Community support keeps Saint Frances’ doors and hearts open

By Karen Owens, Publisher

Every day, the doors of Saint Frances Animal Shelter open to animals who have nowhere else to go.

At Saint Frances, 85 percent of the animals in their care are strays or animals picked up by local police or animal control officers, yet only 15 percent of the shelter’s funding comes from Georgetown County. The rest depends on the generosity of people who believe —like we do—that every animal deserves compassion, dignity, and a chance at a better life. 

As an open-admission shelter, Saint Frances never turns an animal away. That means welcoming pets whose owners can no longer care for them, as well as animals arriving sick, injured, frightened, or struggling with behavioral challenges.

The responsibility is immense—and the decisions are often heartbreaking.

“I am always talking with our team about the health of the animals we care for,” said Mindy Tiner, Executive Director of Saint Frances. “That includes their physical health, mental condition, and behavioral issues. We monitor all of these to measure the animal’s quality of life, and if we see a decline in their health, and we’ve exhausted all other options such as medication, foster and transfer, sometimes we have to make tough decisions.”

Serving with Compassion

Like many shelters across the country, overcrowding has become a major challenge. At one point, Saint Frances was operating at 300 percent capacity for dogs, with limited transportation options to move animals to other shelters outside the county. The strain affects not only the animals, but the people who care for them.

Saint Frances is a 24/7, 365‑day‑a‑year operation. There are no holidays or breaks from the emotional weight of this work. “People get attached to the animals we care for,” Tiner said. “When they see one struggling with health issues or the rejection that comes from staying at the shelter for long periods of time, it hurts.”

To support staff facing compassion fatigue, Tiner has introduced monthly team‑building time, creating space for connection, collaboration, and honest conversation.

Despite these challenges, Saint Frances continues to serve the broader community in powerful ways. The shelter operates a low‑cost spay and neuter clinic, providing essential veterinary services with just one veterinarian and a small team of technicians — an extraordinary effort that helps prevent future overpopulation and suffering.

The shelter also depends on foster families and volunteers. Fostering gives animals a break from the stress of shelter life and offers families a meaningful way to help—or even a trial run before adoption. Volunteers who walk and socialize dogs play a vital role in improving adoptability and overall well‑being.

The ripple effects of the Covid pandemic are still being felt. Reduced access to spay and neuter services and veterinary medicines during the pandemic, combined with changes in family routines, led to an increase in animals being surrendered after things began to go back to normal, especially dogs experiencing severe separation anxiety when owners returned to work. 

Financial Challenges and Facility Needs

Saint Frances has consistently demonstrated its ability to stretch limited resources, operating efficiently on an annual budget of $1.5 million. Despite this, only 15 percent of its funding is sourced from public funds, underscoring the crucial role that fundraising plays in sustaining the shelter’s operations. The significance of community support cannot be overstated, as it provides the majority of resources needed to care for the animals.

The shelter’s ageing facility, however, presents additional challenges as it’s undersized and increasingly inadequate as the number of animals entering the shelter continues to grow. With the average length of stay for animals now exceeding 100 days, the pressure on space and resources has intensified, making the need for a new shelter more urgent than ever. Estimates suggest that constructing a new facility could require an investment of between $15 and $20 million, highlighting the importance of ongoing fundraising and community involvement.

Saint Frances has always relied on community kindness. The shelter was one of the original organizations funded by Georgetown philanthropist Frances P. Bunnelle, even changing its name from Saint Francis to Saint Frances in recognition of her unwavering support.

Today, that legacy continues through events like Palmetto Giving Day, where last year supporters helped raise $141,000, and the goal this year is $175,000.

Your support—whether through a donation, volunteering your time, or opening your home as a foster—directly impacts animals who cannot advocate for themselves. Together, we can ensure that Saint Frances remains a place of safety, care, and second chances for the animals who need us most.