Dorchester Paws, formerly known as Frances R. Willis SPCA, is a 501(c)3 non-profit 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.

Dorchester Paws is a partner in the “No Kill South Carolina Coalition.” We are determined to end unnecessary euthanasia in Dorchester County by 2019. Since the beginning of 2017, we have made significant improvements to our shelter and quality of care we provide to the animals. Our euthanasia rate has been reduced by nearly half and we have not euthanized for time, space or money since January 2017. We are committed to making our live release rate meet the national average.


Address:
136 Four Paws Lane
Summerville, SC 29483

Call Us: 843-871-3820