Kelly Hathaway of Pittsfield pleaded guilty on Friday to two counts of animal cruelty in Central Berkshire District Court as part of a plea agreement. Following the plea agreement, she was ordered to have a mental health evaluation and follow any after care as instructed by the court.
She was placed on two years probation and ordered to perform 50 hours of community service. She is not allowed to possess any animals and was ordered to surrender any she has in her care. She is also prohibited from volunteering with any animal groups.
Hathaway and another defendant were charged last March with abandoning 15 cats on back roads in Richmond and Lanesborough after an investigation by Lanesborough Police, Lanesborough Animal Control and the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Two of the cats died, possibly from exposure, and another was never found. Temperatures ranged from about minus-6 to 28 degrees on the weekend of Jan. 28 and the cats found in Richmond were undernourished and dehydrated.
According to the police report, Hathaway said her landlord had told her to remove the animals because of the smell.
The cats were discovered by a motorist on Jan. 31 and he, animal control, volunteers and the Berkshire Humane Society worked to get the cats to safety. They were later adopted out by the Humane Society.
The animal cruelty charges could have meant fines of up to $5,000 and time in jail or prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Aleah Fisher and Megan Rose.
The Berkshire District Attorney's Office thanked the agencies involved for the assistance in the investigation, including the State Police.
"We are very pleased that we can bring this case to a resolution. MSPCA was very pleased with the outcome as we took into consideration the defendant's intellectual disability and willingness to accept responsibility," said Rose. "Thank you to the Berkshire Humane Society for their assistance with finding homes for the abandoned animals."
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Health Systems (BHS) announced that three of its primary care provider clinics have received awards from Massachusetts Health Quality Partners (MHQP) for being among the top practices in Massachusetts for patient experience in primary care.
The "MHQP Patient Experience Awards" is an annual awards program introduced in 2018 by MHQP, a non-profit measurement and reporting organization that works to improve the quality of patient care experiences in Massachusetts. MHQP conducts the only statewide survey of patient experience in primary care in Massachusetts.
"The teams at Adams Internists, Berkshire Internists and Lenox Family Health have worked extremely hard to provide their patients with the highest standard of compassionate, patient-centered care," said James Lederer, MD, BHS Chief Medical Officer and Chief Quality Officer. "Berkshire Health Systems is pleased by this recognition, which validates that our patients are receiving the quality communication, care, and support that they deserve, which is our highest priority."
Awards were given to top overall performers in adult primary care and pediatrics in each of nine performance categories. Adams Internists of BMC, Berkshire Internists of BMC and Lenox Family Health Center of BMC received recognition for the following awards for adult care:
Adams Internists of BMC: Distinction in Assessment of Patient Behavioral Health Issues
Berkshire Internists of BMC: Distinction in Patient-Provider Communications and How Well Providers Know Their Patients
Lenox Family Health Center of BMC: Distinction in Patient-Provider Communications and Office Staff Professional Experience
"It is not easy for a primary care practice to thrive in the current environment," said Barbra Rabson, MHQP's President and CEO. "We are thrilled to congratulate each of them on behalf of their patients for their exceptional commitment to excellence."
"Primary care is the foundation of our health care system," said Julita Mir, MD, MHQP's Board Chair. "The practices from all across the state recognized with this award have distinguished themselves where it matters most – in the experiences of their own patients."
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