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Knight is a perfect gentleman on a leash but his exuberance for life sometimes causes him to get rowdy so he must go to a home without kids under 16.
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The shelter will be closed to the public on Friday.

Sonsini Shelter's Last Animal 'Knight' Seeking a Kingdom of His Own

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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Knight currently has the shelter to himself.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — As the last animal of Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter, Knight is living more like a king.

The under-2-year-old American pit bull mix has the whole shelter as his palace but longs for a forever home. He has been all over social media and done plenty of meet-and-greets but has yet to find the perfect match.

Shelter Manager Noelle Howland is going to ensure that Knight's story ends well. Though the shelter closed to the public on Friday, she will stay there with the pup until he finds an adopter.

Knight is a perfect gentleman on a leash but his exuberance for life sometimes causes him to get rowdy so he must go to a home without kids under 16. 

"He's not aggressive and that's his thing. He's not trying to be mean. He's just a puppy," Howland explained.

"So whoever takes him home needs to be able to control that and not let it escalate and training. I think with training he will be so good but we can only do so much here."

So far, he knows how to sit, stay, heel, come, and "drop it." He also accepts treats gently and when excited, gets an incredibly photogenic "pitty smile."

Haddad Hyundai is sponsoring Knight's adoption fees and helping with training costs through Noble Paws Canine Training LLC.


The pup can possibly go to a home with a female dog but not a male dog. Howland's ideal fit would be a single person or a younger to middle-aged couple who can handle his energy and need for structure.

In late July, the shelter's board of directors announced that it would be closing its doors, citing financial constraints and insufficient space.

Soon after, Howland created a GoFundMe page to save the shelter and secure a better building. It has since raised over $50,000 of a $100,000 goal.

About a week after announcing the closure, the board of directors decided to hand leadership over to Howland. She will be continuing the shelter's mission under a different name and is in search of a new building to properly serve the dogs and cats, which is imperative because the current facility cannot meet the animals' needs.

Over the month of August, shelter staff and volunteers worked to get all of the dogs and cats into homes. The shelter will have a tag sale with items that they are not storing until a new location is found.

"Today's our last day here but we will still be here because Knight is here," Howland explained on Thursday.

"So I don't want people to think like we're just getting up and leaving. That was my main thing. I wanted to make sure I could still be here with him."

More information on Knight can be found here.  The shelter's GoFundMe page can be found here.


Tags: animal shelter,   dogs,   

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Hinsdale OKs Police Department Audit After Fatal Shooting

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

HINSDALE, Mass. — The town has approved $25,000 for an administrative review of the police department, more than two months after police fatally shot 27-year-old Biagio Kauvil during a mental health crisis. 

Town Administrator Robert Graves said the shooting on Jan. 7 is not the only focus of the audit, and it will be several months before the Select Board receives a final report. 

During a special town meeting on March 11, an article appropriating $25,000 from free cash for an independent consultant to conduct a professional evaluation and audit of the Town's Police Department was approved. The audit includes a review of the department's policies, protocols, operations, and procedures, and concludes with a written report. 

"The Berkshire County District Attorney's Office and Massachusetts State Police are investigating the shooting, and we await their conclusions.  As we look to move forward, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, our insurance company (MIIA/Cabot Risk), and our legal counsel have recommended that the town hire an independent law enforcement consultant or firm to conduct a comprehensive administrative review of our police operation," Graves wrote in an email to iBerkshires on Friday. 

"This event is not their focus; they will assess the overall operation. We want a written assessment of our police operation's strengths and weaknesses to help Hinsdale make future changes and improvements." 

He said after completing the procurement process and signing a contract with a reputable consultant or business, it will most likely be several months before the Select Board receives the final report. 

"Still, it will help the town and police department move forward," Graves wrote. 

Last weekend, family and friends of Kauvil stood in Park Square asking for justice. A flier for the standout reads "Biagio was killed by police while experiencing a mental health crisis. Now, over seven weeks later, authorities have not yet provided any updates.

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