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Honoring the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) on their 20th Anniversary and recognizing their dedication to life-saving work and leading role in transforming animal welfare in Philadelphia.
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WHEREAS, PAWS was founded in 2006 by a group of dedicated volunteers united by the goal of ensuring healthy and treatable pets are guaranteed a home rather than face euthanasia. In 2006, 30,000 dogs and cats entered city shelters, with only 11% of them being saved, prompting the founding of PAWS; and
WHEREAS, PAWS drastically expanded from the original volunteer-driven group into a major animal welfare organization. They started a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program, the primary humane method used to manage and stabilize Philadelphia’s estimated 400,000 stray and feral cats; and
WHEREAS, Trained neighbors humanely trap outdoor community cats and bring them to a PAWS clinic for comprehensive medical care, where they are provided spay or neutering surgery, vaccinations, pain management, and flea or tick preventative treatments; and
WHEREAS, After recovering from anesthesia, the caretakers return cats to exactly where they were originally trapped. Roughly 2,500 of these dedicated TNR surgeries are completed every year, significantly controlling breeding cycles and directly reducing burdens on shelters, driving the shelter save rate from 11% in 2026 to 86% now; and
WHEREAS, PAWS established subsidized veterinary clinics and the Pet Safety Net Program to offer affordable treatment, free core pet supplies, temporary foster homes, and behavioral resources in order to prevent “economic surrender” - situations where loving owners feel forced to give up their pets as a result of economic hardships; and
WHEREAS, In 2018, PAWS partnered with the Animal Care and Control Team of Philadelphia (ACCT Philly) and The Pennsylvania SPCA (PSPCA) to create the Philadelphia No-Kill Coalition, endorsed by Mayor Kenney’s administration; and
WHEREAS, In October 2026, PAWS announced plans to build a new $15 million multi-service headquarters that will function as an adoption center and veterinary clinic in South Philadelphia, slated to open in late 2027 and designed to triple their operational footprint and increase care capacities; and
WHEREAS, Over the last two decades, PAWS has rescued more than 45,000 animals, provided affordable veterinary care to more than 426,000 pets, and supported over 27,500 pets through family-preserving Safety Net programs; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby honors the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) on their 20th Anniversary and recognizing their dedication to life-saving work and leading role in transforming animal welfare in Philadelphia.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this Resolution be presented to PAWS President Melissa Levy as representation of the appreciation of Philadelphia City Council.
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