Wishbone
Donate
Please consider signing up for our customized, recurring membership plans. Your monthly or annual contribution will assist us in covering our veterinarian expenses without having to turn animals away. As an organization dedicated to fostering animals, your consistent support could enable us to provide better assistance to our fosters by hiring a Fosters Coordinator. One of our most significant aspirations is to build a team! Currently, we rely on a group of volunteers, local fosters, remote support, and your help. Your generosity will also help us achieve other objectives, such as securing a physical location for housing animals, stocking supplies for community outreach, and hiring staff to handle inquiries, facilitate pet adoptions, and provide care to animals in need. Take a look at our Where Your Dollars Go and our Animal Clubs to determine the level of support that suits you best.
Where Your Dollars Go
Learn how your donation provides life-giving support for the rescue animals at Familiar Hearts by clicking on the Dogs or Cats drop down menu.
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$20 = exam
$125 = spay or neuter
$68 = immunizations (Rabies, Bordetella, Leptospirosis, DHPP)
$5-35 = dewormer
$15-29 = ear medication
$10-30 = skin medication
$5 = ID tag
$20 = microchip
$20 = heartworm test
$10 = toenail trim
$10 = anal gland expression
$15 = fecal test
$7-22/month = flea, tick, heartworm prevention
The average dog that comes to us receives $208 in care on their first visit. If they need to be spayed or neutered, their initial wellness investment can easily exceed $333. Often times an animal will need medication to fight infections or ensure a healthy recovery from surgery. This can cost upwards of $500 just to get them settled into one of our safe, amazing foster homes. Many dogs also need training. The average investment into creating safe, happy, neurologically-capable dogs is at least $500 over the course of several months.
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$20 = exam
$90-100 = spay or neuter
$51 = immunizations (Rabies, FeLV, FVRCP)
$5-35 = dewormer
$15-29 = ear medication
$10-30 = skin medication
$5 = ID tag
$20 = microchip
$10 = toenail trim
$15 = fecal test
$20 = feline leukemia / immunodeficiency virus test
$15/dose = flea, heartworm, intestinal parasite prevention
The average cat we welcome into our foster program is lovingly cared for at the outset with hugs, kisses, and approximately $206 invested into their wellbeing. If they require a spay or neuter, their initial wellness regiment will be upwards of $300.
Beyond Monetary Donations
As our impact continues to expand through outreach + the recent addition of the Community Hub in Roxborough, the creativity in funding our mission stretches right alongside it. In an attempt to keep pace with growth, we are excited to offer new opportunities for supporters to lend a hand.
There are dozens of non-dollar ways to help us support animals + their people in our community. Depending on the type and your individual tax situation, donations may qualify for a deduction based on fair market value as determined by you and your tax professional.
Most importantly, we are looking to build relationships with people, businesses, and organizations that share our vision of helping animals + strengthening our community.
If you have questions or a unique way to lend a hand, send us a message through the Contact Form.
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Sports tickets, concert tickets, theater tickets, and event tickets that can be used for fundraising raffles or auctions
Merchandise, gift baskets, and products from local businesses
Service donations from local businesses such as grooming, photography, lawn care, cleaning services, fitness memberships, restaurant gift certificates, handyman services, and more
Hosting supply drives, fundraising events, or community events
Corporate matching gift programs
Sponsorships and business partnerships
Volunteer opportunities
Student internships
Community service hours for students
Fostering animals
Donating pet food, supplies, crates, litter, toys, and treats
Donating office supplies and equipment
Gift cards
Vehicle donations, including cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, RVs, and trailers
Property donations, including homes, land, commercial properties, rental properties, inherited properties, and estates
Estate planning and legacy gifts
Your Predictably Committed Dollars
Recurring donations we can count on so the animals can keep counting on us.
Setting up regular monthly, quarterly or annual donations to Familiar Hearts means we can help more pets as you link arms with us through one of your most valuable personal resources :: your dollars. Simply click the button below to get started.
We invite you to immerse yourself in some stories we’ve curated for you from animals we have helped thanks to partners like you. Simply expand any section below by clicking the “+” to learn how your reliable monthly support will continue to change + save lives.
9 Lives Cat Club
Your reliable $9 monthly donation will serve cats who have worked their way through some or most of their nine lives. Let Murray tell you about his experience below.
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From Struggle to Strength, From Stray to Sweetheart
In the depths of a bitter cold snap and snowstorm, Murray’s story of resilience began. Alerted by a concerned friend about a cat in distress, our journey with Murray commenced. He had vanished during the icy tempest, only to return with a gaping wound on his side, a testament to the harsh realities faced by outdoor cats in the unforgiving streets.
Originally known as Maxine by his caregiver, Murray’s true identity emerged upon closer inspection – a robust, intact male, once accustomed to the comforts of a home but now navigating the perils of survival on the streets.
A Second Chance at Life
Murray’s survival was nothing short of miraculous. His journey to safety started with surgery to mend his wounds and a much-needed neuter. Arriving at our home base in NW Philly, Murray bore the scars of his ordeal, both physical and emotional. Covered in loose stool from the stress of his journey, he endured a gentle shower to cleanse his wounds and soothe his weary soul.
From Fear to Trust
In the safety of our founder’s home, Murray found solace. Despite a rough start, his resilient spirit shone through. As weeks passed, his wounds healed, and his true nature emerged – a gentle soul, craving love and companionship. Murray reveled in head scratches, embraced the company of fellow felines, and even formed a bond with one of our founder’s dogs, a testament to his loving nature and forgiving heart.
A New Chapter Awaits
Murray’s journey is far from over. With his wounds healed and his spirit renewed, he awaits a forever home, where he can bask in the love and care he deserves. But he’s not alone – we’re here to ensure he finds the perfect match, a human companion worthy of his unwavering loyalty and affection.
How You Can Help
Murray’s story is just one of many. Your support enables us to provide top-notch vet care to animals like him, giving them a second chance at life and love. Whether through adoption, sharing his story, or making a donation, you can make a difference in Murray’s life and the lives of countless others.
Find Your Perfect Companion
Visit our website to learn more about Murray, adoption opportunities, and how you can support our mission to provide a lifeline for animals in need.
Together, We Can Make a Difference
Thank you for showing Murray the love and compassion he deserves. With your help, we can ensure that every animal, no matter their past, has a chance for a brighter future.
Breeding Mamas Retirement Club
Your kind $25 monthly contribution will go directly to ending the cycles of overpopulation. It’s easier to see where a dog has been bred intentionally for the purpose of selling puppies. It’s a more subtle scenario to neglect a cat, feral or otherwise, who is pregnant up to three times a year. Your gift will help us help those mamas, like Lulu, get off the street.
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Lulu's story coming soon...
Dumped Dog or Cat Club
Your benevolent $50 monthly gift will provide support to abandoned dogs and cats. This often happens because an animal has become a financial burden. Let Howie & Bug tell you their stories below about how Familiar Hearts helped them.
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Help Howie and Others Like Him Find a Safe Haven
In the heart of Kensington, Pennsylvania, amidst the struggles of a community already burdened by the opioid epidemic, lies another silent crisis: animals abandoned and left to fend for themselves. Meet Howie, a senior cat, discarded onto the unforgiving streets, battling not only loneliness but also neglect and disease.
Howie’s journey to safety began when Familiar Hearts extended a compassionate hand. When he arrived, he was riddled with tapeworms and fleas, a testament to the harsh reality of his former life. But the challenges didn’t end there. Howie also suffered from advanced dental disease, a painful reminder of his neglected health.
Your Support Makes a Difference
Familiar Hearts is a beacon of hope for animals like Howie, providing them with the love, care, and medical attention they so desperately need. But we can’t do it alone. As we strive to alleviate the burden on communities already stretched thin, we rely on the generosity of people like you.
Join Us in Making a Difference
Your donation today will directly impact the lives of animals like Howie, giving them a second chance at a life filled with love and security. Together, we can create a brighter future for these innocent beings and alleviate the strain on communities facing overwhelming challenges.
Every Dollar Counts
$35 covers the cost of flea, tick & deworming treatments for one animal.
$100 helps cover the cost of vaccinations and preventative care.
$500 provides a dental procedure to alleviate pain and discomfort.
Donate Now and Be the Change They Need
Join us in our mission to provide a safe haven for animals in need. Together, we can make a profound difference in the lives of those who have been abandoned and forgotten. Thank you for your compassion and generosity.
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A Chance Encounter: a LoveBug at Carpenter Train Station
In the bustling heart of Philadelphia, amidst the rush of commuters at Carpenter Train Station, a small miracle named Bug found his way into the lives of a compassionate couple. With a heart as big as his journey was long, Bug—affectionately known as Lovebug—had a story that resonated far beyond the city limits.
Lost and alone, Bug’s soft eyes and wagging tail caught the attention of this couple, who couldn’t ignore the plea for help in his gaze. They took him in, determined to reunite Bug with his family. Facebook posts went up, shared and reshared in hopes of a reunion that would never come.
That’s when we stepped in, offering more than just shelter—we provided the care and support that Bug needed to heal both physically and emotionally. His journey wasn’t easy; neglect had taken its toll, but love was his cure. With dedicated foster care and necessary veterinary attention, Bug blossomed.
In just three short months, Bug’s journey from stray to cherished family member was complete. Through our efforts and those of his foster family, Bug found his forever family, a home where his past became a distant memory and his future shone bright with love and care.
Support Dogs Like Bug
Bug’s story is a testament to the transformative power of love and compassion. Every day, dogs like Bug are abandoned, facing uncertain futures without the care they deserve. Your donation to our ensures that dogs in need receive the same chance at a loving home and bright future that Bug did.
Join Us in Making a Difference
Your generosity changes lives. With your support, we can provide essential resources—veterinary care, foster homes, and adoption services—to dogs abandoned and neglected across our communities. Together, we can rewrite their stories, offering hope and healing where there was once despair.
Bug, once lost and alone, now thrives in a home filled with love and care. His journey, though challenging, reminds us that every dog deserves a second chance. Your donation makes stories like Bug’s possible.
Donate Today and Make an Impact
Together, we can ensure that every dog, regardless of their past, finds the love and security they deserve. Your monthly or annual membership in our Dumped Dogs/Cats Club is a lifeline for dogs in need, offering them a future filled with love and compassion.
Bug’s journey is a testament to the resilience and hope that every dog carries within them. With your help, we can ensure that every dog in need finds their own happily-ever-after.
Angel Club
Your committed $100 monthly support will help us the most by providing for medical cases, emergency surgeries, monthly spays/neuters, dog training and future goals, including animal welfare education in Philly schools and staff for our upcoming location in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia. Read Beverly Louise’s story below to learn how your dollars help animals like her. TRIGGER WARNING - reading her story + clicking on the blacked-out images to see photos of the dog when she was found may distress sensitive people. There is a very happy ending though!
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On a September morning in Philadelphia 2024, a small, frail dog was found curled up in the ivy by the Washington Lane train station. She was only about a year old, nameless, without a microchip, and barely clinging to strength. Her right hind leg dangled, toe-touching but too painful to use. Bite wounds marked her face, and bald spots on her paws suggested she had been kept in a crate with no bedding for long stretches of time.
At the veterinary clinic, the truth of her suffering became clear: Beverly Louise—as her rescuers named her—had a body condition score of 2 out of 9. She weighed only 32 pounds, when she should have been closer to 45. That’s a 41% increase she needed just to reach a healthy weight. Her body told the story of neglect; her eyes still carried hope.
Her rescuer and Familiar Hearts foster took her home with strict feeding guidelines to help her heal. Slowly, Beverly Louise began to fill out, gain strength, and wag her tail again. With careful love and medical care, she blossomed into the dog she was always meant to be. Once healthy, she was spayed, though her fragile body still struggled—she needed fluids and close monitoring to recover fully.
When adoption applications finally came in, one family stood out. At their first meeting, Beverly Louise locked eyes with the young boy. The bond was instant. From that moment on, “Bevvy Lu Lu,” as she’s now affectionately called, had found her home. Today, she curls up on the couch beside her best friend, no longer a starving stray but a cherished member of a family who adores her.
Beverly Louise’s journey from suffering to safety was only possible because of people like you: those who believe that every animal deserves a chance. Her care was costly, and dogs like her continue to arrive in urgent need of medical support, food, and safe shelter.
Your gift ensures that more dogs like Beverly Louise can survive, heal, and find the love they deserve.
Become an Angel Club member today because every Beverly Louise deserves her happily ever after.