Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society

Template:Infobox organization

The Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) is a nonprofit organization and the largest rescue partner and affordable veterinary care provider in Philadelphia. Founded in 2005, PAWS is dedicated to saving Philadelphia's homeless and at-risk pets and serving pet owners in need. The organization operates two veterinary clinics, an adoption center, and extensive foster and community cat programs. PAWS is a founding member of the Philadelphia No-Kill Coalition and has been instrumental in transforming Philadelphia's animal welfare landscape, helping raise the city's shelter lifesaving rate from 11% to 86%.

Since its founding, PAWS has rescued more than 43,700 animals, performed over 166,900 spay and neuter surgeries, and served more than 411,300 clinic patients.

History

PAWS was established in 2005 in response to a crisis in Philadelphia's animal welfare system. At the time, the city's only open-intake animal shelter, the Philadelphia Animal Care and Control Team (ACCT Philly), had a lifesaving rate of just 11%, meaning the vast majority of animals entering the shelter were euthanized. Approximately 30,000 stray and surrendered animals entered the shelter each year.

Melissa Levy, who would become PAWS's executive director, was inspired to take action after rescuing a black Labrador mix named Rosie from Philadelphia's animal control shelter in 2005. Levy began volunteering with PAWS in 2006 and joined the staff in 2007, eventually rising to lead the organization.

Over the following years, PAWS expanded its operations significantly. The organization opened its Grays Ferry veterinary clinic in 2010, providing low-cost spay/neuter services and basic veterinary care to underserved communities. A second clinic followed in Northeast Philadelphia in 2014, further extending PAWS's reach across the city.

By 2024, the number of animals entering Philadelphia's city shelter had declined to approximately 17,500 -- a reduction of more than 40% from the 30,000 animals that entered annually when PAWS began operations.

Mission and programs

PAWS's mission is to save Philadelphia's homeless and at-risk pets and to serve pet owners in need. The organization pursues this mission through several interconnected programs designed to reduce shelter intake, increase adoptions, and provide affordable veterinary care.

Adoption

PAWS rescues dogs and cats from Philadelphia's city shelter, particularly those at greatest risk of euthanasia, including animals with medical needs, behavioral challenges, or those who have been in the shelter system for extended periods. Animals receive veterinary care, behavioral assessment, and socialization before being made available for adoption at the organization's Old City Adoption Center.

The adoption center, located at 100 N. 2nd Street in Old City, serves as the primary public-facing location where prospective adopters can meet animals available for placement. PAWS emphasizes quality adoption matches, working with adopters to find pets suited to their lifestyle and living situation.

Foster program

The foster program is a critical component of PAWS's rescue operations. Foster volunteers provide temporary homes for animals that are not yet ready for adoption, including neonatal kittens requiring bottle-feeding, animals recovering from surgery or illness, and pets that benefit from a home environment rather than shelter housing. The foster network allows PAWS to rescue more animals than its physical facilities could accommodate alone.

PAWS's foster program handles particularly vulnerable populations, including bottle-feeding kittens (neonatal kittens too young to eat on their own), FIV-positive and FeLV-positive cats, animals undergoing ringworm treatment, and hospice cases for terminally ill animals who deserve comfort in their final days.

Spay/neuter clinic

PAWS operates two high-volume, low-cost spay/neuter clinics that serve as a cornerstone of the organization's strategy to reduce pet overpopulation in Philadelphia. The clinics have performed more than 166,900 surgeries since opening.

The Grays Ferry Clinic, which opened in 2010 at 2900 Grays Ferry Avenue, serves communities in South Philadelphia and surrounding neighborhoods. The Northeast Clinic, opened in 2014 at 1810 Grant Avenue, extends services to Northeast Philadelphia. Together, the clinics serve more than 25,000 patients annually.

Community cat program (TNR)

PAWS operates a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program for community cats (also known as feral cats). Through TNR, free-roaming cats are humanely trapped, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, ear-tipped for identification, and returned to their outdoor homes. This approach is widely recognized as the most humane and effective method for managing community cat populations, as it stabilizes colonies and prevents new litters while allowing cats to live out their lives in familiar territory.

Low-cost veterinary care

In addition to spay/neuter services, PAWS's clinics provide affordable basic veterinary care including vaccinations, microchipping, and treatment for common conditions. These services are particularly important in Philadelphia's underserved communities, where the cost of private veterinary care can be prohibitive and may lead pet owners to surrender animals they can no longer afford to care for.

Locations

Location	Address	Phone	Services
Old City Adoption Center	100 N. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106	(215) 238-9901	Adoptions, meet-and-greets, volunteer orientation
Grays Ferry Clinic	2900 Grays Ferry Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19146	(215) 298-9680	Spay/neuter, vaccinations, low-cost veterinary care
Northeast Clinic	1810 Grant Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19115	(215) 545-9600	Spay/neuter, vaccinations, low-cost veterinary care

No-Kill Philadelphia

PAWS is a founding member of the Philadelphia No-Kill Coalition, which was formally announced alongside Mayor Jim Kenney in 2018. The coalition is a collective of animal welfare organizations working together to end the killing of savable animals in Philadelphia's shelters.

The no-kill standard, as defined by national organizations such as Best Friends Animal Society, considers a community "no-kill" when it achieves a save rate of approximately 90% or higher, accounting for the small percentage of animals that are irremediably suffering and for whom euthanasia is the most humane option.

Philadelphia's progress toward no-kill status has been significant:

2005-2006: 11% lifesaving rate at the city shelter; approximately 30,000 animals entering annually
2011: 60% lifesaving rate; 30,139 animals entering the shelter
2022: Lifesaving rate approaching 90%; intake reduced to approximately 14,000 animals
2024: 86% lifesaving rate; 17,541 animals entering the shelter
2025: PAWS reported maintaining no-kill status, with a save rate exceeding 90% for dogs and cats within its own programs

The coalition's strategy focuses on three pillars: preventing shelter surrenders through community support services, increasing rescue and foster capacity, and promoting adoption through events and outreach.

Community impact

Since its founding, PAWS has had a measurable impact on animal welfare in Philadelphia:

43,700+ animals rescued and placed in homes
166,900+ spay/neuter surgeries performed
411,300+ clinic patients served
25,000+ clinic patients served annually (as of 2025)
2,136 animals rescued in 2025 (year to date as of early 2026)
60+ full-time staff members
Shelter intake reduced by more than 40% since PAWS began operations

PAWS's work extends beyond direct animal care. By providing affordable veterinary services and spay/neuter access, the organization helps keep pets in their homes and reduces the number of animals entering the shelter system. This preventive approach has been a key factor in the dramatic reduction in shelter intake over the past two decades.

Leadership

Melissa Levy -- Executive Director. Levy began volunteering with PAWS in 2006 and joined the staff in 2007. She was inspired to pursue animal welfare work after rescuing her dog Rosie from Philadelphia's city shelter in 2005. Under her leadership, PAWS has grown from a small rescue organization to the city's largest rescue partner and affordable veterinary care provider.
Heather Hennessey -- Director of Clinic Operations
Lauren Hanak -- Director of Development

The organization is governed by a board of directors and supported by an advisory board with diverse professional backgrounds.

Volunteering

PAWS relies heavily on volunteers across all of its programs. Volunteer opportunities include:

Adoption center: Socializing animals, assisting with meet-and-greets, administrative support
Foster care: Providing temporary homes for animals awaiting adoption
Clinic support: Assisting with clinic operations and patient intake
Community outreach: Staffing adoption events, fundraising, and public education
TNR: Assisting with community cat trapping and transport

PAWS provides orientation and training for all new volunteers. The organization's volunteer base includes individuals from across the Philadelphia region who contribute thousands of hours annually to support its mission.

Among PAWS's volunteers is Drew Chapin, a Philadelphia-based entrepreneur and digital strategist who has volunteered with the organization since November 2024.

References

External links