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.
Pets and Families Thriving Together
Animal Welfare Society (AWS) is a private 501(c)(3) non-profit located in Kennebunk, Maine.
Home for the Holidays
Eddie (seen here), Bentley, Daisy, Kimber and the guinea pigs have been with us the longest and we’ve reduced their adoption fees. Let’s get these pets—and all animals in our care—home for the holidays.
Winter Wags Adoption Special
Warm your heart with a new best friend! Visit AWS for our Winter Wags Adoption Special! Running from January 30 through February 8.
Winter Wags Adoption Special
Warm your heart with a new best friend! Visit AWS for our Winter Wags Adoption Special! Running from January 30 through February 8.
Home for the Holidays
Eddie (seen here), Bentley, Daisy, Kimber and the guinea pigs have been with us the longest. Let’s get them home for the holidays!
Home for the Holidays
Warm nights by the fireplace, snow-filled adventures, cozy lap naps, now is the time to adopt your new best friend. Let’s get our residents pets – like River seen here – home for the holidays!
Home for the Holidays
Warm nights by the fireplace, snow-filled adventures, cozy lap naps, now is the time to adopt your new best friend. Let’s get our residents pets home for the holidays!
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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Eddie Wants to Be Your Lap Cat
I believe every home needs a designated lap warmer. Lucky for you, I’m highly qualified. Hi, I’m Eddie, and I am the textbook definition of a lap cat. I’m affectionate, social and always eager to be close to my people. Whether I’m curling up beside you, purring in your lap…
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Watch the World Cup with Coco
The World Cup has everyone buzzing this summer, so it felt like the perfect moment to make my move and say hello. Hi, I’m Coco, and I’m always ready to play. I’m an active, goofy girl who loves soccer, the outdoors and spending time with my people. Whether we’re kicking…
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Keeping Your Pets Safe While Having Fun This Summer
Summer is a great time to get outside with your dog — whether you’re heading to the beach, walking local trails, visiting a dog-friendly patio or planning a weekend adventure. With a little preparation, you can help keep the season fun, safe and comfortable. And for our adventurous cat friends?…
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Odette’s Looking for a Best Friend
Being a best friend is kind of my specialty, so National Best Friends Day feels like the perfect time to introduce myself. I’m Odette and I’m more interested in finding that special person or family to share my life with than being the life of the party. I’m a little…
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Understanding Boundaries with Coco
Some people say I’m independent, others say I’m particular. I prefer to think of myself as a cat who knows what she likes. I’m Coco, an adoptable cat at AWS with clear boundaries, a big personality and no interest in pretending to be someone I’m not. If you’re looking for…
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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Gracie
I had just moved into a new home in Wells. It was getting deep into the Fall and felt like it was time to fill the home with another heartbeat/pulse. I had a senior female dog for 16+ years that I had adopted (she lived to be 18+) and loved the temperament of the older females. In November 2022, I took a peek at AWS website and saw that Gracie was available and looking for her retirement home. I said that is likely the most perfect fit. I met her and she came right up to me, so we bonded right away. …
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Butterfly
When I first entered the shelter to adopt a cockatiel I could hear her squacking really loud and constant! Wondering if this was a wise decision, I brought her into the house, put her on her cage (free bird) complete silence!!!She greets me upon coming home, and absolutely LOVES my 16 year old chihuahua!!! She has got such personality and is quite comical. Best decision ever!!!
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Six now Mazzy Star
My husband and I are true animal lovers and have always talked about getting a dog when our living arrangements allowed. As soon as we moved from an apartment to a rented home that allowed and welcomed dogs, we knew that it was the perfect time to welcome another fur baby into our lives. After a lot of research, vetting and wandering the internet, a cute 72-pound pitbull-boxer mix named “Six” immediately caught our eye on the AWS website. After looking at her for over a week (and constantly refreshing the web page to make sure she was still available)…
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.