Philly PAWS, a local pet rescue organization, is raising money for its Grays Ferry location. The Grays Ferry shelter is undergoing a major overhaul that “includes creating a new dog adoption and foster care office, replacing a broken washer with a commercial-grade machine, and replacing old computers and furniture,” according to the PAWS website.

When the renovations are complete, the Grays Ferry location will be able to accommodate a growing staff, serve more adopters, and rescue more homeless pets.

Their goal is to raise $7,500 and they have already raised $5,100 as of 3:45 p.m. on Thursday. Every contribution to this project will be matched thanks to the generosity of two anonymous PAWS donors.

If you want to help, go to this page for more information and to donate.

A Red Paw Emergency Relief Team volunteer and rescued dog posing near the donated car. (Photo by West Philly Local).

Here’s some great news for a great local organization that has helped save lives of hundreds of our little friends and companions since its inception in 2011. Red Paw Emergency Relief Team, a non-profit that responds to fires and other disasters in the city and helps displaced pets, has just received a new vehicle, which will allow them to continue their important work, since their old car started breaking down too often. The new car was donated by NRG Home.

The new vehicle was presented to Red Paw’s staff and volunteers, including the founder and former firefighter Jennifer Leary, this afternoon near the corner of 48th and Walnut Streets, across the street from the empty lot where the Windermere Court Apartments building once stood. Red Paw was created in the aftermath of the devastating fire at Windermere in January 2011. Many pets remained trapped inside the heavily damaged and structurally unstable building for weeks after the fire, which prompted rescue efforts by local pet rescue organizations.

Jennifer Leary was one of the firefighters responding to the Windermere fire. She founded Red Paw in July 2011.