Hawaiian Humane Society
Newsletter People for animals. Animals for people.
December 2017 - February 2018
Celebrating the life and legacy of Pamela Burns Honolulu’s animals and their people suffered a tremendous loss with Pam Burns’ passing on September 18, 2017. Pam’s never-ending drive to create a more compassionate society was obvious throughout her 27 years as president and CEO of the Hawaiian Humane Society. Known for her energy, intelligence, sharp wit and integrity, Pam died peacefully at home following a brief illness, with her dog, three cats and husband by her side. The youngest of four children, Pam was born in Hilo and moved to Waipahu when she was young. It was there that she developed her lifelong love and caring for all animals. Pam attended high school and college on the mainland but it was always her intention to return to her beloved home…Hawaii. The Hawaiian Humane Society’s slogan “people for animals, animals
for people” was an expression of Pam’s belief that both people and animals should be given mutual respect and protection. Pam firmly believed that legislation, community education and outreach were key factors in creating positive change in animal welfare and she remained steadfast in her support of the Society’s grassroots approach to strengthen the “human-animal bond.” During her tenure as president & CEO, Pam transformed the Society from an organization with just 35 employees to one that’s a nationally recognized leader in animal welfare with about 80 dedicated staff. With her guidance and vision, the Society’s Moiliili campus underwent several renovations to not only enhance the level of care given to the animals but also make the campus a more welcoming and
accessible place for the community. She launched mandatory spay/neuter surgeries for all cats and dogs offered for adoption and was the driving force behind establishing many of the more than 30 programs now offered to the community. She was also essential to the passing and amending of many state and city animal-related laws that resulted in bettering the lives of Hawaii’s animals and their people, including the establishment of the cat identification law, the addition of a felony first-degree charge for cruelty to animals and the protection of pets involved in cases of domestic violence. Over the years, Pam witnessed the numbers of Free-Roaming cats, both owned and unowned, grow exponentially island wide and she continued on page 2