Dorchester Paws
Who We Are
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 towns including Rosinville, Ridgeville, Oakbrook, St. George, Summerville and Grover, SC. Partnering with Dorchester Code Enforcement, we take in every lost, abandoned and abused animal and provide them with food, shelter and medical attention until they find their forever home.
Our shelter was established in 1972 by Frances R. Willis with land donated by Kapstone. Dr. Brunson Westbury and Frances R. Willis worked to get the road built and land cleared to open the facility. Over the years, the shelter has been expanded, but we continue to reach and exceed our capacity because our community is growing and the pet overpopulation crisis is not abating.
What We Do
All of our animals are vaccinated, microchipped and spayed or neutered before they are adopted to loving forever homes.
With a young, dynamic staff and a corps of dedicated volunteers, foster homes and community support, Dorchester Paws is poised to make significant improvements for animal welfare in Dorchester County.
We are committed to
- Ending unnecessary euthanasia and giving every animal a chance
- Combating overpopulation by encouraging spaying and neutering
- Championing responsible pet ownership through public education
- Feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless and protecting the abused
- Reuniting lost pets with their families and finding homes for strays
