Open Veterans Day: Monday, November 11
Closed Thanksgiving Day: Thursday, November 28

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.

Featured Pets

These pets have been waiting the longest for their new families to adopt them. Will one of them become your new best friend?

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!

  • Pet Dogs Fighting Invasive Species

    Can pet dogs be trained to detect and control the spread of invasive species? Find out in this free informative, people-only workshop.

    Read More

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!

  • Animal Shelter Appreciation Week

    Animal Shelter Appreciation Week

    This week is Animal Shelter Appreciation Week. Our staff and volunteers work tirelessly each day to care for hundreds of pets. We couldn’t do what we do without their dedication. […]

    Read More

  • A New Home for Jag

    A New Home for Jag

    Hi everybody. My name is Jag and it is great to meet you! I’ve been here at AWS for over three weeks looking for my new home, and that could […]

    Read More

  • How Stomper Overcame Challenges to Ace his CGC Test

    How Stomper Overcame Challenges to Ace his CGC Test

    At AWS, we celebrate every victory, big and small, but some milestones stand out. We are excited to announce that Stomper, one of our most resilient and close to heart […]

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  • Halloween Pet Safety Tips

    Halloween Pet Safety Tips

    Halloween is this Thursday, October 31. It’s going to be a beautiful day and evening for trick-or-treaters. Keep your dogs, cats and small animals safe and out of harm’s way, […]

    Read More

Values That Guide Our Work

Follow Us!

@aws.maine

This week is Animal Shelter Appreciation Week. Our staff and volunteers work tirelessly each day to care for hundreds of pets. We couldn’t do what we do without their dedication. We also couldn’t do what we do without the support of our community. As we celebrate Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, we share some of our favorite “happy homes” stories. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

"Three years ago today I adopted BUDDY2, and he has brought so much love and joy! Here he is with his “celebration” cake and a happy face! Thank you to the Staff at AWS for the love and care you give to the shelter pets.
Much love!"

We encourage you to take a moment to submit a story update on your pet at the link in our bio.
This week is Animal Shelter Appreciation Week. Our staff and volunteers work tirelessly each day to care for hundreds of pets. We couldn’t do what we do without their dedication. We also couldn’t do what we do without the support of our community. As we celebrate Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, we share some of our favorite “happy homes” stories. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

"I went to AWS in search of a bird or two and fell in love with these parakeets! They are such a wonderful addition to our family. Thank you guys for helping me find them 😊"

We encourage you to take a moment to submit a story update on your pet! Submit your story here: https://animalwelfaresociety.org/adoption/adoption-stories/#stories
This week is Animal Shelter Appreciation Week. Our staff and volunteers work tirelessly each day to care for hundreds of pets. We couldn’t do what we do without their dedication. We also couldn’t do what we do without the support of our community. As we celebrate Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, we share some of our favorite “happy homes” stories. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

"Hi there! My partner and I adopted Copper on Friday, August 9 and he’s totally awesome. It was love at first sight! We and he have been enjoying each other immensely. Fortunately, I’m self employed and have been able to take the last week off allowing me to bond with and take Copper on countless adventures in the Bath Maine area. I’m so happy that our paths crossed. 
It was so nice and pleasant dealing with you all at Animal Welfare Society. You have a great, well-run facility there. The staff are so friendly and kind.
Thank you so much, keep up the great work!"

We encourage you to take a moment to submit a story update on your pet at the link in our bio.
Where is Willow’s date taking her? Check out our stories to find out!

#dogdate #dogsofthekennebunks #outandabout #adoptme
Hi everybody. My name is Jag and it is great to meet you! I’ve been here at AWS for over three weeks looking for my new home, and that could be where you come in. It was a delightful surprise to be picked as the Pet of the Week by the AWS staff! You may be wondering what I’m all about, so why don’t I tell you! Check out the link in bio to read my blog post!