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.

Events & Programs

Join us!

  • November 29 @ 2:00 PM
    Rescue Readers

    Rescue Readers

    Rescue Readers brings together elementary/middle school students and AWS resident pets for a half hour of literary-based confidence building. Thank you to Kennebunk Savings for sponsoring Rescue Readers for the 2023-2024 school year. With their generosity, this program is free to attend.

    Learn More

  • December 3 @ 2:00 PM
    Puppy Learn & Play- Yuletide Youngsters

    Puppy Learn & Play- Yuletide Youngsters

    Learn & Play for puppies brings together training skills and doggone fun in short weekly sessions. Each session, led by one of our certified professional dog trainers, includes a mix of socialization, obedience training, life skills, play and fun!

    Learn More

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

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!

  • Karhu is Team #awsdog!

    Karhu is Team #awsdog!

    Hi there, folks! My name is Karhu (pronounced like kaar·hoo) and I am a new face around here at AWS. Can you guess what my name means?! It’s actually Finnish […]

    Read More

  • A Grateful Daisy

    A Grateful Daisy

    Hi there! My name is Daisy and I’m a 5-year-old pup who has been looking for my happy new home here at AWS. My life’s been a journey but I’m […]

    Read More

  • How to Control Counter Surfing

    How to Control Counter Surfing

    We’ve all been there; you’re right in the middle of cooking and you turn your back for just a moment and suddenly, your half-baked, tasty treat is gone! You glance […]

    Read More

  • Join the Reindeer Games!

    Join the Reindeer Games!

    The Reindeer Games are festive group training classes to keep your pup on Santa’s nice list this holiday season. Whether your dog is the littlest elf in Santa’s workshop or […]

    Read More

Values That Guide Our Work

Follow Us!

@aws.maine

Jackie the guinea pig and his friend Chelsea want you to know that they're Team #awsdog! Just like guinea pigs, dogs love to cuddle and therefore, they deserve the crown. However, those pesky cats remain ahead of the competition! Help Team #awsdog win by donating now! Follow our LinkTree right to the Giving Tuesday page. Woof!
Giving Tuesday is just getting started and Team #awscat is already ahead! If you're a feline fan like our teammate Jesse here, donate to Team #awscat to help them keep the lead!
Team #awsdog is kicking off Giving Tuesday with a little love from Tahoe and his human friend, Sam. When it comes to the question 'which pet is the Coziest Companion: Cats or Canines?', Tahoe and Sam are here to say Team #awsdog all the way!!

If you feel the same, donate to the cause and help canines everywhere win the day!
The cats and dogs at AWS are ready for another friendly competition this Giving Tuesday on November, 28! Who will win?This year's competition centers around which species is the Coziest Companion: Cats or Canines? Throughout the day on Giving Tuesday, follow along on our social media pages as the pets and people of AWS try to convince you which of their favorite species deserves your support as the coziest, cuddliest animal. 

Remember, the team who raises the most funds on Tuesday will be crowned this year’s Giving Tuesday winner. Most importantly, all funds raised in this friendly competition support pet care here at AWS. We look forward to seeing which pet comes out on top as the coziest companion! 

(psst! You can help your favorite team get ahead by donating early on our website. Just follow the link tree in our profile to the Giving Tuesday page!)