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The family of the late Dr. John C. Reynolds have donated $500,000 as a matching gift for the Berkshire Humane Society's campaign drive to expand its animal shelter on Barker Road.
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A rendering of the shelter with its new name.

Humane Society Shelter to Be Named for Late Veterinarian Dr. Reynolds

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Humane Society will rename its animal shelter the Dr. John C. Reynolds Adoption and Education Center in honor of the late veterinarian. 
 
Dr. Reynolds died last December in a kayaking accident but his family announced on Tuesday that it will gift the shelter $500,000 in response its "Forever Family" fundraising campaign with a challenge to the community to match this amount. 
 
The $1 million raised will secure rights to name the animal shelter at 214 Barker Road.
 
"We were blessed to know Dr. Reynolds as a veterinarian, Berkshire Humane Society Board of Directors member and a friend," said Executive Director John Perreault. "His death was a shock to us and to many people in the community. We miss him and are grateful to Dr. Reynolds' family for honoring him in such a meaningful way while providing the opportunity for others to do so as well."
 
Dr. Reynolds was closely associated with Berkshire Humane Society since he established Pittsfield Veterinary Hospital in 1996. He became a member of the society's board of directors in 2012 and four years later was named Berkshire Humane Society Volunteer of the Year.
 
"Having this shelter named after Dr. Reynolds would have meant the world to him," Perreault said. "It will carry on his significant legacy for many years to come."
 
Each donation to the Dr. John C. Reynolds Adoption and Education Center will be matched, dollar for dollar, doubling each gift's impact.
 
The Forever Family Campaign seeks to raise a total of $3.5 million to secure a better future for homeless animals and pet lovers in and around Berkshire County. The campaign is accepting donations to create a strong endowment, expand and update the 22-year-old animal shelter at 214 Barker Road and invest in programs to save pet lives.
 
More information on how to contribute to the Dr. John C. Reynolds Adoption and Education Center fund can be found here. 

Tags: Berkshire Humane Society,   donations,   veterinarian,   

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Possible Measles Exposure at Boston, Logan

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday that an out-of-state adult visitor who spent time in Boston and Westborough earlier this month was diagnosed with measles and was present in a number of locations.
 
This could have resulted in other people being exposed to measles virus.
 
The visitor arrived at Logan International Airport on American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 11 at 2:39 p.m. They stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston-Westborough in Westborough and departed the state on Dec. 12 via Logan at 9:19 p.m. on JetBlue flight 117 to Las Vegas.
 
DPH is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local partners to identify and notify those who may have been exposed to measles from this individual.
 
"Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease, which has increased significantly in the United States because of the unfortunate decrease in vaccination rates. It is also a preventable disease," said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein. "This current situation serves as an important reminder of the critical role vaccination plays in protecting our communities. While Massachusetts has not had a measles case this year, 2025 saw the highest number of nationwide cases in more than a decade — nearly 2,000 in 44 jurisdictions, and sadly, three deaths. 
 
"Fifteen years ago, measles had been considered eliminated in the United States, but that tremendous progress is at risk. Vaccines are one of the most important public health interventions ever — they are safe, effective, and lifesaving."
 
Measles is very contagious. However, the risk to most people in Massachusetts is low because the vaccination rate in the state is high. People who are not immune and visited any of the locations on the following dates and times may be at risk for developing measles.
 
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