These members of three different communities at The Cliffs get a big paws-up for their work with animals
When Bill and Judi Coker, members at The Cliffs Valley, paid their first visit to the Greenville Humane Society (GHS) in 2010, seeing all the homeless animals tugged at their heartstrings. “You can’t rescue them all,” thought Bill at the time, “but you can maybe help them all.” In that spirit, the couple, both avid golfers and animal lovers, established the first Greenville Humane Society Golf Benefit.
This will be the 15th consecutive year of the tournament, which has raised a total of over $70,000 to date to help feed and care for the no-kill shelter’s animals. For the tournament’s 10-year milestone, Kim Pitman, executive director of GHS at the time, had a plaque made to honor the generosity of The Cliffs Valley community. It sits on the bridge that connects the Humane Society’s parking lot to their new medical facility, where, Bill says, “it’s a wonderful recognition for the members of The Cliffs Valley and the big hearts they have.”
The couple’s connection to GHS further changed their lives in 2012. One day, after running errands in Greenville, Bill joined Judi at the Humane Society. Inside, he found his wife sitting on a bench with a 4-year-old bluetick coonhound on her lap. “I looked at [the dog] and said the same thing to myself that I said when I first saw Judi: ‘She’s the one.’” Their beloved Maggie is now 16 years old.
Wendy Zacchio, a member at The Cliffs at Keowee Springs, began working with the Pickens County Humane Society in Liberty five years ago. Despite having a full-time job, she became more and more involved, until the small no-kill shelter asked her to join its board in early 2024.
“My goal is to raise awareness for the Humane Society [which receives no government funding]. The driver is: What could The Cliffs communities be doing to make a difference in these animals’ lives?” says Zacchio, who also volunteers at the shelter at least two weekends a month and helped PCHS create Roxie’s Thrifty Paws pet supply store in downtown Pickens earlier this year. “These dogs are so happy to see you when you come in. It warms my heart, and it’s heartbreaking at the same time because I wish I could just wave a wand, and they’d all have homes.”
The Zacchios recently lost their older dog, who’s survived by a young Airedale named Ruby. Though they’re not yet ready to adopt another dog, they’re keeping an eye out at the Humane Society for a pup who might like to make the Zacchio’s house its home.
Just as humans help dogs, canines can return the favor, as Betty Vandeputte–a member at The Cliffs at Keowee Falls–will tell you. She makes 14 to 20 visits a year to schools and libraries in the area around her community with her two mini-labradoodles. Both certified therapy dogs, Bailey and M.B. went through extensive training to qualify for this work. Bailey loves working with little children who are struggling with reading, while M.B. excels at calming college students during exam periods.
“I especially enjoy working with the kids,” Vandeputte says. “You never know what’s going to happen next.” During the school sessions, the dogs sit quietly while the children read to them. “One little boy was funny—he said to me, ‘Miss Betty, Bailey can’t see the book,’ so he snuggled up right next to Bailey and faced the book in Bailey’s direction.”
Vandeputte has observed that the animals help break down the children’s defenses. “It’s rewarding seeing the kids forming a bond with the dogs,” she says. “The stress relief the kids get from having the dogs there helps them to relax and feel free to talk about [whatever is on their minds].”
This story was featured in Cliffs Living magazine. To see more stories like this one and learn more about The Cliffs, subscribe here.