PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It's been a distressing few months at the Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter because of court cases, contracts, and battles over leadership.

 

But, every morning staff continues to open those doors, feed the dogs and cats, give them medicine, and try to find homes for the stays and surrenders. 

 

As an ugly battle amongst the board that spread down among the ranks, spilled into the courtroom, and ultimately into the public sphere, the current staff members are reaffirming their commitment to the shelter and whatever form it will take in the future.

 

"Everyone gets along. It is a lot better of a work environment than it was," said employee Devin Katzenberger.

 

"All of this has kind of brought us all together. Outside drama, gossip, and all that has made us grow closer so we can help save the animals."

 

The issues stem back to last fall as infighting started to divide the shelter. The board and employees had essentially split into factions and severe disagreements were had over the shelter's operations.

 

It came to somewhat of a head when three of the board members in November attempted to oust President Krista Wroldson-Miller and Judith Trumble from the Friends of Eleanor Sonsini board of directors.

 

Ultimately, Trumble and Wroldson-Miller filed for an injunction, and received a court order, to take back control of the shelter. That is still yet to be settled in court.

 

But, shortly after that injunction, the city opted to pull its contract to take stray animals there. With that, the Friends of Eleanor Sonsini is ordered to leave the municipal-owned building by the end of the month.

 

"Our main goal right now is to get all of our dogs adopted, try to find them their forever homes," Shelter Manager Kareena Bigelow said.

 

According to Stacey Elin Rossi, who represents Wroldson-Miller and Trumble, the Friends of Eleanor Sonsini as it exists now has found a temporary location on Crane Avenue.

 

"Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter announces that it plans to relocate to a temporary facility on Crane Avenue in Pittsfield. All the dogs belonging to Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter will be moved and operations, as usual, will continue at Crane Avenue starting sometime in the near future, probably at the beginning of May," Rossi told the Animal Control Commission last week.

 

It still isn't clear what will happen to the name: the shelter is known as the Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter while being operated by the Friends of the Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter.

 

Bigelow said the current shelter will be closing to the public on Friday, though they will still adopt dogs via appointment. The city will retain the strays under quarantine and the shelter's animals will move to the new location. From there, the new board of directors is looking for a permanent place for the future.

 

"We're starting to pack up stuff. We are keeping out the stuff we need until the end of the month. But all of the other stuff we're going to start moving out sometime this week," Bigelow said.

 

Boxes are packed and next week the staff will make the move to 875 Crane Ave. with the goal of reopening in early May. Bigelow said the new location features a wooded area for staff to take the animals, is located close to Berkshire Veterinary Hospital, and will be a good location for the time being. 

 

She expressed some concerns with what will happen with the city's stray dogs — a plan that hasn't fully been revealed to the public other than that the city's animal control officer will be in charge — but said she tries not to focus on that too much since it is out of her control.

 

The packing and ultimately moving has led the staff into taking on additional hours but they do so with full confidence that the only no-kill shelter around will continue into the future.

 

"I feel like we are already starting fresh," said employee Carrie Wilton.

 

But the drama has taken its toll. Bigelow admits that it has been difficult for staff members during these last few months. She said donations have slowed tremendously, and the public hasn't been coming in as often.

 

"It's been slow. Since the stories have come out about us, our donations have slowed down significantly. That's how we survive. That's how we care for these animals because we are non-profit. Without having that, it is making it more difficult," she said.

 

She doesn't blame the public for not coming in as large of numbers as before given the uncertainty and recent news. But, as the future of the organization becomes more clear, she hopes to leave much of what happened in the past.

 

"It is not a bad place. We are caring for the animals. And we do work well together," Bigelow said.

 

Bigelow expressed confidence in the leadership of the new board, which includes Wroldson-Miller and Trumble, which she said has been very helpful with operations.

 

While it could have been easy to walk away amidst it all, Bigelow said the staff members have become even more driven to the mission.

 

"We're doing all this for the animals, that's what it comes down to. And that's what it is supposed to be about, not outside things. We're supposed to be caring for the animals and helping them find forever homes," Bigelow said.

 

Wilton had come on board more recently and hadn't been involved in all of the leadership struggles. But for the last month, she feels like she's been wrapped in it all.

 

"All that fighting and bickering and past experiences had nothing to do with us here. We're just taking the brunt of it. It is all about the animals for us. I don't know the old manager or any of the people who used to work here," she said.

 

Despite it all, she has been involved in successful adoptions and that'll keep her coming back.

 

"Sometimes I cry when I have to say goodbye, but it is a happy cry," she said of the adoption process. "We love them."

 

Randi Rocca said she is often asked about her continued involvement at the shelter, and she provides a similar answer. 

 

"People wonder why you do it. And then you come in here, feed all of the dogs, and remember why. And when they go their forever homes, that's the rewarding part of it," Rocca said.

 

Being a no-kill shelter, often means the organization is responsible for some of the most difficult dogs because they'd be euthanized elsewhere.

 

Katzenberger said he tries to utilize all resources to help change behaviors to help the dogs become adoptable. And however the organization's leadership plays out in court and what happens with the city's contract, that's what he'll continue to do.