Company Profile
Morris Animal Refuge
Company Overview
Founded in 1874, the Morris Animal Refuge (MAR) is America’s First Animal Shelter. We are committed to adoption, education and high-quality care.
As the only privately funded (non-animal control) open admission shelter in Philadelphia (and one of the few remaining in the country), MAR provides care for a wide range of animals, from those ready for placement in a new home to those exhibiting severe behavioral, medical, or aggression issues that aren’t able to immediately be placed. While we are dedicated to our mission of never turning an animal away, we are also committed to reducing unnecessary euthanasia and ensuring that every animal that enters our care is given a chance at a loving home. Our hard work has paid off - and today we are happy to report that we have a 97% Save Rate!
Managed Admission
We do not turn animals away based on age or health. We are a small shelter and have limited space, so we accept animals as space is available. We believe that always providing an animal a place to go is central to fulfilling our role in animal welfare, in Philadelphia and nationally. We believe that always providing owners with this option is central to supporting our community and ensuring no animal is left without care.
Life Saving Organization
As a life saving organization, Morris Animal Refuge is committed to the mission of finding forever homes for all adoptable animals. Morris Animal Refuge seeks to expand the definition of what animals are considered to be "adoptable" and to support other shelters and rescue organizations by transferring in animals. Throughout the history of animal sheltering, only young, perfectly healthy animals with no recognized behavioral issues were considered suitable for adoption. We’ve turned to an adoption counseling method, which focuses on finding best fit between adopter and animal, and we've begun to build resources for medical care and behavioral rehabilitation through our Life Saver Fund. Through these changes, we’ve found more homes for animals with chronic medical conditions or behavioral issues that require consistent training. As the Refuge has been able to adopt out more animals efficiently, we've had the ability to begin transferring in medical and behavioral cases from local and out-of-state rescue partners. We seek to support the larger mission of animal welfare, not only throughout our city and state, but throughout the country.
Company History
Remembered by her dedication to animal welfare and her innovative thinking, Elizabeth Morris (1827 - 1907) was truly a legend in her own time. A Philadelphian distinguished by her concern for stray and unwanted animals, her legacy lives on today through the programs and services performed through the Morris Animal Refuge at 1242 Lombard Street.
Originally known as the Morris Refuge Association for Homeless and Suffering Animals, we are America’s first animal shelter. The first year of operation brought in 860 animals -- today, approximately 1,500 animals pass through the doors of the Refuge annually. From that first day in 1874, the Refuge developed quite a reputation and, in keeping with Philadelphia tradition, established a number of “firsts” in animal welfare.
Veterinary care for pets in those days was virtually unheard of, but it was Elizabeth Morris and her friend, Annie Waln, who began taking home and caring for unwanted dogs and cats. The first veterinary school, located at the University of Pennsylvania, wasn’t started until 1884, 26 years after Morris and Waln began their humane work.
In 1888, Elizabeth Morris acquired a horse and wagon, the Refuge’s first “ambulance” for cats and dogs. In 1898, it began working in conjunction with the City Pound, taking all dogs thought to have been pets in order to give their owners two more weeks to claim them before being euthanized.
The Refuge is unique in its early attempt to humanely treat pets, particularly cats. Additionally, it served as a model for many similar organizations, here and abroad, such as the Dublin Home for Starving and Forsaken Cats.
Over the years, the Refuge has become one of the focal points in the region for animal welfare advocates, offering innovative and high quality care for cats, dogs and other small animals. Today the Refuge provides a full range of preventive, protective and adoption services for homeless animals. In more than 140 years, no animal has ever been turned away from our door!
Notable Accomplishments / Recognition
96% save rate and live release rate for 2020
Benefits
Compensation for continuing education, DEA licensure and maintenance, and partnership with the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (including no cost consultation with teaching staff when at shelter for rotation and frequent communication).