Animal Shelters & Rescues in Philadelphia

Philadelphia's city animal shelter takes in strays, and private humane societies and volunteer rescues, many of them foster-based with no building, rehome pets too. Where you start depends on whether you want to adopt, have found an animal or have lost your own.

The city animal shelter

Philadelphia's animal control and sheltering is handled by the Animal Care and Control Team (ACCT Philly), a nonprofit that says it is contracted with the city of Philadelphia. The city's own 311 service points residents to ACCT for reporting stray or lost animals, and the state lists ACCT as where Philadelphia residents buy dog licenses. The 311 page adds that ACCT does not pick up healthy stray cats.

Found a stray or lost your pet

ACCT says dogs are held for 48 hours before they can potentially go to an adopter or rescue, and for 5 days if they are microchipped, and that there is no legally required stray hold for cats. If you have lost a pet, ACCT asks you to visit the shelter in person as soon as possible, because descriptions by phone or email are not enough for staff to identify an animal, and to keep checking its found-pet listings.

If you find an animal, ACCT suggests checking for tags and having the pet scanned for a microchip at any vet office or shelter, and filing a found pet report so the owner can find you.

Licenses and microchips

Pennsylvania dog licenses are normally issued by county treasurers, but the state lists Philadelphia as an exception: Philadelphia residents license through ACCT Philly. ACCT says a dog four months old or older must be vaccinated for rabies and licensed, and the city says licenses must be renewed annually. The Philadelphia Code adds that all dogs and cats must be vaccinated for rabies and that a dog's license must be displayed on its collar.

Surrendering or rehoming a pet

ACCT asks owners who need help to fill out a Request for Assistance form, after which a staff member contacts them to discuss options. It encourages trying to rehome a pet through friends, family and neighbors first, and says that if you adopted from a rescue or shelter you should contact that organization about a return.

Adopting a pet

ACCT says all of its pets are spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped before going home, and the city says dogs and cats sold or adopted in Philadelphia must be sterilized. Meet the pet more than once if you can, ask about its history and how it behaves with other animals, children and visitors, and have your landlord's pet policy ready before you apply.

About these listings

Many listings here were added from public business data and have not been claimed yet. Ask the shelter or rescue directly about opening hours, adoptable pets and whether it takes surrenders. If you run one of these shelters or rescues, you can claim or correct its listing from its page.