Philadelphia Fur Ball Helps Find Homes for Rescue Pets, Supports 150-Year-Old Animal Shelter

The annual event hosted by the Morris Animal Refuge raises funds to care for homeless animals in the Philadelphia region.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 3:03am

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The Morris Animal Refuge, one of the oldest animal shelters in the country, hosted its annual Fur Ball fundraising event in South Philadelphia on Friday night. The event aims to help find forever homes for rescue pets and support the shelter's 150-year mission of saving animals and providing community resources.

Why it matters

The Fur Ball is a crucial fundraiser for the Morris Animal Refuge, which has been serving the Philadelphia region for over a century and a half. The event helps raise awareness and resources to care for homeless and unwanted pets, a pressing issue in many urban areas.

The details

The Fur Ball featured adorable rescue animals that captured the hearts of attendees, with the goal of finding them permanent homes. Funds raised at the event will go directly towards the shelter's mission of adoption, education, and ensuring pet owners have the resources they need to properly care for their animals.

  • The Morris Animal Refuge Fur Ball took place on Friday, March 14, 2026.

The players

Morris Animal Refuge

One of the oldest animal shelters in the country, serving the Philadelphia region for over 150 years with a mission to save lives and find forever homes for homeless pets.

Joshua Vieth

The President of the Morris Animal Refuge.

Lewis Checchia

The Executive Director of the Morris Animal Refuge.

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What they’re saying

“Our main goal is adoption and to provide homes for animals, but it's so much bigger than that. We focus on educational and making sure the community knows resources are available so they can keep the animals they have and care for them properly.”

— Joshua Vieth, President, Morris Animal Refuge (CBS News)

“You see in a child's face or on family who adopted a new cat or dog and the joy believe it or not you can see on the animals, it makes it all worth it.”

— Joshua Vieth, President, Morris Animal Refuge (CBS News)

“I always say we are saving two lives because a lot of times animals getting adopted is happy and the person adopting them gets a companion.”

— Lewis Checchia, Executive Director, Morris Animal Refuge (CBS News)

What’s next

The Morris Animal Refuge will continue its year-round efforts to find homes for rescue pets in the Philadelphia region, with the Fur Ball serving as a major annual fundraiser to support these initiatives.

The takeaway

The Morris Animal Refuge's Fur Ball demonstrates the power of community-driven efforts to care for homeless animals and the joy that comes from adopting rescue pets. The shelter's longstanding mission to save lives and provide resources for pet owners is a testament to the enduring importance of animal welfare in urban areas.