The mission of the Citizens for a No-Kill Philadelphia is to lobby City Hall and have them adopt our plan for success.

Right now, the Health Department is working on making a very big decision.  They are deciding on what to do with the Animal Control Contract.  It is important that they hear from animal lovers so they make the right choices for the future of our City. 

In 2002  the Philadelphia Animal Care and Control (PACCA) was formed after the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PSPCA) gave up the animal control contract.  After several years of terrible management, referred to as a “house of horrors” in a Philadelphia Daily News article, Philadelphia City Council, held hearings to change the focus of PACCA to make life saving a priority.  A new administration was hired and things started to change for the better.  In 2004 the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) was formed as the life saving, adoption arm of PACCA.  When PAWS was formed the save rate was only 11%.

Before PAWS, nearly

9 out of every 10

animals were killed.

In the first year PAWS brought the save rate from 11% to 50%.  Only three years later, in the first quarter of 2008 it was nearly 70%.  The foster care program has been thriving and continues to grow.  The volunteer base has grown and improvements have been made in care and cleanliness since PAWS has been at the helm.

   Other things have changed too.  The intake numbers have grown 10-15%.  In other words, more and more animals are coming into the shelter as they are the ONLY OPEN DOOR SHELTER in Philadelphia.  So even while PACCA is taking in more animals they are still improving their save rate every year. Meanwhile, funding has not kept pace with animal intakes, let alone supporting major life saving programs.

     PACCA in on track to take in 31,000 animals this year.  It is the opinion of the Citizens for a No-Kill Philadelphia that there is no other organization positioned to handle the volume PACCA is without killing large numbers of animals. The Citizens for a No-Kill Philadelphia believes that PACCA is in the best position to maintain the Animal Control Contract. 

PAWS has improved life saving

over 600% in around three years! 

     The administration, staff and volunteers at PAWS are committed to saving ALL of Philadelphia’s abused, neglected and unwanted animals.

We believe the animal control

contract should stay with PAWS.