WRITTEN BY: A LY S S A H E L M S , Media Manager
As we continue to try and expand Lowcountry Dog and spread light on different rescues, organizations, and shelters, we had the opportunity to visit Saint Frances Animal Center and see the amazing work they do in their facility, filled with lots of animals and love. Saint Frances, is the oldest 501(c)3 non-profit organization in Georgetown County trying to break the cycle of neglect and overpopulation, and they do a phenomenal job. We spoke with their director, Suzanne Roman, about all of the hard work the family of staff and community of volunteers put into the care of the animals and getting them adopted at Saint Frances. Their mission of providing abandoned and mistreated animals a nurturing environment until being placed in loving homes was started in 1983 by a group of Georgetown’s community members, led by Betty Harris. Their group started a program teaching and educating the community on proper pet ownership and the joys of it. They used their own homes to rescue abandoned pets and get them adopted until 1986. After complicated negotiations with the city, they could finally open the doors to a small house on a lot behind the dog pound. It was called “Georgetown County Humane Society.” It was supposed to fit 50 animals, and was immediately overflowing. They had quite a few tough years before this little house became Saint Frances Animal Center in 1998. Since then, they have been able to exponentially grow their facility to what it is today with the help of the community; sponsors, donations, fosters, adopters, volunteers and each other.
They show tremendous gratitude to their donors for funding and to their volunteers who have made this Animal Center what it is today, especially since they have no funding from the city and rely solely on the donations and sponsoring they’ve been blessed with over the years. Without the help from loyal animal advocates in the Georgetown community, Saint Frances would not be able to do what they do! Since Saint Frances is the go-to shelter for the community and takes in all of the animals scooped up by animal control, they work with many different rescue groups who can take them and give them a better chance of finding adopters, and to help Saint Frances keep up with the influx of homeless and abandoned animals in Georgetown County and Georgetown city. They have a Saint Frances wrapped van they use to transfer animals all the way to states like Pennsylvania and New York, like Bo Fitzgerald or “Fitz” for short, who was getting hugged on by the staff members that weren’t ready to say goodbye, as he headed to his furever home already in place for him in the Big Apple. This happens a lot at the center. The staff members create emotional bonds with the majority of animals that go in and out of their doors. Whether it be vet techs, secretary staff, volunteers, etc. Suzanne Roman says that the staff consists of mostly long-timers, and that they either get involved and stay forever or they opt out. The dedicated ones stay for all the right reasons, the animals.
