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pAWS Across America
pAWS Across America, born in 2002, is a transport program adopted by the Animal Welfare Society. Through this important program, we receive adoptable companion animals from other shelters and recue groups, both near and far, who need placement assistance. Due to an overwhelming number of wonderful friendly homeless pets and far too few qualified adoptive homes, many shelters, particularly in mid-western and southern states, are faced with euthanizing healthy and highly adoptable animals.
 This program only operates on the basis of space availability and local animals are always our priority. AWS is always happy to partner with other Maine shelters who need assistance in placing healthy adoptable pets.
AWS is also an emergency placement partner with both the ASPCA and Humane Society of the United States. These national organizations rely on their placement partners to provide sheltering and adoption services for animals displaced by natural disasters, such as hurricanes and flooding.
When space is available we are proud to extend our services & care to animals throughout Maine, New England and beyond. From Fort Kent Maine, to Seattle Washington, to Canada, and New Mexico, AWS has helped companion animals of all types. To date, a grand total of 2,605 rabbits, cats, birds, and dogs have all found great new homes through our transport program. Most of these pets would not have had other options had they stayed where they were. AWS also transports animals out to other rescue groups and shelters on occasion to facilitate their adoption.
 Since the vast majority of puppies for sale in pet stores originate from puppy mills** (large breeding operations where profit is the main priority and there is little to no concern for the welfare or wellbeing of the animals involved), and homeless puppies and dogs are being put to sleep for a lack of good homes, AWS satisfies the adoption demands for puppies and family-friendly adult dogs while literally saving their lives. By transporting these dogs & puppies to AWS where there are abundant adoption opportunities, we save their lives and get to witness the magic when families fall in love and take them home.
Spaying and neutering is the solution to eliminating and preventing this overpopulation crisis and our sending shelters all have plans and programs in place to address this major problem in their communities.
 **Most puppy mill dogs are kept confined to small cages with many females per male and females are bred at every heat cycle, with no break, to maximize puppy production. Dogs in these commercial breeding facilities often suffer from untreated injuries, skin, eye, and ear infections, parasites, matted fur, poor nutrition, a lack of socialization, and are provided little, if any veterinary care. Puppies often suffer from nutritional deficiencies, internal parasites, social and behavioral disorders, and congenital defects that can effect the dog for its lifetime.
AWS adheres to the state of Maine’s strict importation requirements including its vaccination protocol and quarantine period and we spay or neuter all animals before they go home.
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