Lowcountry Dog Rescue Spotlight: Saint Frances Animal Center

WRITTEN BY: ALYSSA HELMS, 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.

During Lowcountry Dog’s visit to Saint Frances, we were able to first-hand witness the compassion and sense of family among the staff members and volunteers. We ran into a volunteer who has been showing up for over 15 years! Working in a large, non-profit community based animal center consists of hard work and an even harder schedule. They work around the clock, based on what the animals in the center need, and have to be ready for a neglected/wounded animal from animal control, or a litter of puppies at any given time. The people at Saint Frances are essential workers, driven by the force of rescuing. Members of the facility bond on that level, as well as bond with the animals they care for. They all help each other and all want what is best for the place these animals temporarily call home.

Saint Frances Animal Center is a very large facility with over 80 runs and many rooms dedicated to the animals in their care. including several isolated rooms where recovering and new intakes stay and free-roam cat rooms. They also have the Cotton Memorial Veterinary Clinic they use to not only do intakes and wellness checks, but also offer low-cost vaccines, spays and neuters, as well as low cost heartworm treatment to their community. The Cotton Memorial Clinic also has its very own X-Ray machine, allowing Saint Frances to get a much more extensive look into what they could be dealing with, knowing whether an injury is minor or something more serious. This clinic makes things a lot easier than transporting animals to vet offices in the area for spay/neuters. But not only that, the clinic allows Saint Frances to more effectively assess all of the animals who come through their doors.

Georgetown deserves a huge round of applause for all the work they have put into the facility and the animals that have been saved. The community has come together over many years to create this safe place known as Saint Frances Animal Center. There are so many ways to get involved, and it is so easy and so rewarding. They are always accepting new adopters, foster homes, supplies, and donations. If you want to adopt, foster, volunteer, or donate, visit sfanimals.org. ■