Residents looking to add a pet to the family have a narrow window to adopt for free at two Plymouth Meeting locations participating in the national Clear the Shelters campaign.
The clock is ticking.
Brandywine Valley SPCA, at 2100 Chemical Road, is offering free adoptions through Sunday, Aug. 16. A Tale of Paws, at 777 W. Germantown Pike, is also participating, though its specific end date is not listed in the campaign materials. Prospective adopters should call 610-564-3200 or visit ataleofpaws.com for availability.
Both rescues are part of the 2026 NBCUniversal Local Clear the Shelters initiative, a nationwide effort now in its 12th year that has led to more than 1.3 million pet adoptions since 2015. Susan Miers Smith reported in Mainline Media News that more than a dozen southeastern Pennsylvania rescues are taking part this year. The campaign launched Aug. 1 and runs through Aug. 31.
The Brandywine Valley SPCA, founded in 1929, is the first open-admission no-kill shelter in Pennsylvania and Delaware, according to the organization. In 2025, BVSPCA cared for more than 27,000 animals and achieved a 94% live release rate. The Plymouth Meeting location is one of two BVSPCA adoption centers in Pennsylvania; the other is in West Chester.
A third nearby option sits just outside township lines. The Montgomery County SPCA at 19 East Ridge Pike in Conshohocken is also participating in the campaign. Residents can reach that shelter at 610-825-0111.
Adopters can browse available animals online through WeRescue at werescue.pet, which lets users search by breed, size and gender and apply directly.
Donations to participating shelters can be made through Aug. 31, and the Clear the Shelters general fund accepts contributions through Sept. 15 at ClearTheSheltersFund.org.
Upcoming community dates
- Through Sunday, Aug. 16: Free adoptions at Brandywine Valley SPCA, 2100 Chemical Road, Plymouth Meeting (610-567-2933, bvspca.org)
- Through Aug. 31: Clear the Shelters campaign continues nationwide; call A Tale of Paws (610-564-3200) for remaining dates
- Sept. 15: Deadline to donate to the Clear the Shelters general fund at ClearTheSheltersFund.org
