If you are looking to get your CAT fixed, our Community Veterinary Clinic now accepts online bookings for FELINE SPAY/NEUTER appointments.

Pets and families thriving together

Founded in 1967, Animal Welfare Society (AWS) is a private 501(c)(3) non-profit animal welfare organization located in Kennebunk, Maine.

Our mission

Animal Welfare Society exists to serve as the safety net for lost and homeless pets and to provide access to affordable services and resources necessary for long term well-being, so pets and their families stay together and thrive.

Our 2022 Impact

In a year like no other, we supported our pet community’s needs as families faced inflation, economic uncertainty and housing instability while also adjusting our operations to fit the “post-COVID” era. 

2,009

Pets Adopted

20,245

Procedures and Exams

47,495

Volunteers Hours

39,896

Pounds of Food
& Litter Provided

2023 Year in Review

Events & Appearances

Join us!

  • Tats 4 Tails

    Dark Harbor Tattoo & Golden Scale Tattoo present the 4th annual Tats 4 Tails, a fundraiser for ARLGP, AWS and Midcoast Humane.

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  • Microchip & Rabies Vaccine Clinic

    Free microchip and rabies clinic for dogs and cats over 12 weeks of age.

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From the Blog

Whether it’s a dog who likes to blog, a cat who enjoys a chat, a bird who shares the word, or the occasional funny bunny, you’ll love hearing from our resident animals directly. Our blog also contains news & updates, training tips & tricks and more. Keep up with AWS!

  • Meet Her Royal Highness: Queen Theadora

    Meet Her Royal Highness: Queen Theadora

    Greetings, humans. I am AWS’ Pet of the Week and I’m here to tell you I’m the most beautiful cat in the land! You may call me Queen Theadora. Keep reading […]

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  • The Power of Pets

    The Power of Pets

    As World Mental Health week draws to a close, we highlight the power of pets the many reasons why pets are good for our mental wellbeing. It’s no secret that […]

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  • Your Ray of Sunshine

    Your Ray of Sunshine

    Rayelle is our Pet of the Week. She is a ray of sunshine to all she meets and will shine as a single pet in her new home.

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  • Adopt A Shelter Dog Month

    Adopt A Shelter Dog Month

    October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. Of course, at AWS, every month is a month to celebrate dog adoptions! Today we share some of the pups hoping to be adopted in October.

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Values That Guide Our Work

Follow Us!

@aws.maine

The third week of October (this week!) is National Veterinarian Technician Week. Started by the American Veterinary Medical Association in 1993, the week commemorates the vital and professional role veterinary technicians play in diagnosing, treating and caring for animals. 

We’ve asked our Licensed Veterinary Technicians (LVT) to share with us what is the best part of the job and what is something that public might not know about their work. Follow along all week!

Today we feature Peyton! Peyton has been with AWS for two years and just this summer passed her boards to become a licensed veterinary technician. 

“My favorite part about being a vet technician is knowing that I am helping every pet that comes in. We are the voice they don't have. Something that the public doesn't know is that a vet tech does many things including: monitor anesthesia, take x-rays, draw blood, run lab samples, prep for surgery. There is a lot more to it that the public doesn’t see. They only see us assisting the doctor during their pet’s exam.”
Indoor fun with Darla Mae 🐶
#adoptme #dogsofthekennebunks #maine
The third week of October (this week!) is National Veterinarian Technician Week. Started by the American Veterinary Medical Association in 1993, the week commemorates the vital and professional role veterinary technicians play in diagnosing, treating and caring for animals. 

We’ve asked our Licensed Veterinary Technicians (LVT) to share with us what is the best part of the job and what is something that public might not know about their work. Follow along all week!

We kick off the week with Amanda! Amanda has spent her entire career in veterinary medicine. She’s been an LVT for 17 years and has worked at AWS’ Community Veterinary Clinic since 2019. 
“My favorite thing about being a vet tech is that I get to help so many animals in so many different ways from helping to provide annual wellness care to providing specialized care that allows me to utilize all of my skills. One thing the public may not know about being a licensed vet tech is that it requires a lot of schooling and you can earn up to a Bachelors degree (which is what I have) and you can even specialize and earn a vet tech specialty (or VTS) in areas such as nutrition, emergency and critical care, exotics and more.”
ONE WEEK FROM TODAY!!!
For details, including participating locations and flash sheets, visit the event page here on Facebook
 https://www.facebook.com/events/804052135257619/?active_tab=discussion
It's a great day to be a kitten! ❤

So many kittens available for adoption right now. Our adoption center is open 10 am - 3:30 pm every day. Stop by and adopt!