Sonsini Shelter Moving to Former Berkshire Dogs Unleashed

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — After about four years in a temporary shelter on Crane Avenue, the Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter is moving to just over the Lenox border.

Lee Kohlenberger, owner of the recently shuttered Berkshire Dogs Unleashed, will be serving as the interim manager for the transition after stepping down from the shelter's board of directors.

"When we lost our spot with the city this was kind of a holdover for a year or so, so we've overstayed not so much our welcome but we've overstayed the time we wanted to be there," he explained.

"I can't even say that it worked because it would have worked for a short time, but we've definitely been there too long and this facility, we're adding a quarantine room, a separate cat room, so we're going to go from being able to have eight to 10 cats to 25 to 30 and we're going to be able to go from having eight dogs to 24 dogs."

In 2018, the city pulled its contract to take stray animals to Sonsini and the nonprofit shelter was ordered to leave the municipal-owned building in Downing Industrial Business Park. This brought operations to a smaller location at 875 Crane Ave., which was intended to be temporary.

The move will take about $100,000, which includes outfitting the space to be car friendly and creating a quarantine room. A fundraising campaign will be launched to cover the costs.

Kohlenberger said it is "perfectly set up" for a dog facility and the shelter had been looking to relocate so it just worked out.

Berkshire Dogs Unleashed closed its doors one week ago so that the family can focus on its breeding program Berkshire Poodles.

Pittsfield ZBA Member Recognized for 40 Years of Service

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
12:23PM / Thursday, April 25, 2024

Albert Ingegni III tells the council about how his father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo who died at age 94 in 2020, enjoyed his many years serving the city and told Ingegni to do the same. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It's not every day that a citizen is recognized for decades of service to a local board — except for Tuesday.

Albert Ingegni III was applauded for four decades of service on the Zoning Board of Appeals during City Council. Mayor Peter Marchetti presented him with a certificate of thanks for his commitment to the community.

"It's not every day that you get to stand before the City Council in honor of a Pittsfield citizen who has dedicated 40 years of his life serving on a board or commission," he said.

"As we say that, I know that there are many people that want to serve on boards and commissions and this office will take any resume that there is and evaluate each person but tonight, we're here to honor Albert Ingegni."

The honoree is currently chair of the ZBA, which handles applicants who are appealing a decision or asking for a variance.

Ingegni said he was thinking on the ride over about his late father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo, who told him to "enjoy every moment of it because it goes really quickly."

"He was right," he said. "Thank you all."

The council accepted $18,000 from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation and a  $310,060 from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All program.