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Companion Corner: Beauty at Berkshire Humane Society

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There's a sweet dog waiting for their new home at Berkshire Humane Society.

iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home.

Beauty is a 5-year-old bulldog mix and has been at the shelter for about a month after she didn't get along with other animals in the home.

Canine caregiver and adoption counselor Simone Olivieri told us about Beauty: "Just very sweet, cuddly, but also very energetic, very playful, just a great companion, great, great little buddy."

Beauty is very energetic and loves to go outside and play. She loves to go on walks and is very obedient, is house trained, and she knows some commands.

"She loves to play tug, so she gets very excited. She loves to play fetch. She loves to go on walks, be out in the snow, and then she just food, of course," said Olivieri. "She loves snacks, loves working for food. And she also just really enjoys touch, companionship, petting, love. She just wants to be right here with you once all of her physical needs are met."

Beauty must be the only animal in the house as she has a prey drive for cats and does not like to live with other dogs. But Beauty is good to greet other dogs when she is on the leash. She also must go home with older kids.

"She doesn't want to share her humans with other dogs in the house or her belongings. She wants all the attention so no other dogs in the home. And for kids, if there's kids in the home, we're saying teenagers and up. Couple reasons, first of all, she can be a little bit nervous and shy and skittish with a lot of quick movements, young kids kind of move differently than adults, and that can make her cautious and a little scared," she said.  "And also, when she starts to play with her tug toys, she can get a little grabby with those teeth."

Beauty is perfectly healthy but may need some attention for her sensitive skin.

"She's got some sensitive skin, so she has some thinning hair on her back here, so she might need some extra vet visits for some skincare, medicated baths, fish oil, some supplements to kind of keep her coat nice and shiny and healthy and thick," Olivieri said. 

Beauty can be nervous around people at first and has shown some nervousness to men. But with patience she can warm right up to you.

"We have noticed with some people, like I said, with kids, but sometimes with men or strangers, she can be a little bit nervous at first," she said. "So she is a little cautious and careful around she might shy away from people she doesn't really know, so but it really does not take very long to earn her trust. You just have to be patient."

You can visit Beauty at the Berkshire Humane Society and read more about her on the website.

The Berkshire Humane Society is open Tuesday through Sunday. The adoption center is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday.


Tags: Berkshire Humane Society,   dogs,   

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Adams Couple Sentenced to Staggered Prison Terms in Death of Foster Infant

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — An Adams couple will serve staggered three-to-five year prison sentences for the 2020 death of their foster infant. 
 
Matthew Tucker and Cassandra Barlow-Tucker on March 16 were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and reckless child endangerment in the death of Kristoff Zenopolous on Feb. 18, 2020.  
 
Their sentencing was delayed by Judge Tracy Duncan until Thursday to determine how their four children, two of whom have high needs, would be cared for. 
 
Kristoff was just 10 months old when he died from complications with respiratory illness, strep throat, and pneumonia. A Superior Court jury determined that his death was a result of neglect. The commonwealth requested five years in prison and three years of probation for both defendants.
 
On Thursday, the rescheduled hearing for sentence imposition was held, and Tucker and Barlow-Tucker were sentenced to state prison for manslaughter involving neglect of legal duty, and three years of probation for reckless child endangerment. 
 
Court documents state that Barlow-Tucker was committed to the Massachusetts Correctional Institution in Framingham. She will serve three to five years there first; her husband, will serve his sentence once hers is completed but will be on probation.
 
"The sentences imposed will be a state prison sentence of not less than 3 years and not more than 5 years to MCI as to each Defendant as to count #1. The sentences will be staggered. Ms. Barlow-Tucker will serve her incarceration sentence first," court dockets read.  
 
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