We are located at: 136 Four Paws Lane Summerville SC 29483 Hours of Operation Mon, Tues, Thurs 12-5 p.m. Fri, Sat, Sun 10-5 p.m. Closed on Wednesdays. Mailing address: PO Box 1116, Summerville, SC 29484

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                                                            The Frances R. Willis SPCA

Our shelter was established in 1972 to provide a safe haven for stray, abandoned, abused or lost pets. It's named for Frances R. Willis, who brought the SPCA to Dorchester County and founded the shelter. Kapstone, the lumber company, donated the land for the current SPCA facility. Dr. Brunson Westbury worked with Frances R. Willis to get the road built and land cleared to open the facility.

 

The Frances R. Willis SPCA serves the lost, abandoned and abused animals of Dorchester County including Rosinville, Harleyville, Ridgeville, Oakbrook, St. George, Summerville, and Grover.

Over the years we have expanded our facility, but we continue to reach our capacity because our community is growing and because the pet overpopulation crisis is not abating. In 2010 the shelter served 4,100 homeless or unwanted animals and our Live Release Rate was    46 percent.  SPCA staff and volunteers are working hard to spread the news about pet adoption, spaying and neutering, and responsible pet ownership.

 

The SPCA conducts an aggressive spay/neuter program with all animals receiving spay/neuter surgery before they are adopted to loving and forever homes. The Frances R. Willis SPCA works in partnership with the Charleston Animal Society to make this spay/neuter program a success.


With a young, dynamic staff and a corps of dedicated volunteers, foster homes and YOUR SUPPORT, the shelter is poised to make significant improvements for animal welfare in Dorchester County.

 

 

 

Our Facility
 Not counting quarantine areas, the shelter can house 80 dogs and 66 cats. The facility includes an intake area, where animals receive their first medical attention and stay "on hold" for five days. If no owner calls, they then move to the Adoption area. For cats, that means one of two cat rooms; for dogs, it means a run in one of the indoor/outdoor kennels.

 

 
The Path Home
There's also a fenced area at the front of the shelter called 'The Path Home'. This wooded acre allows shelter visitors to take animals on a get-to-know-you walk, or bond with them in one of two smaller enclosed play pens. Created in 1998 with the assistance of Americorps volunteers, The Path Home has been a wonderful addition to the shelter.
 

 
 
The Cat Room is a play area and Meet and Greet spot for felines. It contains cages for adoptable cats and furniture for humans to enjoy some time with their potential adoptee. The Cat Room is dedicated in honor of Judith Baird. She set up the Judith Baird Endowment Fund at the Coastal Community Foundation which provides annual funding to the SPCA.

 

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
Puppy Playpen
 
 
An Eagle Scout Project in 2006 created a Puppy Playpen on the back of the property for prospective adopters to take puppies out of their runs and play with them in a safe environment before adoption.

 

 

Mission Statement

The Frances R. Willis SPCA (FRWSPCA) will strive to instill humane principles into society thorugh the prevention of cruelty to animals.  The FRWSPCA will feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, reunite lost pets with owners, and through adoptions, find homes for as many stray animals as possible. The FRWSPCA will practice animal kindness, fight overpopulation by encouraging spaying and neutering, and champion responsible pet ownership through public education.

 

SPCA Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is the governing body of the SPCA. The Board of Directors meets once a month to make policy and meet with SPCA management. The Board functions through its committees which include but are not limited to: Shelter Operations, Community Outreach, Multi-Media, and Finance.

 

Advisors 

The Board of Directors receives advice from two professional advisors on legal issues and veterinary issues.

 

Staff

The SPCA Staff is lead by a qualified Shelter Manager and consists of about 10 full-time and 2 part-time employeess.

 

Funding

The SPCA budget is funded through multiple revenue streams including private and corporate donations, special event fundraisers, grants, and fee for services.

 

The SPCA  is a 501c3 non-profit organization with an IRS tax-exempt status and registered with the SC Secretary of State's Office.

 

Current special fundraising events include:

The Annual Oyster Roast and Silent Auction held at the Miler Country Club of Summerville in February.

 

The Paws and Claws on Ice Skating Spectacular held in March of each year at the Carolina Ice Palace.

 

The PAWker Run held in September of each year at the Dorchester Shrine Club.

 

The Fore! Paws! Golf Tournament scheduled for October at the Miler Country Club.

 

 

Operating Hours

The SPCA is open for adoptions, Intake of animals and donations:

 

Monday, Tuesday and Thursday    12 noon - 5 p.m.

 

Friday, Saturday and Sunday          10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

 

Wednesdays                                   CLOSED

 

Annual Meeting


An Annual Meeting of the SPCA members is held on the first Monday in February. The Annual Report of the SPCA, a financial snapshot, and a manager's report are presented. Members of the SPCA are elected to the Board of Directors during the meeting and volunteers and local organizations are recognized for their support. 
 
Publications
The SPCA publishes a quarterly newsletter, The Paw and Claw. Once a year, the SPCA reports its progress in an Annual Report.
 
Privacy Policy
CLICK HERE to read the Privacy Policy of the Society of Prevention for Cruelty to Animals-Dorchester d/b/a Frances R. Willis SPCA.