Letter: Why Doesn't Berkshire County Have Emergency Veterinary Care?

Letter to the Editor12:00PM / Monday, March 02, 2026Print Story | Email Story

To the Editor:

Yesterday, my husband and I had to say goodbye to our elderly dog. It was one of the most heartbreaking days we have experienced as pet parents. In addition to the emotional pain, we faced a 60–70 minute drive to reach an open veterinary facility to euthanize Tanner on a Sunday, enduring not only grief but also the anxiety of not having emergency care available locally.

I am writing in sincere confusion and concern.

Berkshire County has a number of well-established veterinary practices, each staffed with multiple veterinarians and veterinary technicians. From what is publicly listed, Berkshire Veterinary Hospital, Greylock Veterinary Hospital, North County Veterinary Clinic, and South Street Veterinary Services collectively employ approximately 16 veterinarians, in addition to support staff. Yet despite this, our community does not appear to have consistent 24/7 emergency coverage.

Meanwhile, a facility roughly an hour away manages to provide around-the-clock care, sometimes with veterinarians commuting to cover emergency shifts.

This raises an important question: why is this not possible here in Berkshire County?

I understand there is a nationwide veterinary shortage, and I deeply respect the demanding and emotionally taxing work veterinarians do. However, with the number of professionals practicing locally, I wonder whether there might be alternative solutions worth exploring.

For example: Could practices collaborate on a shared emergency rotation system? Could a regional after-hours cooperative be formed?

Is per diem or rotating emergency coverage between clinics financially or logistically possible? Are there regulatory, insurance, or financial barriers that make this unworkable?

If there are valid reasons preventing 24/7 emergency care from being established here, I believe many pet owners would feel comforted simply understanding those reasons. Transparency would help our community to understand. Pets are family members. In moments of crisis, time and location matter deeply. Even a collaborative or limited after-hours rotation system could provide peace of mind to pet parents throughout the county.

I share these thoughts while still grieving, but also hoping perhaps this experience might spark discussion about emergency coverage.

Diane Spina
Adams, Mass.

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Cheshire Speed Limits Reduced, Code of Conduct Mulled

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
05:24AM / Tuesday, August 11, 2026

CHESHIRE, Mass. — Some streets will soon be slower for cars with the Department of Public Works replacing the speed limit signs in response to community concerns.

The town adopted Chapter 90, Section 17C to reduce some local road speed limits to 25 mph. Twenty-three streets are approved by the state; signs are ordered from the state Department of Transportation and should arrive within a couple weeks.

DPW Director Corey McGrath told the Selectmen at last Tuesday's meeting that the department had received concerns from residents wanting people to be slower on the following streets:

Church Street
East Main Street
portions of Wells Road
Main Street
Furnace Hill Road
Flaherty Road
Pit Road
Prospect Street
Dean Street
Richmond Street
School Street
Railroad Street
Depot Street
Richardson Street
5th Avenue
Meadowview Drive
Wood Lane
Dean Street Extension
portions of Ingalls Road
Devonshire Drive
Yorkshire Drive
Berkshire Drive
Wilshire Drive

Chair Michelle Francesconi asked McGrath to look into the signs solar-powered "slow down" signs. She also spoke about increasing problems with electric bicycles and similar devices.

Young people are going 30 to 40 mph, often on sidewalks, weaving between cars, cutting through private property and town property and riding in the road, she said, and brought up how other towns are creating bylaws to address these problems. Francesconi thought the board should look into it as well as a matter of public safety.

The state is currently revising related laws, so the board will see what the Legislature passes and then model bylaws on other communities.

Francesconi also said that since there is limited police coverage at night during most of the behavior, she suggested shifting some patrol hours to evenings to address youth riding behavior.

Later in the meeting, Francesconi also brought up code of conduct for town employees as she has been receiving numerous reports regarding professionalism, boundaries, confidentiality, and internal relationships and communication among town hall staff, department heads, and with the public.

She said town counsel has recommended adopting a code of conduct as well as providing training. After some discussion, the board decided to get a catalog of training options and identify mandatory and optional trainings. Members are also thinking of doing them in-person.

In other news, the Fire Department's rescue boat missing from the water because motor is broken and is in the process of being replaced.

There are two applicants in the running for the police chief position who will be doing the assessment center on Aug. 17. The Selectmen will get their resumes afterward and decide on interviews.

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