6 best Philadelphia animal shelters

Finding the right pet for your family takes a lot of time and effort. Fortunately, there are a number of Philadelphia-area rescues that are dedicated to matching people with pets and giving homeless animals the time, care and love they deserve.

If you’re ready to open your home to a new pet, be patient as it may take time to make a connection. Here are six places to check out to find your perfect match.

Animal Care & Control Team (ACCT) of Philadelphia

Address: 111 W. Hunting Park Ave.

Phone: 267-385-3800

Social: Facebook, Instagram, Yelp

ACCT Philly is the region’s largest animal care and control service provider that offers shelter, care and lifesaving efforts for homeless, abandoned and abused animals. The organization provides adoption services seven days a week, stocks a pet food pantry and staffs a help desk that offers pet parents support, advice, counseling and referrals for additional resources.

Morris Animal Refuge

Address: 1242 Lombard St.

Phone: 215-735-9570

Social: Facebook, Instagram, Yelp

Founded in 1874, the Morris Animal Refuge holds the distinction as the first animal shelter established in the United States. It is an open-admission facility, so it never turns away an animal, and the staff is committed to providing high-quality care, full-service adoption services and top-notch pet parent education programs for the community.

Pennsylvania SPCA

Address: 350 E. Erie Ave.

Phone: 215-426-6300

Social: Facebook, Instagram, Yelp

The Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals provides adoptions for dogs, cats (both indoor and working cats) and other animals. The organization also offers a full-service veterinary clinic that includes a vaccine clinic and spay and neuter services, as well as dedicated educational resources for pet parents in a large online behavior and training library and on-site training classes.

Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)

Old City Adoption Center

Address: 100 N. 2nd St.

Phone: 215-238-9901

Social: Yelp

Northeast Adoption Center and Low-cost Clinic

Address: 1810 Grant Ave.

Phone: 215-545-9600

Social: Yelp, Facebook, Instagram

PAWS is Philadelphia’s largest rescue partner and provider of affordable, basic veterinary care for pet owners and rescue organizations. The organization staffs three no-kill shelters, has an expansive foster care network and provides lifesaving care programs for the city’s most vulnerable animals.

Saved Me

Address: 2609 Federal St.

Phone: 215-240-1240

Social: Facebook, Instagram, Yelp

This nonprofit organization focuses on saving dogs and cats from other shelters and partners with The Pet Mechanic Veterinary Center to provide individual, high-quality care and rehabilitation to help them find the perfect forever home.

Street Tails Animal Rescue (STAR)

Address: 1030 N. 2nd St. Suite 401

Phone: 267-761-9434

Social: Facebook, Instagram, Yelp

In 2001, Lindsay Condefer started working as a one-woman rescue, saving one dog at a time through her pet store, Chic Petique. Over the years, with help from friends and neighbors, her efforts helped her establish STAR in 2011. Its physical location in the Northern Liberties neighborhood sets it apart from many rescues, which are largely foster-based, so you can spend quality time getting to know your future dog before taking them home.

Once you find a pup you love, keep in mind that the city of Philadelphia requires you to register your dog each year. An annual dog license begins at $8 for senior dogs and up to $40 for dogs that are not spayed or neutered.

From regular wellness checkups to critical care, pet health insurance policies help you budget for veterinary visits and cover unexpected emergencies. Consider protecting your new dog right when you bring him home with a ManyPets health insurance plan.