Pet Search

Pet Search has no facility, but chooses to keep all rescued and fostered animals in volunteer foster homes until a permanent adoptive home can be found. Pet Search is no-kill, so no animal is ever in danger of being euthanized.


Pet Search was founded in 1986 by a group of animal lovers who felt that Washington County needed an alternative to a conventional shelter environment for the rescue, care and placement of abandoned and unwanted animals. Originally called “People for Animal Welfare” (PAW), the group was renamed PET SEARCH in 1996. Our organization was the first non-euthanizing (no kill) animal rescue organization in Washington County.

Our Long Range Plan consists of the following:

* To provide for the rescue and placement of homeless and unwanted animals in western Pennsylvania and the surrounding areas. The animals are “home sheltered” in a foster home, as opposed to a shelter situation, since our philosophy is that we are placing family pets. Our adoption donation of $ for cats and kittens and $ for dogs and puppies includes veterinary care, altering, and microchipping of all animals.

* To provide education for children regarding the care of animals, as children are the future for the animals. Education is provided to adult groups to stress the importance of spaying and neutering.

* To work with school districts in Washington, Greene and Allegheny Counties in promoting and providing community service opportunities to school children.

* To make available pet therapy programs for residents in senior and assisted living situations.

* To provide alternative control for the over-population of homeless and feral cats. Cats are trapped, altered and inoculated and re-released to the original colony location, relocated to “safe” colonies or socialized so they can be placed as family pets. Presently, Pet Search patrols and maintains approximately 15 colonies where cats are fed daily and medicated as necessary.

* To offer the community the opportunity to keep family pets healthy through our low cost Rabies Plus Clinic, offered four times a year.

* To offer pet owners in our community the opportunity to volunteer with our rescue for community service hours, Community service can also be completed to earn free/low cost spay/neuters, animal placement or food.


As an all- volunteer animal rescue and placement organization, Pet Search is providing these services to Washington and the surrounding areas free of charge (humane education, feral cat trapping. We ask a donation in the taking of stray and unwanted pets) to help cover some of our necessary veterinary costs to ensure the health of the animal when coming into our foster Our volunteers take pride in their tireless efforts of working with animals and the public while working in full-time positions outside the Pet Search organization.