Pittsfield Animal Control Commission Eyes Animal Abuse Registry

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Animal Control Commission organized itself late last month and floated a couple of areas to address. 

This includes a registry of animal cruelty offenders and handling issues with off-leash dogs at Kirvin Park. The commission is no longer in charge of dangerous or nuisance dog hearings. 

"Now that we have two separate commissions, the Animal Control Commission and the Hearing Authority, the Animal Control Commission is going to oversee sort of the rules, regulations, and city ordinances for Pittsfield regarding animals, dogs, cats, etc.," Animal Control Officer Kristin Quintal explained. 

"So, if there are any issues that the community wants to discuss regarding park situations, any changes to the city ordinances, things like that." 

During a brief meeting on June 30, the commission welcomed new members John Perreault, Berkshire Humane Society's executive director, and Tricia Phillips, the Humane Society's community outreach coordinator. 

Perreault was elected chair, and Phillips was elected secretary. 

"So this commission is supposed to meet four times a year to discuss happy things," Renee Dodds, the former chair, told members last year. 

The commission meets quarterly to "study, review, and issue written reports on issues dealing with dogs or other animals in the City and shall coordinate to the fullest extent possible the work of all public and private agencies concerned with animal care, protection and control," the City Code reads. 

Commissioners are to make recommendations to the mayor and City Council about improving ordinances for dogs and other animals in the city. 

Perreault said people in the community are looking at a registry for convicted animal cruelty offenders.  

"I know someone's doing some homework and will eventually approach to see if this is something the city would be interested in, so I think that may be our first agenda item coming up in the near future," he said. 

Neither Pittsfield nor Massachusetts has a registry for animal abusers, though there is proposed legislation, House Bill 1764, that would create a state animal abuse registry and require pet stores to screen customers.

Also, in future business, the commission might discuss issues with off-leash dogs at Kirvin Park. Quintal reported many calls for dog bites from off-leash pups on the property. 

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