Sonsini Animal Shelter Celebrating Renovations
 The Sonsini Animal Shelter recently upgraded its facility, including revamping the flooring, upgrading the kennels and repainting. Adalia is two years old and needs a home. |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There's a lot of barking for joy at the Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter.
The shelter at 63 Downing Parkway recently completed a round of renovations that have given the former city garage a fresh face-lift that's making it easier to keep its occupants — animal and human — safe and happy.
Some 30 local business and individuals, including the city of Pittsfield, pitched into redo the stained concrete floor, recoat the metal kennels and install new latches, repaint the walls, and install new storage and a new dishwasher, among other changes.
"It really does take a village," laughed Krista A. Wroldson Miller, chairman of the shelter's board of directors as she ticked off the list contributions. "It's like getting a brand-new shelter."
Shelter manager Tobie Petkus agreed. "We're really thrilled," she enthused after a quick paint touchup before other guests arrived.
Sonsini held a invitation open house on Wednesday so contributors, volunteers and veterinarians could check out the changes. A public open house will be held on Saturday, Oct. 3, from noon to 5.
The biggest change was to the stained concrete floor. The porous surface was difficult to clean, took hours to dry and unsightly. The new light blue-gray epoxy surface throughout the shelter makes cleanup easier and looks better.
The "Real Life Room," donated by Allen Harris and Stacey Carver of Berkshire Money Management, has been freshened and lightened up, creating a more welcoming environment for prospective pet parents to interact with their chosen cat or dog.
The shelter does its best to match the right pet to the appropriate family. "We try to find the best home," said animal care manager Danielle LaPointe.
The walls are decorated with photographer Martha Pope's images of past Sonsini residents and the former purple trim has been toned down to a more neutral color. Supplies are now stashed away in two large metal cabinets.
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Outside, fencing has been repaired or replaced. And a shed is ready for chickens next spring to help keep ticks at bay.
"We're going to try it," Wroldson Miller said. "There are other shelters that have used them."
The no-kill municipal shelter sees some 300 dogs and 450 cats come through its doors on average each year. This week, there's a handful of dogs and a larger number of cats, including nearly 20 frisky kittens, seeking forever homes.
Sonsini also has a large base of volunteers, but about two dozen make up a dedicated corps that are regularly at the shelter.
One of those volunteers, Nancy Racine of Adams, will be honored at Saturday's open house for her efforts.
"She walks the big dogs and scrubs the toilets — she does everything, " said Petkus. "She's done an awful lot for us."
The shelter's dependent on getting donations to keep its doors open. Disaster struck in when the dryer, dishwasher and vehicle all quit at the same time.
"It is a mixture of patience, love, determination and community support that fuels Sonsini," Perkins wrote in its August newsletter.
It's that community support that resulted in the recent renovations that will make things a little easier at the shelter.
"It's going to streamline the processes," said Wroldson Miller. "It's going to save us more time for the animals.
"That's how it should be."
Supporting the renovations: Berkshire Custom Coating, Berkshire Fabric and Wallpaper, Berkshire County House of Correction, Berkshire House Hunters, Berkshire County Realtors Association, Berkshire Rooter, BJ's Warehouse, Canine Connection, International Automotive Parts, Josh Capitanio, Antonio Castagna, Central Radio, City of Pittsfield, Classical Tents, Dresser Hull, East Coast Refinishing, Elite Crete New England, New England Fence, McDonalds, Ray Roberts Reclamation, Repro Systems, Samara Logic, Shaggy Dog Photography and Martha Pope, Stockbridge Stone, Target, Turner Automotive and Weider Mechanical.
Tags: animal shelter, pets,
