Jawn in the Window: A Philly Pet Walk Tour
Organized by Nayana Photography
From Graduate Hospital to Washington Ave.
Philadelphia
Sept. 6, 2025
I’m not a morning person. I’m a cat mom in part because I don’t want to wake up early each day to let the dogs out. But last Saturday I found myself at Good Karma Cafe by 8:30 a.m. with over 40 other people who had all shown up to take themselves on a walk — in order to observe Philly’s domestic wildlife through row home windows.
The event I had signed up for was the first iteration of “Jawn in the Window,” a group stroll through the Graduate Hospital section of the city to check out the neighborhood’s pets. The walk was organized by Nayana Gadde, a nurse and pet photographer who plotted a route through 12 homes of pet owners who agreed to put their dogs and cats on display as volunteer Christina Leaders emceed a tour past their apartments. Animal lovers congregated with their cellphones, ready to take pictures of newfound pet celebrities for their respective social media profiles.
Nayana’s Philly-focused “Jawn in the Window” jaunt was inspired by other pet walks that have taken place over the last few years in cities like Toronto and Minneapolis. After soliciting pet owners on Facebook and Instagram, hanging fliers in her neighborhood, and some good old fashion door knocking each time she noticed a cute pet peering through her neighbors’ blinds, Nayana accumulated a line-up of top model pets that she was ready to introduce to the public. The public showed up ready to rock n’ roll — and shake some paws.
I asked participant Rachel Castelles how they felt about the walk once we were finished: “There was this sense of joy and community with these strangers going to strangers' houses. That was the coolest part… you get to share that joy with others during a time when joy is not found so easily.” Their friend Sam Street offered a more specific highlight from the morning: when a cat named Leo showed off some tricks, like giving high fives to their owners. Nayana is already planning the next pet walk, this time centered around the cats of Point Breeze. I for one will be the first to sign up — in times like these, we could all use a little pet therapy.
