Animal Welfare Society

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Kennebunk, ME
Animal Welfare Society

Animal Welfare Society AWS provides humane shelter, veterinary care, education and resources to pets and community members.

The 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 wellbeing so pets and their families stay together and thrive. To achieve this mission, AWS operates a progressive animal shelter and adoption center on a 40 acre campus in Kennebunk and satellite adoption centers throughout nort

hern New England. AWS’ life-saving community programs include Pets and Survivors to Safety, Paws in Stripes and Paws Across America. AWS’ services to the greater community include Youth Programs, Behavior and Training classes, spay/neuter assistance through the Cleo Fund, veterinary and wellness care at the AWS Community Veterinary Clinic and community resources through Stay@Home. AWS serves as the animal control impound facility for 21 municipalities in York County, providing safety and shelter to lost and abandoned pets. Annually, more than 4,000 animals receive care – and find new homes – at AWS. The AWS Community Veterinary Clinic provided wellness services, including surgeries, examinations and vaccinations to nearly 8,500 pets of community members, in addition to AWS resident pets. Stay@Home provides resources to families and pets, including pet food, low-cost or complimentary veterinary care, temporary boarding and supplies, in an effort to keep pets and families together during times of financial hardship. Additional community programs, such as Humane Education and Canine Training bring education, training and lessons to countless community members of all ages each year. AWS’ operations, adoption center, programs and services are supported by a staff of more than 35 full- and part-time employees and a team of more than 150 dedicated volunteers. Volunteers donate more than 36,000 hours of their time annually in the Adoption Center, in the Veterinary Clinic and in their own homes as foster families. We are able to fulfill our mission through the generosity of those who contribute through financial gifts, in-kind support and bequests. These funds go directly toward the care of the animals at the shelter and to programs that benefit the people and animals in our communities.

05/23/2025

Mirror, mirror on the wall... who's the cutest puppy of them all?

Meet Sneezy, Doc, D***y, Grumpy, Sleepy, Happy, and Bashful! They're all ready to bring a fairytale to their new homes 🐶

𝗙𝗢𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥 ➡ https://animalwelfaresociety.org/volunteer/foster-volunteers/
𝗔𝗗𝗢𝗣𝗧 ➡ https://animalwelfaresociety.org/adoption/dogs/

05/22/2025

While the new Maine plates may be in style, you can make a difference by selecting Animal Welfare Specialty Plate’s when you register your car!

Funds from the plates support Maine’s Help Fix Me program to offer low cost spay/neuter services. And did you know that AWS' Community Veterinary Clinic accepts Help Fix Me Vouchers?

Make a difference today and support the animals in your community!

05/21/2025

Check out this wonderful artwork from Ms. Hart's Pre-K to 5th grade art classes at Sebago Elementary of our adoptable animals at AWS! Students got to choose an animal to 'adopt' and create a piece of art highlighting the animal.

DJ Eddie and Clarence are two of the animals at AWS who students chose and are still waiting to find their new homes! To highlight their work, Eddie and Clarence's photos on our website will be of the student's awesome art.

Bring home one of the adorable works of art today! 🎨

05/20/2025

AWS Community Veterinary Clinic is hosting a FREE microchip and rabies vaccine clinic for dogs and cats.

– Pet must be over 12 weeks of age to receive a vaccine or microchip.
– Pets may receive a microchip, a rabies vaccine, or both. Please indicate which service(s) you require when you RSVP.
– All pets must be leashed or in a secure carrier.
– To receive a 3-year rabies vaccine, you must bring your pet’s previous rabies certificate or records from a vet. Otherwise, your pet will receive a 1-year vaccine.

This microchip and rabies vaccine clinic is free to attend. An appointment is not required. However, to help us plan and to reduce wait times, please RSVP to select your preferred arrival time frame. If you RSVP, you will get a reminder email the day before, which will include important details about the event.

Registration is now open and closes Friday, June 13, 2025 at noon. Drop ins are welcome on the day of, as supplies last.

RSVP ➡ https://animalwelfaresociety.org/event/microchip-rabies-vaccine-clinic-june-14-2025/

05/19/2025

Hello everyone, my name is Harmony (left) and I’m here with my friend Valerie (right)! We are a loving pair of sisters who are known for keeping it easy. One thing to know about us is that my friend Valerie is fully blind. While she can’t see, she uses her other senses and her best friend (ME!) to help her find her way. And let me tell you, it doesn’t stop her from being an awesome cat. Together, we’re very easy-going cats who will find happiness in a low-key, loving home.

Learn more about how you can adopt us on this week's Pet of the Week blog ➡ https://animalwelfaresociety.org/pet-of-the-week/keeping-it-easy-with-harmony-valerie/

𝗙𝗢𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥 ➡ https://animalwelfaresociety.org/volunteer/foster-volunteers/
𝗔𝗗𝗢𝗣𝗧 ➡ https://animalwelfaresociety.org/adoption/cats/

05/18/2025

WOW! What a great run we had of Smoke N' Bingo nights, graciously hosted by SMOKE BBQ Kennebunk.

Since the first night of Smoke N' Bingo at the end of February, Smoke N' Bingo has helped raise over $2,300 thanks to the generous and kind restaurant patrons who donated to play! Thank you all so much for showing up each week, your support truly means the world to us!

In addition to all of the wonderful individuals and families who showed up to play, these Bingo nights wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of so many local businesses who were kind enough to donate some really amazing prizes for us to give away each night!

Thank You ➡ https://animalwelfaresociety.org/thank-you/thank-you-smoke-bbq/

05/17/2025

American Craft Beer Week and we’re here to remind you that Woofstock is a great opportunity to try some of Maine’s best craft beers!

Whether you are into IPAs, lagers, ciders or seltzers – Woofstock has something to offer almost any palette! So join us in celebrating American Craft Beer Week by checking out the lineup of breweries joining us at Woofstock 2025!

Woofstock Breweries ➡ https://animalwelfaresociety.org/news/celebrate-american-craft-beer-week-with-woofstock-breweries/

05/15/2025

Friends! We have an announcement from our Board of Directors:

Abigail Smith has announced her resignation as AWS’ Executive Director, effective May 30, 2025. She will be stepping into a new role as Chief Executive Officer for Montgomery County SPCA in Pennsylvania. We will miss Abby tremendously here at AWS, and we wish her the very best in her new endeavors! ❤

Read the Board's message ➡ https://animalwelfaresociety.org/news/aws-executive-director-to-step-down/

05/13/2025

Hi everyone, my name is Black Jack and it’s so nice to meet you! I’m here at AWS waiting for my new family to take a bet on me in their new home. I’ve been known to voice my opinion (mainly when I want attention!!) so my friends at AWS thought it would be the perfect time to use my voice for this week’s Pet of the Week!

Take a Bet on Black Jack ➡ https://animalwelfaresociety.org/pet-of-the-week/take-a-bet-on-black-jack/

𝗙𝗢𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥 ➡ https://animalwelfaresociety.org/volunteer/foster-volunteers/
𝗔𝗗𝗢𝗣𝗧 ➡ https://animalwelfaresociety.org/animal/black-61995/

05/10/2025

Thank you to Maine Veterinary Medical Center l for being the title sponsor for our 2025 Woofstock: Food & Beer Festival, taking place this summer right here at AWS!

MVMC is a specialty and emergency veterinary hospital in Scarborough that offers 24/7 advanced and compassionate care for your pet. You'll find MVMC in the Vet & Pet Zone at Woofstock so be sure to stop by! Thank you for supporting AWS and for being there for all the pets in our community, when they need care the most!

Address

46 Holland Road
Kennebunk, ME
04043

Website

https://animalwelfaresociety.org/

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Our Story

The Animal Welfare Society, incorporated in 1967, is a private, 501(c)(3) non-profit humane society located in Kennebunk, Maine and is a regional leader in companion animal welfare.

AWS operates a progressive animal shelter and adoption center on a 40 acre campus in Kennebunk and satellite adoption centers throughout northern New England. AWS’ life-saving community programs include Pets and Women to Safety, Paws in Stripes, Pawsitive Changes and Paws Across America. AWS’ services to the greater community include Youth Programs, Behavior and Training classes, spay/neuter assistance through the Cleo Fund and veterinary and wellness care at the AWS Community Veterinary Clinic. AWS serves as the animal control impound facility for 21 municipalities in York County, providing safety and shelter to lost and abandoned pets.

Annually, more than 4,000 animals receive care - and find new homes - at AWS. The AWS Community Veterinary Clinic provided wellness services, including surgeries, examinations and vaccinations to nearly 8,500 pets of community members, in addition to AWS resident pets. The clinic's opening in 2018 increased AWS' capacity to provide medical care by 92%, providing low-cost, quality veterinary care to community members and allowing more pets to remain at home with the people who love them. AWS' community programs - including Humane Education and Canine Training bring education, training and lessons to countless community members of all ages each year. In 51 years, AWS' capacity to help has grown significantly. In 1967, AWS’ first year, about 500 animals were served; today, that number is well over 10,000.

AWS’ operations, adoption center, programs and services are supported by a staff of more than 35 full- and part-time employees and a team of more than 150 dedicated volunteers. Volunteers donate more than 36,000 hours of their time annually in the Adoption Center, in the Veterinary Clinic and in their own homes as foster families.