Greenville Magazine - June 2008 - (Page 61)

under new leadership, the Greenville Humane Society saves the business of saving animals aundry baskets are banned at Kim Pitman’s house. Her family now stuffs dirty clothes inside 36-gallon Rubbermaid containers with air-tight lids. The Pitmans made that change after their two-year-old chocolate lab jumped the gate confining him to the laundry room, sniffed out her son’s dirty cross country socks and promptly ate two of them. One sock came out naturally – the other had to be surgically removed. “I think we spent $1,200 on my $79.50 dog from the Humane Society,” explains Pitman. But she’s not complaining. After all, she fell in love with Grady when she spotted him at the Greenville Humane Society earlier this year. “Grady has been a great addition to our family,” she says. “There are dogs you really like, you really bond with.” Depending on how you look at it, that’s either a perk of Pitman’s job or a penalty. She’s the new executive director of the Greenville Humane Society and after spending up to 70 hours a week surrounded by those wet noses and loving eyes, she admits it’s hard not to get attached. “I’m sure I’ll have more than two dogs by the end of this,” Pitman admits. It’s her passion for animals that Pitman says makes her a good fit for this new role – that and her business savvy. “Nobody was running this place well,” Pitman admits. “A lot of people had animal and shelter skills. We really didn’t have anyone who had a business perspective or business sense. I don’t care if it’s a non-profit.You need to be looking at it like a business.” Before coming to the Humane Society, Pitman spent her entire career in the business world, working in sales, marketing and operations positions at big name-companies like Bank of America, SunTrust and Key Financial. But the banking world wasn’t giving Pitman the satisfaction she longed for. That’s where the Humane Society came in. “It was something I was absolutely passionate about,” she says. “The Humane Society truly needed a turnaround.” L Pitman says when she arrived on the scene the Humane Society was poorly run and had a bad reputation. “There was no strategy. There was no organization. There was no goal.” Now Pitman has three of them: enhance public awareness of the spay and neuter clinic, increase adoptions and raise money. She’s set up a new program that allows the Humane Society to work closely with other rescue groups in the Upstate. If the rescue groups bring 35 animals into the spay and neuter clinic each month, they become eligible for deep discounts. Last year, Pitman says the clinic completed 7,000 surgeries, 2,000 of which were for the public. She’s hoping to see a large increase in the number of surgeries done for the public. Pitman also wants to increase the number of animals being adopted, while decreasing the amount of time animals spend at the shelter. “My goal is to have the animals come into the shelter and be out of here as quick as possible and into a good home,” she explains. Pitman’s third goal, and perhaps most difficult, is to raise money. “The biggest challenge was the financial condition of the organization,” admits Pitman. Three fundraisers are in the works for this year, with the first one, “Sips and Snips,” planned for May 20 at Mary’s Restaurant. Pitman is targeting a younger demographic, something the Humane Society has never done before. The $50 admission goes to the spay and neuter clinic. In June, the Humane Society is partnering with the Greenville Drive for “Bark in the Ballpark,” a fund-raiser that allows pet owners to bring their four-legged friends to a game. Each of Pitman’s goals works toward the mission of the Humane Society: to promote and improve the quality of life and humane treatment of animals. It’s a mission Pitman admits the Humane Society may not have stuck to in the past, but it’s a mission she is committed to. Just as the dozens of cats and dogs at the shelter are looking for a second chance, Pitman says the Humane Society is looking for one, too. “This is a great place,” says Pitman. “We’re pretty proud of it. Come give us a second chance.” GM left: Kim Pitman, executive director of the Greenville Humane Society, cradles a St. Bernard/lab mix puppy in her arms. Top right: Scooter, the retriever/lab mix pawing at his cage, is currently up for adoption. may/june 2008 | Greenville maGazine 61

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Greenville Magazine - June 2008

Greenville Magazine - June 2008 Contents From the Publisher My Greenville Everyday Heroes Tackling Diversity Greenville’s Gone Global In The Lead From the Pros Anderson Suburban Sprawl Wellness The REAL State of Real Estate Something to Bark About Minority-owned Business A Look Back 1-Tank Trips Private School Resource Guide After Hours The Bulletin Around Town Viewpoints

Greenville Magazine - June 2008

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