New Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA President and CEO Julie Bank still keeps a portrait on her desk of the man who inspired her to begin a career in animal welfare.
The Brooklyn-born Bank was a college student in her early 20s when an ASPCA mobile pet adoption unit pulled up in front of the Manhattan store where she was working.
“I went out to play with the animals,” she said. “The driver of the truck knew that I was clearly someone who loved animals so he kind of shoved a volunteer application in my hand.”
Bank said the man, whose name was Paul, has since passed, but “it reminds me that the power of one person’s motivation can make a difference on somebody.”
She said she had no idea the world of animal welfare existed.
“It was actually a magical moment,” Bank said. “I was always that kid who loved animals, but all I thought that you could do was be a veterinarian or work in a zoo. Nobody told me that there was a whole other world of things that you could do.”
Bank started on Aug. 1 at the Pasadena animal shelter that handles approximately 12,000 animals per year. It is home to dogs, cats, reptiles, wildlife and critters. PHS employs 111 people and has a database of approximately 600 volunteers.
“It’s been a really exciting time,” she said. “I’ve known of the Pasadena Humane Society for a very long time. To now be part of the team and to be able to work with the great staff and volunteers here and to continue to make a difference in the lives of animals and people, there’s nothing better than that. I think I have the best job in the world.”
Bank said she’s been meeting people, listening and learning during the first month of her new position.
She was selected by the Pasadena Humane Society Board of Directors after a national search to replace retiring Pasadena Humane Society President & CEO Steve McNall.
“We are honored to have someone with the pedigree and leadership acumen of Ms. Bank to lead us into the future,” said Carol Kirby, Pasadena Humane Society’s board chairwoman. “Her unwavering commitment to putting animals first, even in the midst of challenging circumstances, was what resonated most with us.”
Prior to taking the job at PHS, Bank was superintendent of Oklahoma City Animal Welfare for three years. She also previously oversaw New York City’s Animal Control Program for several years. She has worked in California before at North County Humane Society in Oceanside for a little more than four years.
“I oversaw a merger between that organization and the San Diego Humane Society,” Bank said.
Bank also spent nine years in Arizona working for both the Arizona Humane Society and Maricopa County Animal Care & Control.
She spent a decade at ASPCA, or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
“I ultimately became the director of education there,” she said. “I was very lucky to travel all across the United States and internationally to help other animal organizations.”
Bank said every community that she’s worked in has been unique and faced its own challenges.
“I feel very lucky that I’ve been able to work in governmental organizations and private organizations, larger and smaller, as well as national organizations,” she said. “Coming here, we’re such a unique organization that we do both animal control and animal welfare functions, I really feel like it’s brought me to a head.”
Bank said she takes her position as a leader very seriously.
“I’m a mentor to not only the staff for their future career goals, but to anybody who loves animals and wants to know what they can do to make a difference,” she said.
Bank said the ultimate goal of the humane society is to keep pets in homes and not have them end up in animal shelters.
“Homelessness, abandonment and animal cruelty are things that we see every single day,” Bank said. “If we can provide opportunities to help people do the right thing and make sure they have the tools to help support them in caring for these animals, then the animal doesn’t have to come into our building. We don’t have to worry about finding them a new home, or unfortunately, not finding them a new home.”
She said some great programs offered by PHS include the low-cost spay/neuter service, low-cost vaccine clinics and mobile events.
“We really make an effort to keep these animals in homes and to prevent homelessness in the first place,” Bank said.
She said she thinks of PHS as not only an animal welfare organization, but a human service organization.
“We deal with the exact same issues that human services deals with everyday,” Bank said. “We’re seeing things like people who lost their homes, people who lost their jobs and people who don’t have enough money to support their animal. The animals are dealing with the same thing. That’s why we spend so much time looking at the reasons for owner turn-in and trying to find solutions for it.”
She gave an example of a way to avoid an animal surrender which is to refer pet owners to the PHS Behavior Hotline to help with pet behavior problems.
Bank would like the community to know that her door in always open for suggestions and concerns.
“I want to be accessible to people,” she said. “If anyone has an idea or wants to get involved, or has a question, they can feel free to contact me at the Pasadena Humane Society.”
Bank will be at the PHS Wiggle Waggle Walk on Sunday, Sept. 25 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Brookside Park.
“You don’t have to have a dog to walk,” Bank said. “You could just come out and enjoy the booths and festivities.”
She’s inviting people to join or support her team, ‘Julie’s PHS Fur-tastics,’ at www.wigglewagglewalk.org.
Bank lives in Monrovia with her 8-year-old son, Stefin, and significant other, Tom Redd.
PHS serves the cities of Pasadena, San Marino, Arcadia, Bradbury, Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, Monrovia, Sierra Madre and South Pasadena.
For more information on its programs or to adopt/foster an animal, visit www.pasadenahumane.org or call 626-792-7151.
