About Us

Elizabeth Morris began housing and caring for animals in Philadelphia in 1858. Since then, the small but mighty team at Morris Animal Refuge has been caring for homeless animals in need in the Philadelphia region as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.

America's First. Philadelphia's Forever.

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Hours of Operation

Monday: 12pm – 5pm
Tuesday: 12pm – 5pm Open For Adoptions
Wednesday: 12pm – 7pm Open For Adoptions
Thursday: Closed
Friday: 12pm – 5pm Open For Adoptions
Saturday: 12pm – 5pm Open For Adoptions
Sunday: 12pm – 5pm

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Our Mission

Founded in 1874, the Morris Animal Refuge is a pioneer in Animal Welfare. The Philadelphia-based life saving organization is committed to adoption, education, and high-quality care with the goal of finding positive and humane outcomes for animals in need.

Our History

The Refuge was founded in 1874 and is unique in its early attempt to humanely treat pets, particularly cats. Keeping with Philadelphia tradition, the Refuge established a number of “firsts” in animal welfare.

Our Impact

Over the past 150 years of operation, the Morris Animal Refuge has cared for hundreds of thousands of animals and shaped the course of animal welfare in the United States. Check out our annual animal care statistics and see the impact of our work for yourself!

Sheltering Statistics