The Women's Humane Society is America's First Animal Shelter & Adoptions Program. Our many services for the community include an affordable, high quality Veterinary Hospital, dog training and physical rehabilitation classes, and humane education programs.

As America’s First Animal Shelter founded in 1869, the Women's Humane Society is committed to protecting the interests of animals, and offering a continuum of care to ensure that all animals are treated humanely with kindness and respect.

During the late 1800s, the mistreatment of animals was commonplace and those who defended them were often met with contempt and ridicule. One of their most ardent defenders, Philadelphia native Caroline Earle White, helped to establish and fund the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. In spite of her vital role, White was denied a seat on the organization’s board because she was a woman. So, in 1869, White and her colleagues assembled to form their own association, taking over the Philadelphia City Dog Pound and turning it into the First Animal Shelter and Adoptions Program in the nation – today known as the Women’s Humane Society.

Fifty years before women had the right to vote, this pioneering group of women paved the way for contemporary standards in the humane and ethical treatment of animals. Now, nearly 150 years later, the Women's Humane Society carries on the lifesaving legacy of our founders, committed to making the world an ever kinder, more compassionate place for all animals.

The Women's Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We receive no federal, state or local funding, and depend upon the support and partnership of animal lovers throughout the United States to sustain and expand our mission.