SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCSC) - Dorchester Paws is continuing to move towards its goal of building a new animal shelter.

Dorchester Paws is a nonprofit organization and the only open-admission animal shelter in Dorchester County.

Their current 53-year-old facility, located off Highway 78 in Summerville, faces several challenges including the location of being in a flood prone spot, the overcrowding of animals, and the facility's deteriorating condition.

"Whenever it rains we have the fear of are the kennels going to flood today? Whenever we have storms for days that last longer than just an afternoon storm shower, that's very possible," Executive Director April Howard says.

Howards says that their capacity is only 180 animals, but they are caring for over 400. She says that with this new facility, they would be able to double their current capacity.

Leaders say they have already purchased 6.8 acres of land for the new facility at the corner of Central Avenue and Highway 17A. However, the main obstacle they face is building costs.

The shelter operates primarily from donations, totaling up to 75% of its budget, so the money it receives goes towards operating costs.

Howard estimates that building the new shelter will cost between $8 and $10 million. Leaders say that they have been working towards this for a while as part of their capital campaign. This holiday season, they decided to reignite their efforts by launching the "Home for the Holidays" campaign.

Howard says that Home for the Holidays is a matching campaign that supports their capital campaign. Leaders say that an anonymous donor came forward, pledging to match up to $150,000 based on the funds raised through the "Home for the Holidays" campaign.

So, if the holiday campaign reaches its fundraising goal of $150,000 through donations by Dec. 29, the anonymous donor will match that, and Dorchester Paws will ultimately receive $300,000 towards building the new shelter.

If the campaign raises less than the goal of $150,000, the anonymous donor will still be matching whatever the total amount is that is raised by Dec. 29.

As of Dec. 26, the Home for the Holidays campaign has raised more than $50,000.

Howard says if they reach their goal for the holiday campaign they will then have raised a total of $2 million towards building the new facility.

Leaders say they want to take the momentum from their Home for the Holidays campaign and launch more initiatives in 2025.

Howards says they hope to break ground on the new shelter sometime in 2025.