June is Adopt a Shelter Cat Month

08:00AM / Thursday, June 06, 2024Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — In celebration of Adopt a Shelter Cat Month, everyone who adopts a cat or kitten at Berkshire Humane Society in June will receive a door prize and a chance to win a cat-themed prize package.

Also, microchips for cats will be only $15 for the month by appointment at Berkshire Humane Society locations in Pittsfield: the Dr. John Reynolds Adoption and Education Center at 214 Barker Road (413-447-7878) and Wellness Clinic at 289 Dalton Avenue (413-203-4330).

"Cat adoptions were up this past year," said John Perreault, Berkshire Humane Society's Executive Director. "With two months to go in our fiscal year, we had already adopted out 86 more cats than the previous year," he said. The trend seems to be nationwide as observed by Perreault at a recent conference of animal welfare professionals across the country.

The shelter is also beginning to see litters of kittens come in. Because of increased demand for cats and kittens, Perreault advises prospective cat adopters to call the feline department at 413-447-7878, extension 124 and stop by the shelter frequently as many cats and kittens are adopted before they are posted on BerkshireHumane.org, the Society's website.

"We have cats coming in every week," said Perreault. "If you don't see one you want, keep checking, more are on the way."

Adopt-a-Cat month was first observed in 1975 by American Humane, an organization promoting the welfare and safety of animals and strengthening the bond between animals and people.

Tags: Berkshire Humane Society,

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

RIBCO Supply

Check out our great lineup of Boss Plows, and spreaders. 2 Locations Clarksburg & Pittsfield!

ribcosupply.com

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Berkshire Towns Can Tap State Seasonal Communities Resources

10:54AM / Monday, December 29, 2025

BOSTON — Governor Maura Healey announced that 18 additional municipalities across Massachusetts have been designated as Seasonal Communities, opening up new tools, support and grant funding to help them manage seasonal housing pressures.

Created as part of the historic Affordable Homes Act signed into law by Governor Healey in 2024, the Seasonal Communities designation was designed to recognize Massachusetts communities that experience substantial variation in seasonal employment and to create distinctive tools to address their unique housing needs. The law also established the Seasonal Communities Advisory Council (SCAC).

The Affordable Homes Act identified several communities to automatically receive the designation, including:

All municipalities in the counties of Dukes and Nantucket;
All municipalities with over 35 percent seasonal housing units in Barnstable County; and
All municipalities with more than 40 percent seasonal housing units in Berkshire County.

To identify additional communities, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (HLC) reviewed available data, specifically focusing on cities and towns with high levels of short-term rentals and a high share of second- or vacation homes.

In Berkshire County, Egremont, Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, New Marlborough, Richmond, Sandisfield, Sheffield, West Stockbridge and Williamstown have been designated.

"Our seasonal communities are a vital part of Massachusetts' cultural and economic fabric, but they're also home to essential workers, families, seniors, and longtime residents who deserve a place to live year-round," said Governor Healey. "That's why we're committed to supporting these communities with innovative solutions like the Seasonal Communities designation to meet their unique needs, and I'm thrilled that we're offering this opportunity to 18 additional communities across the state. Everyone who calls these places home should be able to live, work and grow here, no matter the season."

As with the statutorily identified communities, acceptance of the designation for municipalities is voluntary and requires a local legislative vote. HLC will open an application for newly eligible communities that haven't accepted the Seasonal Communities designation to request consideration.

The Affordable Homes Act created several new tools for communities who accept the Seasonal Communities designation to be able to:

Acquire deed restrictions to create or preserve year-round housing
Develop housing with a preference for municipal workers, so that our public safety personnel, teachers, public works and town hall workers have a place to live
Establish a Year-Round Housing Trust Fund to create and preserve affordable and attainable housing for year-round residents
Create year-round housing for artists
Allow seasonal communities to develop a comprehensive housing needs assessment
Permit tiny homes to be built and used as year-round housing
Permit year-round, attainable residential development on undersized lots
Increase the property tax exemption for homes that are the owners' primary residence