Berkshire Humane society breaks ground on Barker Road

12:00AM / Thursday, November 01, 2001Print Story | Email Story

Berkshire Humane Societyâ€™s John Perreault has as many stories to tell as animals that have come through his Cadwell Road doors in the past nine years. At 2,500 or so per year, thatâ€™s a lot of stories. But the big news for Berkshire Humane and for the thousands of cats and dogs they help, is that their new state of the art facility on Barker Road just broke ground Tuesday. That means there will be no more floods in the shelter when it rains a lot and no more sharing one sink both to wash dogs and do dishes. It also means, when the 25,000-square-foot facility is up and running, that some of the cats will stay in a â€œcolony roomâ€ rather than individual cages, and dogs too. Conditions, Perreault said, will be better for everyone: animals, adopters and staff. The current facility â€” the basement of a barn â€” has been a shelter since 1963. Prior to that and since 1936, the ASPCA ran the shelter in Cheshire. Berkshire Humane took over the running of this shelter in 1993, one year after they formed. The current usable space on Cadwell Road is much too small, says Perreault. Increasing their space will allow them to triple the animals they help. Berkshire Humane Society doesnâ€™t turn animals away, which means they also take strays. The adoption program is the most visible part of its work, along with spaying and neutering services. But they also have an emergency food bank which Perreault says allows owners to keep a pet during a tough financial period, when he might otherwise have to give it up. They provide funds for spaying and neutering at various times of the year, and they make 140 annual trips to Berkshire classrooms to educate kids about caring for pets. Behavior classes at the shelter are offered, and such events as a Pit Bull conference are offered as well. Funding for the shelter comes from donations and contributions. So far the Society has raised $1 million of the needed $4 million. As they build they will raise money. Perreault says the campaign has slowed a bit since Sept. 11, but heâ€™s certain theyâ€™ll meet their goal. The new shelter will also have larger cages for animals, making conditions for humane, says Perreault. Instead of the 18-inch-wide cage for a cat, a cat cage will be three feet. Some cages will join to others, allowing cat families to mingle; some cages will be dividable, allowing staff to clean half without taking the animal out to do it. Adopting families will be able to view the animals in a living room type situation, behind a window, making the situation less stressful for animals and more pleasant for people too, he said. Perreault says that due to the efforts of the Humane Society their numbers are down for dogs, but not so for cats. Of the 1,800 cats that came to their facility last year, 40 percent were strays. Not enough people are caring for animals and not enough pet owners are spaying and neutering, he said. Recently he was asked to come to the house of a group of people who started with three unneutered cats. After three years they had 53. Older pets are often given up for adoption after a family crisis. Perreault said divorce and death are common reasons that mature pets end up at Berkshire Humane's shelter. He recently placed a 12-year-old Scottish terrier after its owner had died.

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Weekend Outlook: Mount Greylock, Shakespeare Day

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
12:22PM / Thursday, May 21, 2026

Check out the events happening this weekend including birding, theater, and more to welcome the warmer weather.

Here is a list of Memorial Day events happening around the county.

Editor's Picks

Mount Greylock Summit Opening Day
Mount Greylock, Adams

Welcome the warm weather on the state's highest peak. Bascom Lodge opens Saturday at 10 a.m. A live raptor demonstration is at noon on Saturday; beekeeping presentation from 11 to 2 and presentation on the Greylock Glen at 5:30 on Sunday.

The War Memorial will also be open. Tours and a presentation on the "Tower of Remembrance" will be held on Sunday and Monday at 1 and 2 p.m. Meet at the bronze map.

More information here.

Shakespeare & Company Community Day
70 Kemble St., Lenox
Time: Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event features live demonstrations and performances, scavenger hunts, film screenings, food trucks, and dozens of other local nonprofits sharing the ways they serve the Berkshires — and beyond.

More information here.

Friday

Wine and Warblers
Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Lenox
Time: 5 to 7 p.m.

Enjoy a glass of wine and look for migratory birds like warblers, orioles, and other spring arrivals.

Tickets: $35 for members, $42 for nonmembers.

More information here.

Ronnie's Harley-Davidson Bike Night
Ronnie's Cycles, Pittsfield
Time: 5 to 8 p.m.

Ronnie's Cycles celebrates its 70th year with vendors, drinks, food, music, and more. Bring your bike to show off against others.

More information here.

Friday Karaoke
Dalton American Legion
Time: 6 p.m.

More information here.

Common Craft Night
165 East Main St., North Adams
Time: 6 to 8 p.m.

Bring a craft you have been working on and join others to socialize.

More information here.

Saturday

Community Bike Ride
886 Crane Ave., Pittsfield
Time: 10 to noon

Take a bike ride with others in your community. Come earlier and decorate your bike and complete a bike safety check. This is open to ages 5 and up.

More information here.

Radical Reptile Series
Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield
Time: 10:30 to 11:45 a.m.

Second of a three-part series on reptiles and amphibians introduced by The Reptile Nook. This Saturday will focus on the world of lizards, and next Saturday on snakes.

More information here.

Pine Cobble Annual Plant Sale
Pine Copple School, Williamstown
Time: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The school's annual fundraiser features perennials, annuals and houseplants. Donations accepted.

More information here.

Mayfest

Downtown Bennington, Vt.

Time: 10 to 5

The 39th annual arts and crafts festival with more than 100 vendors. Free and family friendly with live performances, food trucks and local restaurant and downtown business specials. Held on Main and School streets.

More information here.

Sunday

Introduction to Bird Watching
Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Lenox
Time: 9 to 11 a.m.

Interested in learning about the birds and trying to catch a glimpse of all the different types? Join Mass Audubon and practice birding. Bring your own binoculars, some loaners available.

More information and register here.

Farmer's Markets

Great Barrington Farmers Market

18 Church St.

Saturday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The market is open every Saturday. Every week, locally grown food, flowers, and plants will be available, along with other local vendors. The market accepts and offers doubling SNAP, HIP, WIC, and Senior market coupons. More information is here.

Lee Farmers Market
The Town Park
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The market offers locally grown produce, prepared foods, locally created arts and crafts, and herbal products. YogaLee offers free community yoga from 9:30 to 10:30 on the first Saturday of each month.

The market accepts SNAP, HIP, Senior Coupons, and WIC Coupons and also offers Market Match. More information here.

Lenox Farmers Market
St. Ann's Church
Fridays: 11 to 3.

This market is open every Friday through Sept. 12 and features fresh produce, pastries, cheeses, and more.

More information here.

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