Defendants in Cat-Abandonment Case Plead Not Guilty

Arthur W. Raney told police that he had helped Hathaway because he felt bad she was facing eviction for having the cats, according to the police report. He also had a not-guilty plea entered on his behalf. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Two city residents had non-guilty pleas entered on their behalf in Pittsfield District Court on Friday for the alleged abandonment of 15 cats on the eve of a snowstorm in January.

Defendants Kelly Hathaway and Arthur W. Raney are both facing 15 counts of animal cruelty and have a pre-trial hearing scheduled for May 9.  

During the arraignment, Hathaway agreed to a condition that she will not own any animals as of March 25 and Raney agreed that he will not own any animals.

On the weekend of Jan. 28, more than a dozen cats were found on back roads in Richmond and Lanesborough. Over the next few days, rescuers, Good Samaritans, and first responders worked to capture the cats and bring them to the Berkshire Humane Society.

Unfortunately, two of the cats died and one remains missing.

The incident was investigated by an animal cruelty investigator with the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals with the help of police and animal control officers in Lanesborough and the Berkshire Humane Society.

The probable cause report states that temperatures ranged from about minus-6 to 28 degrees on this weekend and that the cats from Richmond had bloody diarrhea, most felt underweight, and all were mildly dehydrated.

"Not only did Hathaway and Raney abandon the cats in violation of General Laws, they did so in a severe weather event rapidly developed with extreme cold, wind, and snow," the police report reads.

"Two cats died and one remains missing. Without the quick response of animal welfare groups, concerned citizens, and public safety agencies, all of the cats likely would have suffered and could have died due to lack of proper shelter, protection from the weather, food, and drink."

During the investigation, Hathaway admitted that she owned 15 cats and was responsible for abandoning all of them in Lanesborough and Richmond, the report states, and Raney also admitted to his involvement in knowingly driving Hathaway to the two locations to do so.

On Monday, Jan. 31, a Lanesborough resident reported to the police that Hathaway had come to her on Friday morning with Raney asking if she would take in her 15 cats.

She said Hathaway later told her that five of the cats went to a shelter in New York and the others were split between two people and was evasive when asked the name of the shelter.

Police also obtained video surveillance in Richmond that showed a car similar in color and size to one that Raney has registered under his name traveling around the area where the cats were found by good samaritan Joshua Christman close to the same time.

After the incident, the Humane Society offered a $1,000 reward for information that would lead to the identification and conviction of the perpetrators.

A press conference was held in early March to announce the identification of two suspects.

Deputy Chief Richard LaBlond of the law enforcement division of the MSPCA reported that Hathaway and Raney are facing 15 counts of felony cruelty, fines of up to $5,000, and time in jail or prison per each charge.

He also pointed to the work of the public, Lanesborough and State Police investigating and aiding in identifying the suspects.

Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. 

 

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

 

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

 

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature." 

 

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures. 

 

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis. 

 

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.