Berkshire Humane: 100 Cats for the Holidays

04:44PM / Wednesday, November 23, 2022Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Residents of Berkshire County can get their cat spayed or neutered for a $50 registration fee, which includes surgery and a rabies vaccination, through a grant awarded to Berkshire Humane Society from Massachusetts Animal Coalition's license plate program.

This is the 9th year the shelter has received an award to support 100 Cats for the Holidays, a low-cost spay and neuter initiative.

Registration is on a first-come-first-served basis. For requirements and registration, call Berkshire Humane Society at 413-447-7878, Ext. 124.

Berkshire Humane Society will schedule appointments for December and January. Owners will drop off their cats and kittens in the morning on a date and at a place designated by Berkshire Humane Society. Shelter staff and volunteers will transport the cats to participating veterinarians and will return them for owner pick-up in the afternoon.

All cats must be in secure carriers with proper identification including the name of the pet and the owner.

100 Cats for the Holidays is the shelter's largest and most successful low-cost spay/neuter effort for kittens and cats in the Berkshires and surrounding areas.

"This year we saw the fallout of the difficulty of scheduling veterinary appointments during the pandemic," said John Perreault, Executive Director for Berkshire Humane Society. "The shelter was overflowing with mother cats and unplanned litters. We're grateful for our partnership with the Massachusetts Animal Coalition so we can work with local vets to provide an affordable service to cat lovers. Spaying and neutering your pet benefits their health and wellbeing, prevents accidental litters and strays and helps control overpopulation and disease. This program is a valuable part of our mission at Berkshire Humane Society."

This year's participating veterinary facilities include: Greylock Animal Hospital, North County Veterinary Hospital, Pittsfield Veterinary Hospital, South Street Veterinary Hospital, Lenox Cat Hospital, Valley Veterinary Services and Bilmar Veterinary Services.

To help support low-cost spaying and neutering throughout Massachusetts, buy an "I'm Animal Friendly" license plate. The tax-deductible plates are available at local Registries of Motor Vehicles or at www.petplate.org.

Tags: Berkshire Humane Society,

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Pittsfield Housing Project Adds 37 Supportive Units and Collective Hope

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:01PM / Monday, December 29, 2025

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A new chapter in local efforts to combat housing insecurity officially began as community leaders and residents gathered at The First on to celebrate a major expansion of supportive housing in the city.

The ribbon was cut on Thursday Dec. 19, on nearly 40 supportive permanent housing units; nine at The First, located within the Zion Lutheran Church, and 28 on West Housatonic Street. The Housing Resource Center, funded by Pittsfield's American Rescue Plan Act dollars, hosted a celebration for a project that is named for its rarity: The First.

"What got us here today is the power of community working in partnership and with a shared purpose," Hearthway CEO Eileen Peltier said.

In addition to the 28 studio units at 111 West Housatonic Street and nine units in the rear of the church building, the Housing Resource Center will be open seven days a week with two lounges, a classroom, a laundry room, a bathroom, and lockers.

Erin Forbush, ServiceNet's director of shelter and housing, challenged attendees to transform the space in the basement of Zion Lutheran Church into a community center. It is planned to operate from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. year-round.

"I get calls from folks that want to help out, and our shelters just aren't the right spaces to be able to do that. The First will be that space that we can all come together and work for the betterment of our community," Forbush said.

"…I am a true believer that things evolve, and things here will evolve with the people that are utilizing it."

Earlier that day, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus joined Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and her team in Housatonic to announce $33.5 million in federal Community Development Block Grant funding, $5.45 million to Berkshire County.

He said it was ambitious to take on these two projects at once, but it will move the needle. The EOHLC contributed more than $7.8 million in subsidies and $3.4 million in low-income housing tax credit equity for the West Housatonic Street build, and $1.6 million in ARPA funds for the First Street apartments.

"We're trying to get people out of shelter and off the streets, but we know there are a lot of people who are couch surfing, who are living in their cars, who are one paycheck away from being homeless themselves," Augustus said.

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