Pittsfield Creates Separate Authority for Dangerous Dogs

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Animal Control Commission will no longer have to make tough decisions on dangerous dogs, as a hearing authority will now handle that. 

This is a part of several changes made to the commission over the past couple of months, including fewer members and no requirement for veterinarian representation on the panel. 

"So this commission is supposed to meet four times a year to discuss happy things," Chair Renee Dodds told members in early June. 

After a lengthy discussion, the panel voted to have a Bradford Street dog euthanized, Dodds explaining, "We don't do this a lot, but just multiple bites and child bites is just where we kind of draw the line." 

The city code states that the Animal Control Commission serves in an advisory capacity to the city's dog officer, coordinating "to the fullest extent possible the work of all public and private agencies concerned with animal care, protection, and control." 

In March, Dodds reported working with Mayor Peter Marchetti and other officials to make their charge easier. The amendment reducing the number of members, removing requirement of a veterinarian representative, establishing the Animal Hearing Authority, and other changes were ordained at the City Council's April 8 meeting. 

"We are going to have it changed so we do not need a veterinarian on the commission because, as discussed, we have not had a vet since [Dr. John Reynolds] passed away, and it's extremely hard to find, especially in this time where there's just a lack of vets in the area, and they're all just extremely busy and overwhelmed. We've also decided to put the commission down to five people from the seven," she said. 

Pittsfield Remembers Lives Lost to Overdose, Underscores Harm Reduction

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:33AM / Tuesday, September 01, 2026

Mayor Peter Marchetti reads a proclamation at City Hall encouraging residents to raise awareness and lift each other up. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Dozens of people gathered downtown on Monday to remember those lost to overdose and work toward a future of zero deaths from substance use disorder. 

The Berkshire Overdose and Addiction Prevention Collaborative and its partners held a proclamation reading and flag-raising at City Hall, followed by a standout in Park Square with signs promoting the use of naloxone, harm reduction, and reducing associated stigma. 

There were 23 fatal overdoses in Berkshire County in 2025, 11 in Pittsfield. This is down 44 percent from the 41 countywide fatalities in 2024. 

While it is a significant decrease, advocates want to see that number at zero. 

"On the one hand, we're very pleased to see this significant of a decrease. This is actually the lowest number that we've had since [Department of Public Health] started collecting these numbers in 2013, but the goal is still zero," said Andy Ottoson, public health planner with the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission. 

August is International Overdose Awareness Month, the world's largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember those lost without stigma, and acknowledge the grief of families and friends left behind. September is National Recovery Month, a national observance to educate the public on the importance of substance use treatment and mental health services.

Samantha Kendall of Berkshire Harm Reduction explained that it is truly meeting people where they are, as they are, and when they are, "and I think we all do a really great job at that."

"We also want to remember that we're building a community for everybody, and systems and policies for everybody. That's really important in harm reduction work, so that's also the reason we're here today," she said.