To the Editor:

In August 2023, the Friends of the Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter announced the shelter would be closing. For Noelle Howland, a shelter employee, the news was heartbreaking. Rather than accept the end of the mission, she began raising funds to keep the shelter open a few more months, giving the shelter animals additional time to find homes.

Although the Sonsini Board remained committed to closing the shelter, Noelle was encouraged to continue its mission by creating a new organization. That encouragement became No Paws Left Behind.

With determination, hard work, and support of early donors, Noelle searched for a new location and found one in North Adams, renting the municipal animal control facility. Establishing a shelter in North Berkshire made sense for our rural region, where accessible animal rescue services are greatly needed. We believed Eleanor Sonsini's mission deserved to continue and the community and animals deserved a nearby resource.

After navigating countless regulations and requirements, No Paws Left Behind officially opened in July 2024.

We started small, using the donations Noelle had personally raised during the initial campaign. While some equipment from the former Sonsini shelter was given, no other financial support was provided. Much of what we have built has been made possible through those initial efforts and ongoing community support.

Our community has welcomed us with open arms. Many supporters previously adopted from Sonsini and recognize our shared commitment to giving animals a second chance. We are proud to carry that spirit forward.

I share this history because it's important to understand where we started, how far we've come, and why continued support matters. Operating a small, independent, no-kill shelter requires ongoing fundraising, generosity, and dedication.

Yes, Noelle is my daughter, and I am the board president. Even so, I remain in awe of what she has accomplished. To see a then 23-year-old turn an idea into a functioning shelter because she refused to give up is remarkable.

As we look toward the future, we dream of one day having a larger shelter so we can help even more animals. On Giving Tuesday, Dec. 2, and throughout the year, please consider supporting No Paws Left Behind. Donate, attend an event, or simply spread the word.

A shelter is more than a building. It is a promise that animals in need will have a chance at a better life. Thank you for helping make this journey possible.

Bonnie Howland
North Adams, Mass.