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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, August 19, 2002

Maui Humane Society director quits

Associated Press

KIHEI, Maui — Saying he hasn't been able to generate the kind of financial support he would like, the executive director of the Maui Humane Society has resigned.

Keith Pocock's last day will be Wednesday.

"I think you need to be a real salesman," Pocock said. "For me that's been very difficult. I haven't been able to produce. It's just not me."

Adrienne Caron, who was Pocock's executive assistant, will serve as interim director while the society searches for a permanent replacement.

Carolyn Pavloff, the Humane Society's board president, said she was saddened to see Pocock leave.

"He's been a very positive force with the Humane Society," Pavloff said. "We don't want him to leave." Pavloff said she believes Pocock has done an "excellent job" at the Humane Society and that the responsibility of raising money for the nonprofit agency cannot be carried out by just one person.

"It's everybody's responsibility," Pavloff said.

The Maui Humane Society operated this past fiscal year on a budget of $1.5 million. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, the agency's budget will be $1.7 million, but Pocock said that's still not enough to meet the society's needs.

The agency fell short at its biggest fund-raiser of the year in June, garnering $23,000, half of what it netted the year before.

Pocock said donations have been affected both by the economic downturn that followed Sept. 11 and negative public reaction to the $48,000 rescue effort by the Hawaiian Humane Society on O'ahu of a dog stranded at sea.