HumaneTales BERKSHIRE HUMANE SOCIETY NEWSLETTER • SUMMER 2014
MAIN SHELTER 214 Barker Rd Pittsfield, MA 01201 413-447-7878
PURRADISE, Cat Adoption Center 301 Stockbridge Rd Great Barrington, MA 01230 “Some people talk to animals. Not many listen though. That's the problem.” 413-717-4244
BerkshireHumane.org
A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh
THE KEN FREEBERG FUND, LADY’S LEGACY, AND YOU… A Winning Combination for BHS Animals with Special Needs Every year, so many animals who are in need of medical care are surrendered to Berkshire Humane (BHS) Society. Fortunately, through the Ken Freeberg Special Needs Fund, we’ve been able to provide this care to all adoptable animals before placing them in new homes. Now, we’re excited to announce the creation of Lady’s Legacy, a program which not only honors a special little dog but also goes a long way in helping us raise $20,000 to cover the medical costs of our shelter animals. THE KEN FREEBERG FUND – Ken Freeberg was not only a longtime supporter of BHS but also a devoted volunteer who enjoyed nothing more than his dog-walking duties. A kind and compassionate person, he was always concerned about the shelter animals with special health needs – and for good reason. Every year, BHS spends in excess of $40,000 on extra medical care. But being true animal lovers, Ken and his partner, Jim, always covered these expenses. When Ken passed away in 2005, the animal world lost a true friend, and BHS wanted to do something in his memory. To honor Ken, we created the Ken Freeberg Special Needs Fund, which continues to provide funding for special animals with special needs Although Ken’s lifetime was too short, his dedication to animals was impressive, and his essence continues when shelter animals requiring medical attention get the treatment they need. LADY’S LEGACY – In 2008, Lucky Lady, a nine-year-old Bichon Frise, was surrendered to BHS – but not before her owners devocalized her. Fortunately for Lady, a wonderful couple from Pittsfield, Fran and Gene, found her. They knew the suffering that devocalization causes a pet and quickly decided to provide Lady with the forever family that she so deserved. Once Lady was home, Fran and Gene noticed that her natural way of greeting visitors was a rapidly wagging tail and attempts to bark. Additionally, Lady’s hoarse voice and chronic coughing often caused her to gag and spit up – all of which was painful for Fran and Gene to hear and watch. So Lady took on a new job. Besides providing Fran and Gene with a lifetime of love and companionship, she became famous for helping to champion the cause
to end devocalization in Massachusetts. In her spare time, Lady also made frequent trips back to BHS to visit her two- and fourlegged friends. Earlier this year, Lady passed away at the age of 14. Fran and Gene were heart-broken but eager to do something to remember Lady. Being frequent visitors to BHS and seeing that many of our shelter animals need extra medical attention before they can be placed for adoption, Fran and Gene realized how Lady could continue to help. In her memory, they created Lady’s Legacy, which generously matches every dollar someone donates to the Ken Freeberg Fund up to $10,000. YOU – BHS is once again calling on you. Our goal is to raise $20,000 for the Ken Freeberg Fund before the end of summer. With the generous assistance of Lady’s Legacy, your donation will be doubled and go twice as far. For example, if you make a $100 gift, Lady’s Legacy will match it and contribute another $100. And it’s so easy! Return the enclosed envelope with a note that designates your donation for the Ken Freeberg Fund. Here are some of the dogs and cats who came to BHS in desperate need of medical care and new homes. Together we made a difference for them – and with your help, the Ken Freeberg Fund, and Lady’s Legacy, we’ll continue to make a difference for all our homeless animals. Simba, a delightful six-year-old Shepard mix, came to the shelter when his first owner moved and left him with another family member who didn’t have time for him. Staff found a large tumor on his neck. It was successfully removed, and Simba is now living with his loving family. Sweet but extremely introverted, nineyear-old Herminey was surrendered when a new baby displaced her. An examination revealed that this adorable cat needed extensive dentistry including multiple extractions. Herminey is fully recovered now, and she’s at BHS waiting for her forever home.
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Continued from front cover… Cody, a six-year-year Akita, arrived at BHS due to a change in his family’s lifestyle. At the shelter, staff noticed that his back legs looked uncomfortable when he walked. Xrays showed a structural deformity which he’s successfully compensated for over many years. Surgery can’t correct this condition, but keeping him fit, combined with joint supplements, will allow him to have a normal life. Sadly, Cody is still at BHS hoping to find a home with a family who knows and understands this great breed. When Fiona did not get along with a new kitten, her owners relinquished the nine-year-old cat to the shelter. Before being spayed, she had a high fever and was diagnosed with a serious case of pyometra – an infection of the uterus. Emergency surgery had to be performed. Fiona is quietly recuperating at Purradise, waiting for someone to realize what a special kitty she is, regardless of her age.
wwwww SADDLE UP FOR THE 22ND ANNUAL BHS BENEFIT HORSE SHOW We’re getting ready for the 22nd Annual Berkshire Humane Society Benefit Horse Show – the longest-standing benefit horse show in Berkshire County. The BHS Horse Show will take place on Sunday, August 24, 2014 at Overmeade Farm in Lenox, MA. Once again, Sally and Ken Hart have graciously offered their expertise and their facilities for the day. This show provides an excellent opportunity for BHS to host a quality Western New England Professional Horseman’s Association (WNEPHA) recognized competition for riders and spectators while at the same time raising much needed funds to support the mission and work of BHS.
BARB LAMPRON 2014 VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR At our annual Volunteer Appreciation Picnic on Thursday, June 18, Berkshire Humane Society (BHS) was proud to name Barb Lampron as the Lynne West Shelter Volunteer of the Year. John Perreault, Executive Director of BHS, presented a very surprised Barb with a beautifully engraved plaque honoring her many years of service. Barb began volunteering at BHS in 1995, and her dedication to the shelter, and especially the cats, has made a huge difference in the lives of many animals. At home she’s a doting foster cat mom who likes to keep tabs on all of her kittens until they are adopted. At the shelter, Barb is always available to help keep the feline area running smoothly – doing laundry, assisting staff clean cages, making sure our cats have everything they need at the end of the day. Recently, she’s added adoption counselor to her list of activities. She also takes care of canisters at several local stores. No matter what she’s doing, Barb always has a smile on her face. “Barb’s compassion and dedication to the welfare of our feline community is immense,” says John. “She takes pride in her volunteer work with our cat population, especially all the fosters she has taken. In fact, Barb is one of our original foster moms. We don’t know what we would do without her.” The Lynne West Shelter Volunteer of the Year is chosen by BHS staff members; the award is named after Lynne West, a founding member of BHS as well as one of our first volunteers and board members. Congratulations Barb! We’re so fortunate to have her and our many, many other wonderful volunteers be part of the BHS team. We couldn’t do it without them.
Over 30 classes will be offered for riders ranging from youngsters in lead line classes to advanced junior and adult medal classes. Karen von Bachelle of South Windsor, CT, is judge for the day. Ribbons and prizes will be awarded to riders. BHS merchandise will be for sale as well as delicious eating at our food booth. For opportunities to sponsor a class or a division, contact Diane Briggs at 413-447-7878, ext. 31 or dbriggs@berkshirehumane.org. Like us on Facebook. Call us at 413-447-7878.Visit us at BerkshireHumane.org • Like us on Facebook. Call us at 413-447-7878.Visit us at BerkshireHumane.org
PURRADISE CELEBRATES ITS FOURTH BIRTHDAY Children helped celebrate at the Birthday Party by selling lemonade in support of Purradise.
On Saturday, July 12, Purradise, Berkshire Humane Society's (BHS) feline satellite adoption facility, was in the mood to celebrate! Celebrate what you may ask? Purradise was celebrating it all... Its fourth year of helping homeless cats and kittens in Berkshire County – over 600 of them have found new homes; the opening and success of CATWALK, a women’s resale boutique for which 100% of the proceeds benefit BHS; the amazing accomplishments of our Humane Hero junior volunteers; and, of course, the gracious support of the community. So you can see why everyone was out to celebrate on this beautiful day! Besides having a bake sale and lemonade stand, face painting, and arts, crafts, and games for all ages, the Berkshire Disaster Animal Rescue Team (DART) was present to educate the public about animals in disaster situations. But the highlight of the day was when Pudge, a Jack Russell Terrier mix and long-time resident at BHS, and three wonderful cats were adopted into their forever homes. Thank you to our many friends and neighbors who came out to make Purradise’s Fourth Birthday an especially memorable event.
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HUMANE EDUCATION AT BERKSHIRE HUMANE SOCIETY HUMANE HEROES – Right now, the kids in the Humane Hero Program at Berkshire Humane Society (BHS) are working hard on their websites for the Penny Paw Project. Each Hero is tasked with writing his/her own website, as well as starring in “animal interview” videos. The kids are having a great time while raising awareness and funds to support the shelter. Please check our Penny Paw Project website at http://berkshirehumane.donorpages.com/ThePennyPawProject/ From there, click on “Show all Fundraisers.” Please consider giving to each of the kids in support of this wonderful educational opportunity. Also SHARE on Facebook and YouTube to help us go viral! CAMP HUMANE – This summer BHS welcomed 4th-8th grade campers to Camp Humane 2014. Throughout July, our young animal lovers spent time learning about puppy mills, pet overpopulation, dog and cat care and training – and so much more. Special “guests” to camp also included birds of prey, chickens, a goat, reptiles, snakes, and lizards as well as a wild horse and a Belgium draft horse. While being responsible for and respectful to all animals was an ongoing
theme, campers also enjoyed participating in a variety of projects, including building shelters for feral cats and making toys for our dogs living at BHS. We thank our campers and their families for joining us at BHS and send our appreciation to all the volunteers and staff who always make Camp Humane a success. AND SO MUCH MORE – While BHS is continuing our visits to the Community Center at Dower Square every month, we’ve also been busy with our local schools. This spring we hosted two tours of the shelter – one from Mary Loehr Quirk’s sixth grade social studies classes from Herberg Middle School and the other from Melissa Shea and Peter Breen’s seventh grade classes from Hoosic Valley Middle School, who also donated dog and cat beds and toys that they made as a special Math project. And we want to congratulate all the seventh grade students from Reid, Herberg, and St. Mark who participated in our first “Celebrate the Animals” Poetry Contest. Finally, as so many of you know, our Coffee Hour Speaking Series, was quite a popular event. Check out the BHS website for a whole new schedule in the fall.
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CATWALK BHS OPENS RESALE BOUTIQUE By Mimi Rosenblatt CATWALK, Berkshire Humane Society’s (BHS) new women’s resale boutique, opened its doors on Memorial Day weekend to a warm and enthusiastic reception from the Berkshire County community. Located at 325 Stockbridge Road in Great Barrington, MA, the store offers fashionable and affordable clothing and accessories with all its proceeds going to help the homeless animals of Berkshire County. The genesis of CATWALK began last November when Leslie Weil, Marsha Weiner, and I, long-time supporters of BHS and members of the Advisory Board to Purradise – BHS’s feline satellite adoption facility, organized Café Chic, a weekend pop-up boutique, as a new fund-raising venture for the shelter. Without question, our efforts procuring, cleaning, and tagging over 2,000 items in two months paid off. In three days, Café Chic raised $10,000. After we had time to rest and recuperate, we thought maybe, just maybe it would be smart to change Café Chic from a pop-up boutique to a year-round permanent endeavor. We pitched the idea to BHS Executive Director John Perreault, who was extremely enthusiastic about the venture. Next was a presentation to the BHS Board of Directors, who endorsed the idea as long as the name Café Chic was dropped – it sounded too much like a restaurant! But the name CATWALK was an all-around favorite. Throughout the summer, donations to CATWALK have been arriving daily from all over Berkshire County as well as from Texas, Florida, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Berkshire School generously organized an end-of-year clothing drive that resulted in an amazing selection of young, hip clothing. Additionally, MICHAEL’S, the well-known NYC consignment shop, as well as staff from Simon’s Rock College and Iredale Cosmetics have been making regular and generous donations. As a result, visitors to CATWALK will find a diverse array of stylish and beautiful clothing and accessories, and, as Leslie, Marsha, and I like to say, “the ultimate guilt-free shopping experience.” Recently, CATWALK hired two part-time sales associates: Jasmine North, long-time, passionate animal rights advocate, and Lisa Betkoski, publisher and editor of Animal Life as well as personal shopper and stylist at Rock Star Shopping. Local fashion guru Vickie Bonnington has also become a major donor and advisor to CATWALK, and Berkchique has placed CATWALK on its non-profits donor list. To make CATWALK a continuing success, Leslie, Marsha, and I ask our friends and neighbors for support in the form of ongoing
donors and shoppers. Donations of new and gently used current clothing can be dropped off at CATWALK anytime during business hours. All donations are tax deductible, and tax receipts are provided upon request. CATWALK is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 10AM-5PM; Saturday, 10AM-4PM; and Sunday, 12PM-4PM. CATWALK is closed on Tuesday. For more information, visit www.catwalkboutique.org, go to the CATWALK Facebook page, or call 413-717-4005.
Kids gathered around Pittsfield Animal Control Officer Joe Chague for a photo.
Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time and talents to make this year’s Camp Humane a success. You made it a treasured and true learning experience. PRESENTERS Margot Apple Mark Beverly Officer Joe Chague / Pittsfield Animal Control Officer Tammy Ciesla / MassWildlife Stacey Carver and Melissa Tharion / Berkshire Animal D.R.E.A.M.S. Pauline Clark /Jacks Galore Judy Embry Greyhounds as Companions Chris Kwasny Little Brook Farm Eileen Martin and Fin Dave Melle / Berkshire D.A.R.T. Lisa Provencher Marty Ross / Cloverdale Miniatures Lauretta Saldo Candice Slosek Rene Wendell / Bartholomew's Cobble
DONORS
CAMP COUNSELORS
The Appelbaum-Kahn Foundation Berkshire Bank Foundation Ken Conlow Michelle Pekrol / Star Gift Alliance Marty Ross Carpentry Rotary Club of Pittsfield Richard A. Wagner
Kyle Betit Courtney Francoeur Erik LaFayette Liam Nester Kayla Pravia Kamaree Saldo Abby Scalzo Samantha Sperlonga Leah Tanzman Jillian Tatro
BAKERS Sin Sharp Janelle Virgilio
A special thank you to the volunteers and staff at Berkshire Humane Society for supporting the Humane Education Department through four weeks of camp.
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SAFEPet ROOM NOW OPEN
After months of construction and over a year of fundraising, Berkshire Humane Society’s (BHS) new SafePet Room is up and running. An important addition to our SafePet Program, which provides temporary care to the pets of Berkshire County residents who are in crisis, the SafePet Room will allow us to respond more quickly to requests for help – and to a greater number. Although placing pets in foster homes will always be the priority, BHS can now take pets in immediately and safely house them while we line up appropriate foster families. The SafePet Program was created by Francine Kelleher and Valerie Reiner in 2001 for clients at the Elizabeth Freeman Center. Besides continuing to partner with these groups, BHS will be able to expand our reach and work with other Berkshire County organizations, such as the Brien Center, the Red Cross, Elder Protective Services of Berkshire County, and Elder Services of Berkshire County as well as hospitals. “There are so many cases where people will not seek help for themselves because they are worried about their pets’ care. The SafePet Room will allow these people to get the help they need while
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not having to worry about their pets,” explains John Perreault, Executive Director of BHS. “We’re very excited to provide this service to our community. We saw the need for this service, and thanks to many generous donors, it is now a reality.” The SafePet Program accepts small and large companion animals, such as dogs, cats, birds, and even horses. In addition to providing short-term care, BHS will cover the pet’s basic medical care, which includes spaying and neutering for dogs and cats, at no cost to the owner. Many of our veterinarians have and will continue to support the program by providing free or discounted services. “I want to thank my board of directors for their support, guidance, and ability to grow and adapt in the ever-changing world of animal welfare,” states John. “This project would not have been possible without the support of individuals, foundations, such as the John T. and Jane A. Weiderhold Foundation, the Chervenak-Nunnalle Foundation, the Claudia and Stephen Perles Family Foundation and the Elinor Patterson Baker Foundation, as well as a grant from Berkshire Money Management.”
Berkshire Humane Society (BHS) is once again teaming up with Haddad Subaru of Pittsfield to raffle off a new 2015 Subaru Forester. The winner gets his or her choice of color…you can even upgrade or downgrade depending on your taste. Last year’s raffle netted over $30,000 for the shelter – and that money went a long way in helping so many animals find new and loving homes. This year Haddad is including a six-year, 100,000 mile warranty, which is valued at $2,000 and brings the total package of this raffle up to $29,000! Tickets are just $40 each, or three for $100. The raffle will be held on Saturday, October 18 at Haddad Subaru on East Street in Pittsfield. Winner need not be present. Only 2,100 tickets will be sold. Please help BHS by taking a chance on winning one of the most animal-friendly cars on the planet.
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BHS RECEIVES PROGRAM GRANTS Berkshire Humane Society (BHS) is pleased to be the recipient of four recent grants that support two important programs at the shelter – low-cost spaying/neutering and humane education. Thanks to a $7,500 grant from the Massachusetts Animal Coalition’s "I'm Animal Friendly" license plate program, BHS will be able to launch our most ambitious low-cost spay/neuter effort. In conjunction with “Adopt a Shelter Dog Month” in October, BHS will begin accepting applications for spaying/neutering vouchers for 50 puppies and dogs at participating veterinarians. Registration for spaying/neutering cats will begin in December; the shelter anticipates being able to accommodate 100-125 cats. More information will be available on the BHS website – www.berkshirehumane.org. BHS also sends our appreciation to the Appelbaum-Kahn Foundation for a $3,500 grant, the Berkshire Bank Foundation for a $1,000 grant, and the Rotary Club of Pittsfield for a $1,000 grant – all of which supported this year’s Camp Humane, the shelter’s summer program for children. Besides providing scholarships for campers in need of financial assistance, the funding helped cover the cost of transportation for field trips and presenters’ fee.
BERKSHIRE HUMANE SOCIETY BOARD OF DIRECTORS Cindy Bartlett, President Fred Pomerantz, Vice-President Leslie Weil, Vice-President Deborah Storie, Secretary Patricia Sinclair, Treasurer Jonathan Cluett, MD, Asst. Secretary Alexandra Glover Karen Leopardi Jackie McHugh, Asst. Treasurer Christopher Nerrie Kathleen Phillips John Reynolds, DVM Janie Strachan Diana Wall PURRADISE ADVISORY BOARD Corinne McKeown Mimi Rosenblatt Leslie Weil Marsha Weiner
Photos: BHS Staff • Printed by: Quality Printing, A Green Co.
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF John Perreault, Executive Director Sherry Betit, Financial Specialist Terry Bissaillon, Volunteer Coordinator Diane Briggs, Administrative Assistant Elizabeth Brown, Outreach Coordinator Lisa Corbett, Head Instructor Family Dog School
Danielle Hammell, Purradise Manager Mary Koncel, Humane Educator Cheryl Truskowski, Shelter Manager