Berkshire Humane Participating in Special Adoption Event

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The MSPCA-Angell and its Massachusetts Animal Shelter Support (MASS) coalition partners are holding special adoption events throughout late August and early September for a wide variety of species in order to free up much needed space in shelters throughout the state.
 
This includes the Berkshire Humane Society.
 
"These plans have been in the works for a while now, but were thrown off by Tropical Storm Debby," explained Mike Keiley, MSPCA-Angell vice president of animal protection, who pointed to the organization's transport of two dozen dogs from South Carolina on August 7.
 
The MSPCA-Angell is also expected to take in two additional transports of dogs from South Carolina, which are scheduled to arrive just ahead of the first of the coalition's trio of events—a fee-waived adoptathon for all dogs aged one and older—August 19 through August 25.
 
"Our own population of dogs is increasing, and we know that our coalition partners also have plenty of great dogs in their care that need a little boost," he added. "That's why we're starting with a special dog adoption event, even while our other coalition work gets underway, like behavior outreach and increasing veterinary resources in the Springfield area."
 
All four of the MSPCA's shelters in Boston, Methuen, Salem, and Centerville on Cape Cod will be waiving adoption fees for all dogs aged one and older, as well as coalition partners Worcester Animal Rescue League (WARL), Berkshire Humane Society, Dakin Humane Society, and Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center (TJO).
 
The organizations collectively hope to rehome at least 200 dogs during the seven-day event. Hours vary by location. More information may be found at mspca.org/feewaived.
 
Following the dog adoptathon, the MSPCA and other shelters will hold special cat and small animal adoptathons. 
 
Felineanomanon: a Special Cat Adoption Event begins August 26 and runs through August 30. Some cats will be available to adopt fee-free, including older cats, those with special medical or behavioral needs, working cats, and those with more particular personalities that are searching for hard-to-find home lifestyles.

Tags: Berkshire Humane Society,   

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Former Miss Hall's Teacher Arraigned on Rape Charges

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Warning: this article discusses sexual assault. 
 
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A former teacher pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to three counts of felony counts rape related to his tenure at Miss Hall's School.
 
Matthew Rutledge, 63, was indicted last month by a Berkshire grand jury following accusations dating back to the 1990s of sexually assaulting students at the girls' school. 
 
"Today, Matthew Rutledge was arraigned for raping me. He began grooming me when I was 15 years old, a student at Miss Hall's School, and his abuse of me continued for years after I left that campus," former student Hilary Simon said to a large crowd outside of Berkshire Superior Court.

"After more than two decades, this case is finally in the hands of the criminal justice system."
 
Simon and Melissa Fares, former students, publicly accused Rutledge of abuse and called out the school for failing to protect them. 
 
They provided testimony at his indictment and, on Wednesday, were in the courtroom to see their alleged abuser arraigned. 
 
Rutledge was working at the day and boarding school until the allegations surfaced nearly three years ago. Pittsfield Police investigated the claims but initially concluded no charges could be brought forward because the students were 16, the age of consent in Massachusetts. 
 
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