About Us
At Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), we are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of Philadelphia's homeless and at-risk pets. As the city's largest rescue partner, we provide affordable veterinary care to pet owners and rescue organizations who might otherwise struggle to access these essential services.
Our mission is to save Philadelphia's most vulnerable pets by pulling them out of the city's shelters and placing them in loving adoptive and foster homes. We also support struggling pet owners, helping them keep their cherished pets rather than facing abandonment. Through comprehensive programs, including rescue efforts, community support, and surrender prevention, we aim to make Philadelphia a place where every savable pet is guaranteed a home.
We operate from several key locations: our boutique-style Adoption Center in the Old City section of Philadelphia, our Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinic in the Grays Ferry section, and our Northeast Adoption Center and Low-Cost Clinic. Our clinics offer a range of services, including low-cost spay/neuter surgeries, wellness exams, vaccinations, and treatments for common conditions. We prioritize care for pets who would otherwise not receive it, ensuring that we support our local community as much as possible.
Our commitment to the community extends beyond providing basic veterinary care. We are proud to be a founding member of the Philadelphia No-Kill Coalition, a collective of animal welfare agencies working together to end the killing of savable pets in shelters. Since our inception, we have seen a dramatic reduction in Philadelphia’s homeless pet population, with nearly half as many animals entering the city shelter in 2023 compared to when we started in 2006. Our lifesaving rate has also steadily climbed, from 11% to 86% in 2023.