Pets & 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 pets through adoptions, affordable services and resources, so pets and their families can 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?
Community Events & Appearances
Join us!
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!
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The Fine Art of Winning Over Moose
If you asked me to rank my top three favorite things in the world, the list would be: 1.Snacks 2. Tail-wagging adventures 3. Hugs.
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Chinchillas 101: Small Pets, Big Personalities
Additional reading from September 2025: Part Fluff, All Personality: 5 Reasons to Love Chinchillas Part fluff, part chaos, entirely adorable. Chinchillas are some of the most entertaining little creatures around. They can leap several feet into the air, take baths in dusts, and have the softest fur. But don’t let…
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Henry, Your BFF
Hi I’m Henry, I’m a goofy, playful and fun-loving pup who will always be the life of the party. Whether we are taking a walk on the beach, running errands or taking a hike, I’ll make plenty of friends (and memories) along the way. It’s pretty easy to keep happy.…
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Pingu & Cannoli: Better Together
They call us Cannoli and Pingu, inseparable best friends, and frankly, two weirdos on the same wavelength! We’re a year old, curious, playful, and we firmly believe every good home needs a window with a view. Shy but Curious Cannoli and I can be a little shy at first, but…
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Legacy: Storytime Is Better With Kids
I’m Legacy, and right now I’m spending my days at the Kennebunk Free Library. There are plenty of things I enjoy here — windows, bugs to monitor, cozy nap spots and lots of visitors — but my favorite part? The kids. Kids Are My People I really, really like kids.…
Happy Homes
Whether you adopted from us, visited our Clinic, took a Canine Training class or utilized the Stay@Home program, we want to hear from you. Share your Happy Homes story with us today.
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Spotty now Scotia
Scotia loves being a brother to his sissy Alessia!! He goes to doggy daycare where he’s nicknamed the ladies man. 😂 He loves to visit is Grampstar and the residents in the assisted living facility in Calais. He is thriving living his best life in Downeast Maine where he can go for walks in the subdivision and car rides to Bangor for is spa day with Miss Kassity. Right now, he watches hockey night with his mom as he was named after Hockey Night in Canada. His favorite teams are the Maple Leafs and Calgary Flames!!
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Now Maddix
Maddix is settling in so well and already loves his big brother, Blaze! He was a little shy at first, but he’s really starting to come out of his shell. The two of them play together and both end up in our bed at night. Maddix is such a sweet, laid-back puppy who loves treats, chewing on sticks and snuggles. We’re so happy he’s part of our family. Thank you AWS for helping us find him! ❤️🐾🎾
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Marshmallow now Koda
I got Koda (Marshmallow) when he was only 3 months old he had a brother with him and was very skittish. Now he loves other animals, kids and adults and is alert to so much. I couldn’t thank AWS more for helping me have my baby🩷
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Nutmeg’s new home
We l❤️ve nutty! We adopted her 5 years ago and she is the best cat my family and I ever had. She was fostered before we brought her home. And we can tell they loved her too. She is so sweet and is my family’s therapy cat.and is also super nice to our dog.She is the best cat ever and the Animal Rescue League took very great care of her. We love her so much and I’m 9 writing this from my mom’s phone (with her permission) and I even say nutty is the best thing/ person / animal ever!!!…
Values That Guide Our Work
Community Focused
At AWS we believe healthy people and pets are essential for healthy communities. We strengthen our community by providing pets and people with resources to thrive.
Compassion
We meet people and pets where they are without preconditions or judgement.
Collaboration
At AWS we work together to promote the human-animal bond. We prioritize teamwork and partnerships in all that we do. We are stronger together.
Inclusion and Equity
Diverse voices make us stronger. We are committed to upholding the dignity of all people.
Accountability
At AWS we take ownership for our actions and decisions. We commit to evaluating results and continuous improvement.