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Pittsfield Officials Look to Ease Dog Complaints on Giovina Drive

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Sam and Dakota's reign of terror on Giovina Drive has come to an end.
 
The two, 10-pound or so Yorkshire terriers have been terrorizing the neighborhood for too long and the Animal Control Commission is now calling for it to end. The two dogs must now be leashed and attended at all times, and must be muzzled while off the property. 
 
"If they do these things, there should be no more issues with the dogs," Animal Control Commissioner Earl Persip said on Wednesday when the issue was brought to a hearing.
 
Animal Control Officer Joseph Chague said there have been at least two incidents of the dogs chasing neighbors. The first incident happened in December when one of the neighborhood's children were walking his family dog when the two pounced and attacked that dog.
 
"The dogs chased him back to his house and actually attacked his dog in the process," Chague said. 
 
Chague said it isn't known if the attacked animal suffered any injuries but that there hasn't been mention of veterinary bills or civil actions. 
 
On Jan. 13, a second, similar incident happened. The dogs were again running free and attacked somebody walking their own dogs. 
 
"Both these incidents were videotaped by owners of both these dogs," Chague said, adding that the first neighbor had instructed her son to take video if it happened because it wouldn't have been the first time. 
 
Michelle Kroboth had her dog attacked by the two dogs. She said the dogs approached her and, quickly, the male jumped at her dog. She added that the dogs are often just let outside to roam the neighborhood and even at like 4 a.m. they will be outside barking, waking the neighbors up.
 
"There is no regard for the neighborhood," she said. "They are never leashed and it is constant."
 
Chague said both incidents led to citations, both of which owners Lisa and Douglas Crocker have appealed. Chague said the first citation was upheld while the second appeal is still pending. 
 
Police Officer John Virgilio said both times he attempted to speak to the Crockers but was greeted unkindly.
 
"That conversation kind of ended with him storming back into the house and yelling at me," the officer said of his first interaction with Douglas Crocker. 
 
Virgilio said there is a dog run on the property but it is covered with snow and does not seem to be used. At the same time, there are dog prints in the front yard. He believes the Crockers are just letting the dogs out without a leash and they then take off on their own. 
 
"It is really concerning, the report that I read, especially the way the owners of the dogs acted toward a police officer," said Kevin Morandi, who chaired Wednesday's hearing.
 
The commission ultimately deemed Sam and Dakota as nuisance dogs — stopping short of deeming them dangerous dogs — and placed those orders on them. Should the family break those orders, police can issue fines and the Animal Control Commission could come back and demand further measures.

Tags: animal control,   dogs,   

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North Adams Regional Reopens With Ribbon-Cutting Celebration

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

BHS President and CEO Darlene Rodowicz welcomes the gathering to the celebration of the hospital's reopening 10 years to the day it closed. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The joyful celebration on Thursday at North Adams Regional Hospital was a far cry from the scene 10 years ago when protests and tears marked the facility's closing
 
Hospital officials, local leaders, medical staff, residents and elected officials gathered under a tent on the campus to mark the efforts over the past decade to restore NARH and cut the ribbon officially reopening the 136-year-old medical center. 
 
"This hospital under previous ownership closed its doors. It was a day that was full of tears, anger and fear in the Northern Berkshire community about where and how residents would be able to receive what should be a fundamental right for everyone — access to health care," said Darlene Rodowicz, president and CEO of Berkshire Health Systems. 
 
"Today the historic opportunity to enhance the health and wellness of Northern Berkshire community is here. And we've been waiting for this moment for 10 years. It is the key to keeping in line with our strategic plan which is to increase access and support coordinated county wide system of care." 
 
Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, under the BHS umbrella, purchased the campus and affiliated systems when Northern Berkshire Healthcare declared bankruptcy and closed on March 28, 2014. NBH had been beset by falling admissions, reductions in Medicare and Medicaid payments, and investments that had gone sour leaving it more than $30 million in debt. 
 
BMC was able to reopen the ER as an emergency satellite facility and slowly restored and enhanced medical services including outpatient surgery, imaging, dialysis, pharmacy and physician services. 
 
But it would take a slight tweak in the U.S. Health and Human Services' regulations — thank to U.S. Rep. Richie Neal — to bring back inpatient beds and resurrect North Adams Regional Hospital 
 
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