Dorchester Paws has closed on the purchase of 6.8 acres of land at the corner of Central Avenue and Highway 17A which will serve as the future home of its new shelter and the first low-cost spay and neuter clinic in Dorchester County. After a long, multi-year search for the ideal property, Dorchester Paws is thrilled to move forward with its plans for a new and improved shelter with expanded medical care and behavioral treatment for Dorchester County’s cats and dogs.

“We couldn’t be more excited to make this announcement. Dorchester Paws is in dire need of a new facility and today we are one step closer to making our vision a reality,” said Erin Sullivan, Dorchester Paws Board Chairman. “I’d like to extend my sincere gratitude to our board, staff, community partners and loyal donors whose dedication and generosity helped us cross the finish line in securing a site for our shelter.”

Dorchester Paws’ current facility is outdated, over capacity and often underwater. Each year the organization must raise over $1 million in private donations to sustain operations, and it has spent tens of thousands of dollars over the past several years to repair the shelter but these fixes are only temporary and do not solve the underlying structural issues. Building a new facility will alleviate these issues and allow Dorchester Paws to provide higher quality care to animals in need. The new facility will also include a new public spay and neuter clinic that will accommodate twice the number of procedures it can perform each week. It will also be the first low-cost spay and neuter clinic open to the public in Dorchester County.

To date, Dorchester Paws has raised over $2.1 million for the On Solid Ground Campaign to build the new shelter. This fundraising success includes a generous $1 million commitment from longstanding partner Dorchester County. And earlier this year, thanks to the support of Representative Chris Murphy, the South Carolina Legislature committed $350,000 to the project.

Dorchester Paws is currently working on a new three-year strategic plan that will cast a bold vision for its future. The upcoming months will also be spent planning for the next stage of the project, including revising shelter designs and the construction budget. The On Solid Ground campaign will resume in early 2022 so construction can begin before the end of the year.

About Dorchester Paws

Dorchester Paws, formerly known as Frances R. Willis SPCA, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of animals in Dorchester County, South Carolina. Dorchester Paws is the only open-admission shelter in Dorchester County, serving the towns of Rosinville, Ridgeville, Oakbrook, St. George, Summerville and Grover, South Carolina. Partnering with Dorchester Code Enforcement, the organization takes in every lost, abandoned and abused animal and provides food, shelter and medical attention until a “forever home” can be found. Since 2017, Dorchester Paws has been a no kill shelter and is a partner in the “No Kill South Carolina Coalition.”

For more information about or to support Dorchester Paws, please visit www.dorchesterpaws.org/capitalcampaign