Berkshire Humane Society’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, that’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 “colony room†rather than individual cages, and dogs too. Conditions, Perreault said, will be better for everyone: animals, adopters and staff.
The current facility — the basement of a barn — 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 doesn’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 he’s certain they’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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Letter: Worked With Both, Voting One
Letter to the Editor
To the Editor:
The question of experience comes up during elections. At nearly 80, John Barrett III unquestionably has more years with nearly half a century as a career politician, but longevity does not guarantee stronger leadership or better outcomes, especially if we are looking forward to 10 years. Andrew Fitch who has worked non-political jobs across a wider range of roles in half that time, can bring broader skills, fresh perspectives, and a more adaptable approach to public service.
Election results show that years served do not define effectiveness or one would have the people's support. The majority, 60 percent, voted against Barrett in this same state primary nine years ago. Longevity matters, but so do community connection, collaboration, and the ability to evolve with changing needs. Serving as a state representative is very different from being a mayor. A representative is one of 160 members, not a singular executive authority, and the role requires coalition building, negotiation, and networking which has never been one of Barrett's finest attributes.
Long-standing community priorities require consistent advocacy, such as completing the North Adams bike path connection to Adams and Williamstown. Former state Rep. Gail Cariddi championed this project, and Barrett said he would finish her work when he first ran, yet North Adams is no further along. In contrast, Fitch on the City Council is respectful but persistent, pushing issues until answers, progress, and resolutions emerge.
We need someone who works well with others, not someone who relies on intimidation or positional authority. A heavy-handed style doesn't work in a large legislative body, with members averaging 30 years younger than Barrett. Small wins may look like progress, but the state distributes billions of which some reaches us no matter who holds the seat. The real question is whether we could secure more funding for roads, infrastructure, public safety, and economic development, or is the status quo of what we received the past 10 years acceptable to you?
Having served alongside both candidates on the council, I've seen how their styles shape outcomes. While one on council struggled to gain support for anything because their authoritarian approach created conflict, the other has consistently moved ideas forward through collaboration and shared credit.
That contrast may explain why Fitch consecutively lands first for City Council elections, and Barrett — despite his years as mayor before losing two elections — finished sixth. For me, the choice is straightforward: Andrew Fitch for State Representative.
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