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TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR DEVON SMITH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ST. FRANCES ANIMAL CENTER IN GEORGETOWN, FOR HER DEDICATED LEADERSHIP AND LABORS IN EVACUATING THE CENTER'S ANIMALS TO SAFETY DURING THE RAVAGES OF HURRICANE FLORENCE.
Whereas, on September 8, 2018, when Hurricane Florence was first threatening the East Coast, the Saint Frances Animal Center of Georgetown, led by Executive Director Devon Smith, began evacuation preparations. The center's staff evacuated one hundred eighty dogs and cats between September 10 and 12, just ahead of the storm, predicted to hit on the thirteenth. Staff members drove dogs and cats to Columbia and to out-of-state locations in New York, New Jersey, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, and Ohio, taking their animals to other shelters that were able to handle the immediate need and then adopt them out. The staff also took some of the animals into their own homes and drove other animals to foster homes and farms that were able to hold them temporarily until the hurricane was over. The group drove 7,300 miles over the course of this evacuation; and
Whereas, just as the organization began to bring their animals back, Georgetown suddenly became the target of flood predictions. They prepared for evacuations again. This time, they evacuated sixty-two dogs and sixty-five cats. They relied heavily on the community during the second evacuation, and the vast majority of those animals went into foster homes; and
Whereas, because of Devon Smith's dedicated leadership, the necessary work was done to ensure the safety of the center's animals, and Devon and her committed, hard-working team did the job without aid from any national or large regional group, all of which declined to assist because the center's animals were "not adoptable." Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, recognize and honor Devon Smith, executive director of St. Frances Animal Center in Georgetown, for her dedicated leadership and labors in evacuating the center's animals to safety during the ravages of Hurricane Florence.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Devon Smith.
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