The Pennsylvania SPCA, founded in 1867, is the oldest humane society in the state and the second SPCA in the country. It runs adoption centers in Philadelphia, Danville, and Lancaster, a public wellness clinic, and an animal law enforcement team with authority across Philadelphia and 17 more counties. Here is how adoption, surrender, and cruelty reporting work.
No. The Pennsylvania SPCA describes itself as Philadelphia's largest no-kill shelter, with a save rate of 97 percent, and it states it will never euthanize an animal for space or time. It is a private nonprofit, not the city's open-intake municipal shelter, which is ACCT Philly.
What makes the PSPCA distinct is its law enforcement role. Its animal law enforcement team operates under Pennsylvania statute across Philadelphia and 17 additional counties, which it calls the only operation of its kind in that region. It is the oldest humane society in Pennsylvania and the second SPCA founded in the country, after the ASPCA.
Adoption fees are published and vary with an animal's age, size, and how long it has been waiting. Each adoption includes spay or neuter surgery, a microchip with lifetime registration, deworming, age-appropriate vaccines, flea and tick prevention, medical and behavior evaluations, and 48 hours of post-adoption wellness care.
| Animal | Adoption fee |
|---|---|
| Puppy | $450 |
| Dog | $75 to $325 |
| Kitten | $150 |
| Cat | $75 to $115 |
Process varies by location. The Philadelphia center asks adopters to complete an online application in advance, while the Lancaster center handles walk-in adoptions. Adoption hours run into the early evening at all locations; bring a photo ID and proof of address.
Reporting cruelty is the PSPCA service most people search for. Its officers investigate animal cruelty across Philadelphia and 17 counties, and the organization is known for large seizures from hoarding, neglect, and animal-fighting cases. To report cruelty, call 866-601-7722 or file the online form.
The Philadelphia headquarters runs a wellness clinic open to the public on a walk-in, first-come basis Monday through Saturday. A physical exam is $45 and a follow-up exam is $28, and the clinic provides vaccines, microchipping, spay and neuter surgery, and end-of-life care, but not emergency treatment.
Owner surrender uses location-specific forms for the Philadelphia, Lancaster, and Danville centers. Because demand and space vary, contact the center to confirm the current process before bringing in an animal.
Volunteers must be 18 or older, with applications handled by location. Fostering also requires being 18 or older, and the PSPCA supplies food, crates, toys, litter, and basic supplies along with support from foster, behavior, and medical staff; foster animals include recovering pets, court-hold animals, nursing mothers, and neonates.
The Pennsylvania SPCA holds a four-star rating from Charity Navigator with a 93 percent score and the Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency. Its EIN for tax-deductible gifts is 23-1352269.
Dogs, cats, and small animals across Philadelphia, Danville, and Lancaster.
Cruelty investigation across Philadelphia and 17 Pennsylvania counties.
Report abuse at 866-601-7722 or through the online form.
Walk-in exams, vaccines, microchips, and spay/neuter in Philadelphia.
Major seizures from hoarding, neglect, and animal-fighting cases.
Homes for recovering, court-hold, and neonatal animals, with supplies provided.
Sources: Pennsylvania SPCA (pspca.org) adoption, cruelty, veterinary, and surrender pages; Charity Navigator and Candid (EIN 23-1352269). The 1,103-animal cruelty figure is from 2019, the most recent the organization publishes; the 97 percent save rate is undated. Retrieved June 2026. We are not affiliated with Pennsylvania SPCA and receive no compensation for this listing. Spotted an error? [email protected]
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