Pet shelter chief follows his heart

The passion for animals radiates from Jim Bush's office, nestled in the back of the Charleston Animal Society. The room is filled with posters of animals, framed photos of his dogs, a jar of dog biscuits and even a giant red fire hydrant.

As he walks through the facility and passes cages filled with cats of every size and dogs of every breed, he frequently reaches in to give them a friendly pat and a smile, treats these animals rarely receive.

Bush has been executive director of the animal society for just five months, but he has been involved in the nonprofit world since his days as a young boy spending afternoons at the YMCA.

Bush spent his childhood in Virginia Beach, Va. His mother, Jinx, raised him by herself after his father was killed in the Vietnam War when he was almost 2 years old.

"I was very blessed with a good child. He was always helping everybody," said Jinx Bush. "We had a few elderly friends, and he was always cutting their grass and doing things for them."

Animals were a large part of Bush's childhood. Jinx Bush said her son always had a natural love for animals, and their home was full of dogs and other not-so-traditional pets, such as hogs, ducks and chickens.

Passion for participating

In high school, Bush dabbled in sports but realized he was more interested in clubs and academics. He joined the debate team and French club and was voted class and student body president.

After his high school graduation in 1986, he attended Elon (N.C.) University, where he majored in political science and public administration and minored in English and French.

"I decided to stay an extra semester to finish up my studies because I fell in love with my English and French professors, so I had to stay to do more work with them," said Bush.

When he finished in December 1990, he stayed at Elon to become the assistant director of alumni relations and started the young alumni relations program.

After three years, he moved on to the YMCA to become a membership director.

"I grew up with the YMCA. I learned character at the Y and played sports at the Y and did after school at the Y. It was such an instrumental part of my life, and I found out I could have a career with them," said Bush.

While he was working for the YMCA in Rocky Mount, N.C., Bush's devotion for animals became evident. One night during a snowstorm, Bush received a phone call from a friend alerting him that there was an abandoned golden retriever in a county shelter. If he wasn't rescued that night, he would be put down. Bush rushed to the shelter to save the dog, which was found with a chain imbedded in his neck and needing urgent medical attention.

"That was when I knew I was head over heels for animals and taking care of them," said Bush.

The golden retriever, whom Bush named Sulli, stayed with him until Hurricane Floyd hit Rocky Mount in 1999, causing the river near his home to flood and leaving 12 feet of water inside. Bush was forced to live in the YMCA where he worked, so he gave Sulli to his mother, who raised him for the rest of his life.

Bush's career at the Y eventually brought him to Charleston in 2000 to start the YMCA in Mount Pleasant.

This task proved to be surprisingly challenging. Bush felt the community didn't embrace the YMCA, which he had never experienced before. He said it has taken a long time to take hold.

After two years, Bush was looking for a change when Blackbaud, which makes software for nonprofits, came calling, looking for someone to train and consult with clients. Bush had years of experience with Blackbaud software because the YMCA was a client, so he accepted the job.

He planned to stay only a year, but the thrill of traveling throughout North America and Europe took over. So instead of leaving after a year, he changed positions to sales and marketing.

'A chance of a lifetime'

After almost seven years with Blackbaud, an opportunity presented itself to Bush that he couldn't pass up. He was working on a project with the Charleston Animal Society when the president of the board informed him that the executive director was retiring and there was an opening.

"I loved what I did at Blackbaud and I built so many relationships internally and with clients all over the country, but this was a chance of a lifetime," said Bush.

Bush's involvement in the animal society dates back to the day after he moved to Charleston nine years ago. Looking for something to do to relieve his stress, he called up the pet shelter for volunteer opportunities and immediately started walking dogs in his spare time. He went on to become the master of ceremonies at several Paws in the Park events.

Now as the executive director, Bush manages a staff of 55, the $3 million budget, and strategic operations for the shelter.

"Everyone brings in their own strength. What's different about me is that I grew up in the nonprofit world. I have either worked for a nonprofit or I've worked with a nonprofit directly. I've done nothing else," said Bush.

In 1999, Bush received a Duke University certificate in nonprofit management.

Tough decisions

The animal society takes in 12,000 animals a year and adopts out 45 percent, but Bush hopes to eventually raise that number to 75 percent. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen overnight.

"It's hard and depressing every single day. With the summer now, we are taking in animals like crazy, accepting dozens of animals each day. It is really difficult making really tough decisions over which animals can be saved and which animals can't," said Bush. "The reality is we get a lot of animals that can't be adopted. They either aren't healthy or they are too aggressive."

Bush foresees the animal society growing by adding more programs and outreach to other groups. He hopes to raise awareness by traveling throughout the community and speaking about issues concerning animal welfare.

One of his top priorities is promoting spaying and neutering. He said there are consequences when pet owners don't spay or neuter their animals, and those consequences for the shelter mean lives.

"Mom says, 'You have to be someone who gets involved because if you don't fix it, who will? And if you don't get involved who will?' " said Bush. "I was taught that from the earliest age and still continue following that every day."

ABOUT JIM

BORN: 1968 in Virginia Beach, Va.

RESIDENCE: North Charleston.

OCCUPATION: Executive director of the Charleston Animal Society.

FAMILY: Mother, Jinx Bush.

EDUCATION: Bachelor's in political science and public administration, Elon University; certificate in nonprofit management, Duke University.

HOBBIES: Cooking, traveling, watching comedy television shows and movies.

PETS: Gus, a Great Dane-hound mix.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS: First person in my family to graduate from college; two-time pancreatic cancer survivor; becoming the executive director of the Charleston Animal Society.

TALENTS: Speaking to groups and presenting; I think I am a great singer but I'm the only person in the world who does.

WHAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT ME: I'm actually a pretty shy person. I'm really good at being outgoing but I have a difficult time going up to someone and talking one-on-one with them.

WHO I LOOK UP TO: My mom. She has overcome so many obstacles in her life and she has taught me to never give up.

FAVORITE NONPROFIT TO SUPPORT: YMCA; Relay for Life; ASPCA.