Pet Food Pantry Available to Help During Trying Times

07:44AM / Tuesday, November 04, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Humane Society has a Pet Food Bank available to cat and dog owners in Berkshire County who are struggling financially.

Pet food is available at the Dr. John Reynolds Adoption and Education Center at 214 Barker Road in Pittsfield, Purradise Feline Adoption and Boarding facility at 301 Stockbridge Road or through the Meals on Wheels program run by Elder Services of Berkshire County.

Call Berkshire Humane Society's Pet Food Bank Coordinator Jessica Cunningham, 413- 447-7878 extension 127 to sign up.

"With SNAP benefits threatened, more people out of work, and winter coming, we remind pet lovers in Berkshire County that we're here to help," said Cunningham. "No one should have to choose between taking care of themselves and taking care of their pet."

At least two weeks of dry pet food per month is available per pet for people who sign up for the program and more assistance is available for those on public assistance. Canned food, treats and cat litter may also be available, depending on supplies. Pet Food Bank recipients also have access to low-cost spay and neuter surgeries through Berkshire Humane Society's Wellness Clinic on Dalton Avenue. When receiving pet food assistance, participants in the program agree not to add any new pets to their family.

Each person signing up for the Pet Food Bank receives assistance for six months and can reapply after that if they still need help.

"The need is only increasing," said Cunningham. In fiscal year 2025 we saw a dramatic 180 percent increase in Pet Food Bank requests, to about 6,500! Last week the pantry disbursed more than 1,000 pounds of pet food and since July 1st, more than 10,000 pounds."

A private foundation and Pittsfield Cooperative Bank are generous sponsors of Berkshire Humane Society's Pet Food Bank, which is also supported by individual donations. "We always accept donations of unexpired food," said Cunningham. "Right now, we really need donations of canned dog food." Donated food goes to the Pet Food Bank; shelter pets are not in need as Berkshire Humane Society has an agreement with Hill's Science Diet to feed shelter animals.

Berkshire Humane Society's Pet Food Bank is one of many programs the nonprofit animal welfare organization has to keep animals in homes and out of the shelter. People receiving help from the Pet Food Bank greatly appreciate the help. For example, Erin from Pittsfield wrote to Berkshire Humane Society about the help she and her boyfriend received to feed their two dogs after she lost a good job during the pandemic, "My pups come first, so we went without until we heard through a friend about [Berkshire Humane Society]. They help with hard and soft food, treats on occasion and sometimes they have people that donate toys. Without all these donations, my family would be struggling more than we are. When I get reestablished, I intend on giving back, too. It's amazing how far one donation can go. So, if you have it in your heart, please give back, but only if you can. So much love for all the donations and for the local [Berkshire Humane Society]!"

Tags: Berkshire Humane Society,

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

Greylock Youth SummerFest

Come join in on the wealth building fun! August 3-8. Click for event details. Insured by NCUA.

www.greylock.org

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Fenton: Governor's Council Must Deliver for the Berkshires

Community submissionGuest Column
10:22AM / Friday, August 28, 2026

I am a Springfield lawyer running for Governor's Council and I am asking for Berkshire County residents to support me over an incumbent from North Adams.

Here's why: Last year I learned about staffing issues in our regional courts that I could not ignore. In 2025, it was reported that four of Western Massachusetts' 11 Superior Court judgeships were vacant, all at the same time. A few weeks later, that grew to five vacancies. This meant there were only six Superior Court judges serving all of Western Mass at a time when Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin, and Hampden counties had more than 100 pending homicide cases.

Those numbers were alarming to me, so I started to engage with leaders in the community who work most closely with the court system and I came to learn that these vacancies were only the tip of the iceberg here in Berkshire County.

I learned that no Superior Court or District Court judge had been appointed from the Berkshires since the current incumbent took office. As a result, there is not a single Superior Court judge who lives in the Berkshires today, and several of the District Court judges drive in from other counties to support Berkshire courts in Pittsfield, Great Barrington, and North Adams. Court staff also informed me about severe staffing shortages at the Berkshire Clerk of Courts office resulting in other counties needing to loan staff to the Berkshires just so hardworking employees can take a brief and planned summer vacation. This is not normal. These issues are a reflection of genuine problems with the Berkshire County court system and show a lack of proactive attention from our Governor's Councilor.

Instead of focusing on regional equity, I watched as the current incumbent celebrated that she has voted against the governor's nominees more than any other councilor, without much explanation as to why. Most recently, she voted against two extremely qualified former prosecutors for the Parole Board. This was despite an in-person plea from the governor and a letter of support from all the three of the district attorney's from Western Mass. Those votes do not show independence or standing up for principles, they demonstrate naivete, and an unwillingness to work with the key stakeholders.

I had seen and heard enough. I decided to jump in the race and challenge the incumbent to address these problems head-on.

I am a partner of a regional law firm. I understand our courts and the importance of having qualified, fair and hardworking judges. And I know how important it is to have judges from the Berkshires serving the Berkshires. To achieve that, you need strong relationships with the legal community and local stakeholders. You need to know how to use the power of the Governor's Council to fight forcefully for our region. And you need to be laser focused on identifying vacancies before they occur so that they can be filled quickly with local candidates.

View Full Story