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.
How we support our community
Founded in 1967, Animal Welfare Society (AWS) is a private 501(c)(3) non-profit animal welfare organization located in Kennebunk, Maine. AWS operates a progressive animal shelter, adoption center and community clinic on a 40-acre campus where we provide shelter, veterinary care, training and resources to more than 20,000 pets and community members annually.
While serving as the safety net for lost and homeless pets, AWS also provides a comprehensive suite of affordable and accessible resources designed to help keep pets and their people together, especially in times of hardship. Available resources include temporary boarding, pet food, supplies and assistance with behavior concerns. Additionally, our on-site, full-service Community Veterinary Clinic supports the veterinary needs of both resident (shelter) pets and pets of local community members.
AWS’ programs and services are provided by our compassionate and professional staff, with support from a team of 200+ dedicated volunteers and 300+ foster families.
We envision a community where pets and their families thrive together.
Our Values
Community Focused
As an organization and as individuals, we are dedicated to supporting people and pets in our community through creating progressive, innovative programs and services so that pets can get what they need to thrive. We believe healthy pets make healthy people and healthy people make a healthy community.
Compassion
We demonstrate kindness, understanding, and concern for the animals and people in our community whatever their circumstances. We appreciate others’ perspectives, listen, acknowledge needs, and practice patience. Above all, we offer assistance and support in the absence of judgement
Collaboration
We acknowledge it takes all of us working together to successfully promote and protect the human-animal bond. We prioritize teamwork and partnerships in all that we do and commit to building positive relationships with individuals, groups, and organizations in order to further our mission and goals.
Inclusion and Equity
Diverse voices make us stronger. We strive to create an environment where everyone feels welcome, respected, and heard. We seek to build a fair, equitable, honest, and healthy place for our staff to work and for our community to seek support.
