary services to keep pets healthy and with the families who love them.
Your Partner in Adoption
We believe in the power of great matches. Our conversation-based, open adoption process focuses on individual needs—considering energy levels, personalities, and your lifestyle—to ensure a connection that truly lasts a lifetime. Whether you are searching for a loyal dog, a cuddly cat, or a small companion, our counselors are here to help you find your new best friend.
Join Our Community
Your support makes this lifesaving work possible. We invite you to browse our available pets to find your perfect match, learn more about our adoption process, or explore our volunteer and foster opportunities. Together, we can continue to build a kinder, more compassionate Philadelphia for all our animal companions.
Trust Assessment
GoldRated Sep 5, 2026
NonprofitVerifiedPhysical FacilityOperating 10+ years
FinancesOnline Review Highlights
- Dedicated and helpful staff
- Comprehensive medical support
- Inconsistent communication
Vetted by
How we assessCoverage We Reviewed
NBC10 Philadelphia
10/3 - Clear the Shelters: Meet Craig
We’re so excited to introduce you to Craig. This handsome boy was found wandering as a stray. He loves people and is available for adoption at the Mutt Strutt event Saturday, Oct. 3, held by PAWS (Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society).
PHILADELPHIA.Today
9/18 - Philadelphia Pet Store Guide: 19 Local Shops to Know
Find 19 Philadelphia pet stores for grooming, adoption, self-wash tubs and exotics, from Old City and Fishtown to Manayunk and Mt. Airy.
NBC10 Philadelphia
8/28 - Help Philly-area animals find forever homes on ‘Clear the Shelters’ day
On Aug. 29, 2026, animal shelters across the country, including the Philly area, will waive adoption fees as part of the Clear the Shelters campaign.
NBC10 Philadelphia
8/27 - Help these adorable animals find forever homes
NBC10’s Sheila Watko shows us adorable animals from our area who are looking to find a forever home.
NBC10 Philadelphia
Improves Trust
8/26 - How PAWS works to serve animals throughout the region
NBC10’s Lili Zheng has a look at how the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society, or PAWS, works to protect animals in the community and has details on how the organization is helping pets during this week’s Clear the Shelter campaign.
Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society
Improves Trust
8/25 - Clear the Shelters Day - Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society
Saturday, August 29, Clear The Shelters will culminate in a fee-waived adoption event for *ALL* cats and kittens at PAWS’ Old City Adoption Center and Broad and Washington PetSmart location. Be sure to apply ahead of time to become an approved adopter at phillypaws.org/catapp, and come out this weekend to meet your new best friend. […]
Recent Videos
10/9 - Why hello, Cherie! This sweet and spunky pup is a party on four legs who brings 10/10 enthusiasm to everything she does. She’s technically full grown at a year old, but she’s still a puppy in all the ways that matter. This goofball is looking for a foster or adopter to show her the ropes — and the snuggles! Cherie’s personality is the best of both worlds. She’s a zesty gal who’s always down for a round of zoomies, fetch, or tug, but she’s equally committed to her side hustle as a full-time cuddle bug. She loves people and making new friends, and will happily soak up attention from literally anyone — and, she seems quite interested in making friends with other pups! Cherie already knows “sit,” is very food and treat-motivated, and enjoys walks on leash. And while she may be a lady of mystery when it comes to her past, she’s making it clear that she’s ready for a future filled with toys, snacks, adventures, and a person or family to call her own. Want to learn more? Drop us a line at foster@phillypaws.org or adoptions@phillypaws.org today! 🐾 Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society📍 2900 Grays Ferry Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19146 (by appointment only) ⭐️ PA License # 06172
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10/9 - Hailey and Bella are such a sweet pair! These ladies might be at the shelter right now, but they actually have a family who loves them very much. Can you foster them for a couple months until they can be reunited? Through PAWS’ Safety Net Foster Program, pets with owners facing a short-term crisis are matched with temporary homes rather than being permanently surrendered to our care, ensuring families can stay together just as they should be. Per their owner, Hailey (orange spots) is more introverted than her sister, but loves wet food and treats and will play with Bella when inspiration strikes. Bella is more extroverted, and can be quite chatty to boot! They’re both about 4 years old, and are looking for a place to crash through the end of December. If you’d like to help these sisters stay together, feel safe, and remember what it’s like to relax in a home, email foster@phillypaws.org to learn more about Hailey and Bella today!
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10/8 - A kitten low on brain cells? Delightful. A shelter low on supplies? Disastrous! We’re in urgent need of kitten food, paper towels, and churu treats to keep our furry friends fed, clean, and thriving (even if we can’t keep them from shenaninags). If you can send or drop off supplies, Sawyer and her friends would be very grateful! Choose whichever is best for you: 📦 Send through our Chewy or Amazon wishlists (link in bio) 🐾 Drop off at any PAWS location during regular hours 🚚 Ship through the retailer of your choice to: PAWS 2900 Grays Ferry Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19146 Thank you on behalf of the pets in our care!
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10/7 - Looking for a new friend, but want to start small? Take home a piggy pal like Pepita! We have lots of little ones who’d love to add some snuggles and squeaks to your life, and fosters are needed now so we can rescue even more piggies who need us. If you’ve got room for an adorable roommate (or two!) and are down to party with a piggie for a few weeks, we’d love to match you with a guinea pig friend to foster (or adopt)! We can also provide supplies to fosters if this is your first time taking home a guinea pig 🐽 Interested? Email foster@phillypaws.org to learn more!
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10/6 - Do you have plans on October 17th? If not, we'd love for you to join us here at Ciocca Subaru of Philadelphia for our Trunk or Treat and Pet Adoption event with PAWS Philadelphia from 12-3! Meet tons of adorable pets, pick from trunks full of goodies, and enter our best pet costume competition! #subaruphilly #cioccaonsocial #subarulovespets #PAWS
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10/5 - It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s Over the Luna! 🌙 If you were at the Mutt Strut with us yesterday, you may have spotted the diva herself strutting her stuff in a rainbow octopus costume. We’re over the moon for this girl, and with good reason. At 7 years old, Luna is social, silly, and pretty much has a smile on her face 24/7. She has lots of experience as a loving companion, has previously lived with children and other dogs, and could be a fantastic fit for many different kinds of homes. Luna is currently in her glow-up era and working on shedding a few pounds to reach a healthier weight. She’s also getting some extra TLC for her skin, and once she’s slimmed down a bit, she’ll be ready for her spay. Her surgery is included in her adoption fee, and PAWS will take care of it when she’s ready! Ready to hear more about why we think Luna could be your new favorite gal? Email adoptions@phillypaws.org to learn more. 🐾 Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society📍 2900 Grays Ferry Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19146 (by appointment only) ⭐️ PA License # 06172 See less
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10/3 - Congratulations @phillypaws on a beautiful 20th annual Mutt Strut! The organization raised $140,000 to help save Philadelphia’s homeless pets. Thank you for everything you do and for having me as one of your emcee’s today. I met so many dedicated volunteers, organizers, and of course…adorable pups 😍🐶
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10/2 - There’s no denying it...Jesse is a vibe. He’s handsome, hilarious, delightfully orange, and at 8 years old, has more than enough personality to keep you entertained. He’ll come running when you call “Jesseeee!” He’ll greet you by hopping onto the couch or bed and showing off his tummy. He loves wand toys, chasing treats, chatting with people, and burrowing so deeply under blankets that sometimes the only way to find him is to follow the muffled meows. So why has this fabulous guy been waiting for a home since April? Well... Jesse has some opinions about litter boxes. 🥲 After lots of troubleshooting and ruling out medical causes, we’ve learned that Jesse simply doesn’t always want to use one. We know that’s a big ask for an adopter, and we don’t want to sugarcoat it. But we also don’t want this one challenging habit to overshadow everything that makes Jesse such a lovable, entertaining companion. He could be a fit for someone willing to manage his occasional accidents in a traditional indoor home, a safe indoor-outdoor setup, or even a working-cat placement where he can enjoy plenty of human attention without the pressure of perfect litter box manners. Jesse may not be the cat for everyone, but he doesn’t need everyone. He just needs one person willing to give this goofy, sweet, wonderfully weird guy a chance. Email adoptions@phillypaws.org to learn more or stop by our Old City Adoption Center to meet him in person! 🧡
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10/1 - The 20th annual Mutt Strut is only TWO days away, and you don't want to miss it! Grab your pup, your friends your family, or just yourself, and meet us at @navyyardphila for PAWS’ biggest celebration of the year. The grounds open at 11am and we strut at noon. Kids under 12 and dogs enter FREE! Enjoy a family-friendly fall festival with activities like: 🐶 Lure Course with @luring101 🍻 @dockstreetbeer Beer Garden 🥨 Food Trucks 🐶 Dog Costume Contest 🎵 Live Music by Anthony Porter 🐕 Dog Adoptions 🐾 Paw Print Painting 🐶 Agility Course with @opbarks 💛Enrichment Zone with @centralbarkphiladelphia 🦴 Fun Zone with @oggiesdoggiesphl 🗣 Ask the Trainer with @constellationdogacademy 🗣 Ask the Vet with @queenvillageanimalhosp 🔮 Doggy Tarot Reading & Fortune Telling with Young Friends of PAWS 📸 Pet Portraits with @pawtraitpopup 🍦Doggy Ice Cream 🎾 Games ⭐Giveaways, Raffles, Prizes... and more! Don't wait, grab your tickets today at pawsmuttstrut.org (link in bio)! Video Credit: 18th Annual Mutt Strut feature by @evaoutloud at @cbsphiladelphia
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9/30 - Every day is a good day with Ms. Pacman! This 8-year-old stunner is on the hunt for a chill home, a warm lap, and a family to call her own. She started out as a shy and reserved stray, but once she settled into her foster home, a curious, sweet, full-of-personality kitty emerged. Ms. Pacman's ideal home is calm and on the quieter side, with adults or older, respectful kids. She’s independent by nature and perfectly happy spending an afternoon exploring every corner of the house on her own terms, but never too far from her people. She’ll weave around your ankles as you move through the house, settle in for pets, and happily keep you company without demanding the spotlight. Her meow might be tiny, but she has plenty to say when the mood strikes. When her favorite toy comes out, get ready for chirping and chattering away during her solo play sessions. Once she trusts you, she'll snuggle right up and give you gentle licks, a personalized biscuit making lesson, and the occasional tongue-out blep that makes for some pretty excellent photos (as you can see)! Ready to help Ms. Pacman score the home she’s been waiting for? Email adoptions@phillypaws.org to learn more about adopting her!
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9/29 - There’s a lot of personality packed into this 32-pound Potato Chip. But more than anything, she’s looking for someone who’ll love having her particular brand of Potato Chip in their life. At 8 years old, this sweet little spud is smart, curious, playful, and always ready to put her brain to work. She loves toys, puzzle feeders, snuffle mats, training games, and, naturally, anything involving snacks. She’s very food motivated, a quick study, and has been described by her foster as a certified good girl. Potato Chip loves being around people, whether she’s playing, heading out for a walk, or cuddling back into bed for a lazy morning. She’s a lovely walking buddy who generally does well on leash, with the occasional detour for some very important squirrel surveillance. Potato Chip has a seizure disorder that is currently being managed with medication. She takes her pills like a champ, and because some need to be given every eight hours, she’ll need a foster who can stick to her medication schedule. We’ll make sure you have all the information and support you need to keep her routine on track. Potato Chip is looking for a new foster home, but ideally, we’d love to find someone interested in fostering with the possibility of adopting. This sweet, silly lady has so much to offer, and we’d love for her next stop to be the one that sticks. Email foster@phillypaws.org or adoptions@phillypaws.org to learn more about Potato Chip! 🐾 Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society📍 2900 Grays Ferry Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19146 (by appointment only) 🗳️ PA License # 06172
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9/28 - We can assure you that Sweet Spice is much more sweet than spicy. At 11 years old, this gorgeous tabby-calico lady would much rather spend her days curled up somewhere cozy than hanging out at the shelter in Grays Ferry. She’s feeling a little shy here, but give her a calm approach and a few gentle pets, and her cuddly, sweet side quickly starts to shine. Sweet Spice originally came to PAWS when her previous family could no longer care for her. Like many senior ladies, she has a little arthritis and is currently getting some help from our medical team for constipation, but her medications are easy to mix right into her food. What she really needs now is a comfortable foster home where she can relax and get plenty of attention. She could potentially share her space with a mellow, friendly cat who won’t be too pushy, but she’d be perfectly happy soaking up all the love as your one and only, too. We’d love to find Sweet Spice a foster home to care for her temporarily — or, even better, the family she deserves for good. If you can foster Sweet Spice, email foster@phillypaws.org. If you think she might be the one you’ve been waiting for, reach out to adoptions@phillypaws.org.
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