HumaneTales BERKSHIRE HUMANE SOCIETY NEWSLETTER • SPRING 2013
MAIN SHELTER 214 Barker Rd Pittsfield, MA 01201 413-447-7878
berkshirehumane.org
PURRADISE 301 Stockbridge Rd Great Barrington, MA 01230 413-717-4244
“The least I can do is speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves." - Jane Goodall
CELEBRATING BEVERLY TROWILL On February 4th, the Berkshire Humane Society (BHS) and our animal community lost a great friend and animal protector. Beverly Trowill (Bev) was one of the original volunteers for BHS when we formed more than 20 years ago. Bev knew the important role volunteers would play in a small non-profit organization and quickly organized and coordinated our volunteer base. From day one until she passed, Bev was heavily involved in every aspect of what went on at the shelter. Bev was always eager to help, very organized, and totally committed to the success of BHS. She quickly became a member of its board of directors on which she served on for over eight years. Bev was always thinking of creative ways to help BHS’s finances. Besides starting the very successful “Lucky Dog Raffle,” she also organized and ran our annual cheesecake sale at the Botanical Gardens every fall. She was instrumental in all of our annual auctions, and, if it wasn’t for Bev and her organizational skills, many an auction might not have happened. We don’t know how Bev did it all, but she also transported animals in need of medical care back and forth from the shelter, staffed the front desk, took care of all adoption filings and follow ups, and worked our booths at various events. She was also the editor of our newsletter. However, Bev’s real joy was becoming an adoption counselor and working directly with the felines and their adopters. You could always
find her in the cat area on Thursday nights, Sunday afternoons and whenever she stopped by the shelter for a short visit—which usually turned into a few hours stay! This is where Bev worked her magic with people. She enjoyed nothing more than adopting cats into great homes and then befriending the adoption family and offering them whatever help was needed to ensure the cat’s needs were taken care of. It was not uncommon to see Bev having lunch with her adoptees or going to their homes to trim their cat’s nails. On some Sundays, a line of people often waited to see Bev for a nail trim. Next to her family, there was nothing more important to Bev Trowill than BHS and the thousands of animals we care for each year. There was no doubt that Bev had to be the first recipient of our Volunteer of the Year award. When we lost Bev, we lost the equivalent to 20 plus volunteers. She was an amazing person, and she can never be replaced. Bev may have been small in stature, but her opinion on the well-being and proper care of all animals could not be argued. Regardless of any occasional ups and downs one may have had with Bev, we all knew how much she truly and deeply cared about BHS, the animals, and her family. BHS has lost a wonderful family member. We miss Bev’s numerous visits, calls and e-mails but mostly her friendship. We will never forget this very special lady who had such a huge impact on so many people and pets. Her extended family at BHS now smiles and laughs as we remember the many antics Bev shared with us over the years. She was one in a million! BHS is a better organization because of Bev’s passion, hard work, and dedication. I am sure that Bev Trowill is on the other side, caretaking all the animals and friends who went before her. John Perreault, Executive Director
SAVE THE DATE
DANCING for the STRAYS Saturday July 20, 2013 ~ 6 to 10 Hancock Shaker Village
MEET LIZZY AND MARY The Berkshire Humane Society (BHS) is excited to introduce its two newest staff members - Elizabeth (Lizzy) Brown, Outreach Coordinator, and Mary A. Koncel, Humane Educator. Both bring their many talents and abundance of energy to BHS after successful careers in very different professions. Lizzy is a Berkshire County native. After living in different cities in the United States, from Philadelphia to Phoenix, Lizzy moved back to the Berkshires to be near her family. Once she did, it suddenly expanded to include four cats, two dogs and a hamster. Previously, Lizzy spent 15 years as a designer for many major corporations. However, creating all sorts of printed materials, website designs, and marketing campaigns didn’t quite fulfill her aspirations for a better world. With encouragement from her partner, Ken, and their four-legged kids, she applied to BHS when a position opened. For Lizzy, working at BHS is a welcomed change in making the Berkshire community a better place, and collaborating with her colleague Mary is a joy. She’s looking forward to a long future dedicating her work efforts to this new career path.
Before coming to BHS, Mary taught writing at Smith College and worked as a free-lance writer for many years. However, after volunteering in the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina, she was inspired to change careers and pursue work with animals – a life-long passion. To that end, she received a Masters in Animals and Public Policy from the Tufts/Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine where she did research on wild horse welfare and adoption. Born and raised in Chicago, Mary now lives in Worthington, MA, with her husband, Dick, and their small menagerie of animals: two dogs, a cat, two horses, and six chickens. Although Mary loves all her animals equally, she has a particular fondness for her chickens and mustang mare, Rain, and she frequently writes about them in a blog and articles. Mary is thrilled to be on the BHS team. She has long admired its work and mission, and especially its many programs that benefit both animals and people. For Mary, one of the best parts of the job is working with Lizzy and other staff members who are committed to improving the lives of animals, both professionally and personally.
Since coming to BHS, Lizzy and Mary have been keeping busy. Top on their list is expanding the curriculum for both Camp Humane and humane education visits to local schools as well as developing more outreach programs for the Berkshire county community. If you’re at 214 Barker Road someday, stop by the classroom to meet them!
RRRR A HOME FOR LEXI
Most people who know Lexi, a chocolate brown lab/pit bull mix, describe her as “a lot of dog.” For most adopters, that means she’s “too much dog,” but for that special adopter, it could mean she’d be “just the right dog.” Lexi came to Berkshire Humane Society (BHS) on April 27, 2012, as a two-year old with little to no training. Her previous family acquired her as a puppy on Craigslist but eventually was unable to meet the needs of a high energy, grown dog. Also, the children and cats in the household created an environment that proved a little too chaotic for Lexi. In the year that Lexi has been with us, however, kennel staff have been continually impressed with her exuberant personality and her intelligence, both of which make her a quick and willing learner. Ask them about her many qualities, and they’re quick to list them – literally! Some of them include …. • Loves toys , especially tennis balls and soft toys, and will retrieve endlessly,
• Walks well on an easy-walk body harness, • Has learned many basic commands, including sit, stay, come, and shake. Although a few potential adopters have expressed an interest in Lexi, she unfortunately doesn’t make a good first impression. Inside, she tends to bark and charge at the front of her kennel, behaviors that are far from endearing. Once outside, though, she’s much more relaxed and friendly. But usually by then, potential adopters are expressing interest in other dogs. As Lexi’s first anniversary at the shelter approaches, Laura Mertzlufft, BHS Canine Adoption Counselor, is hopeful that Lexi will find a home soon. For Lexi, that home is one that can provide a quiet and stable environment and has no children, cats, or other dogs. Ideally, given Lexi’s vivaciousness, Laura sees her as a great walking or hiking partner for an experienced dog owner who would also be eager to continue her training. “Lexi has come a long way, but she’s still a work in progress,” she explains. Although we love anniversaries at BHS, come April 27, we’d rather be celebrating Lexi’s new and well-deserved forever home. Are you the adopter who could provide that home? Can you give Lexi and us a reason to celebrate? For more information about her, call 447-7878, ext. 26, or just stop by the shelter and visit.
THREE CHEERS FOR ELEANOR! We’re so proud of our sweet Eleanor. Two months ago, this 8-year-old classic tabby came to the Berkshire Humane Society (BHS), frightened, withdrawn, and terribly obese – 22 pounds to be exact. Today, to say that Eleanor’s been transformed would be an understatement. While losing two pounds, a significant loss for a cat, Eleanor gained back her personality, one so engaging that she’s easily become the staff’s favorite resident. Sadly, as a pattern of neglect, Eleanor’s previous owners did little to limit her food intake, and her weight soared. Ideally, a cat with her frame should weigh between 8 and 10 pounds. Because Eleanor was so heavy, she was unable to groom herself, and her owners thought she posed a health problem to them. Their solution was to force her to live in the basement or outdoors with little human contact and no veterinary care. Like many cats with special needs that come to BHS – whether sick, injured, or elderly, Eleanor was taken under the care of Diane Briggs. Officially our administrative assistant, Diane is also widely known around the shelter as the “In-House Foster Mom.” In the 14 years that she’s worked at BHS, dozens of cats requiring “extra attention” could be found in Diane’s office before being placed in their new homes. Eleanor is no exception. In her first few days here, Eleanor chose to hide in a closet, a typical response of frightened cats. But with Diane’s gentle encouragement, she eventually settled into one of several beds by her new foster mom’s desk. Although her weight made even walking difficult, she’s now taking strolls around the office, playing with the many toys that surround her, and even sitting in Diane’s lap. “I’m very impressed with how well she’s doing, “says Diane. “She’s a real love bug. She has a sparkle in her eyes that wasn’t there when she came.”
MORE OFFERINGS FROM FAMILY DOG SCHOOL For the last 15 years, Family Dog School (FDS) at Berkshire Humane Society (BHS) has provided a valuable service: educating and prompting a loving, respectful relationship among dogs and humans through play and training. Now, with some recent changes, we’re pleased to announce that FDS will be expanding and providing even more learning opportunities for both dogs and their owners. According to Lisa Corbett, lead trainer, “The original plan for Family Dog School was to help keep dogs in the home by giving them some basic training. Essentially, we wanted to stop problems early on.” To that end, a variety of classes and private sessions were offered. For example, Level 1 covers basic manners, such as sitting, staying, heeling, and coming as well as initial preparation for the Canine Good Citizen Test, while Level 2 introduces hand signals, distraction and off leash training, and additional Canine Good Citizenship exercises. For dogs not ready to work in a group, individual consultations are available. Yet, despite the success and popularity of FDS, both Lisa and John Perrault, Executive Director of BHS, felt that it wasn’t meeting its full potential, especially given the school’s impressive training facility. “It’s one of the best around,“ explains Lisa. “We have great indoor and outdoor space as well as equipment for agility and other types of training.” Key to expanding FDS, though, was Lisa. Besides being the lead trainer, she was also managing canine services – two very big responsibilities for one person. However, some thoughtful shifts in staffing last fall, including the promotion of Roberta Townsend to kennel manager, has now allowed Lisa to devote her time and talents exclusively to FDS.
With cats that are as obese as Eleanor, losing weight needs to be a slow process. To that end, BHS shelter manager Cheryl Truskowski has placed Eleanor on a strict weight management diet that’s high in fiber but low in fat and calories. Cheryl empathizes that most cats become overweight because of improper diet – too much canned or dry food that offers little meat protein and too many carbohydrates in the form of corn, rice, and wheat. Diabetes, arthritic joint disease, high blood pressure, and kidney failure are just some of the conditions that accompany obese cats. A healthier alternative, Cheryl explains, is offering a grain-free diet, replacing dry food with more canned food, and restricting feeding to specific times of the day instead of free feeding all day.
With the help of her assistant trainers, Lisa has many plans for FDS. While Level 1, Level 2, and agility classes and private sessions will continue to be part of the curriculum, other new offerings, such as scent training, will be added. The FDS trainers are also creating several seminars and workshops on “everything dog.” The first is Puppy Picking 101, which will discuss topics related to selecting a new puppy or dog. Additionally, to allow more people to attend Kindergarten Puppy Training, a four-week course, Lisa will be implementing an open or rolling enrollment for clients.
Our goal for Eleanor is a loving, permanent home. And she’s on the right path. Surprisingly, a visit to the veterinarian revealed that she had no major health problems. While Cheryl will keep track of Eleanor’s weight loss each week, Diane will continue to build Eleanor’s trust and confidence. We strongly suspect a home for Eleanor is not too far off in the future.
Group Classes ~ Private Lessons ~ Consults ˚
Like us on Facebook. Call us at 413-447-7878.Visit us at berkshirehumane.org
FAMILY DOG SCHOOL Lisa Corbett, Senior Instructor 413-447-7878 ext. 39 lcorbett@berkshirehumane.org www.berkshirehumane.org
SAVE THE DATE for our
ANNUAL MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND TAG SALE
Sat., May 25th 9-5 & Sun., May 26th 9-3
BERKSHIRE HUMANE SOCIETY CAT ADOPTION CENTER 301 Stockbridge Road Great Barrington, MA 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
Greylock Animal Hospital and Donovan & O’Connor present:
HELPING PEOPLE AND THEIR PETS IN CRISIS
11TH ANNUAL HUMANE RACE! SAT., MAY 4TH @ 10AM
Over the last 21 years, Berkshire Humane Society (BHS) has been constantly evolving. Because we are an integral part of Berkshire County, our goal is to always respond to the needs of the community. In the past, that need was primarily helping to control the pet population. While we continue to address pet population and other welfare issues, we’ve also been presented with a new and urgent need – providing safe, temporary housing for animals of people who are in crisis.
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The Humane Race is a unique 5K Fun Run and One Mile Walk with something for every member of the family, including the dog! Run or walk, with or without your dog, and enjoy music, food, prizes, and tons of fun! Brought to you by your friends at Bark N’Cat • Register on-line at www.HumaneRace.org: $15/adults, $10/children 12 and under. (Pre-register to save $5.00 and have a better chance of getting a T-shirt.) • Fabulous T-shirts to the first 150 people to register. All dogs get a doggie bandana! • Check in and Race Day registration begin at 8:00am at 16 Water Street: $20/adults, $15/children 12 and under. • All dogs are free. Please review “Dog Jog Rules” at www.HumaneRace.org. • Race starts at 10am, and the event ends at 12 noon. • All proceeds benefit the Berkshire Humane Society. The race begins at 16 Water Street in Williamstown with all participants receiving a goody bag. Enjoy food, music, and lots of great prizes at our finish line festivities. Because the Humane Race is for the dogs, we have wading pools and lots of treats for their post-race pleasure! New and Exciting News: Those of you who raise $500 or more in pledges, including runners/walkers, will be entered into a drawing to win a photo shoot with premier animal photographer Amanda Jones (amandajones.com)! A local resident, Amanda has generously donated her services to help motivate you to get out there and raise money for the Berkshire Humane Society, a cause close to her heart. For every $500 you raise, you’ll receive one entry into the drawing. For 10 years, Humane Race founders, Alix and Brian Cabral, put their hearts and souls into creating a great event that raises much needed funds – over $120,000 and counting – for the Berkshire Humane Society. This year, they’re stepping down as directors and handing the reins over to new race directors, Christa Abel and Dawn Catelotti, the proprietors of Bark N’Cat in North Adams (www.barkncat.com). Christa, Dawn, and their team bring fresh ideas and lots of energy to the event, and they’re committed to making the Humane Race better than ever. Thank you, Alix and Brian, for all the amazing work you’ve done over the years! To learn more about the Humane Race or to register for it, go to www.HumaneRace.org.
Now, thanks to the generosity of the John T. and Jane A. Wiederhold Foundation, we’re ready to take on that challenge! As a result of their $50,000 matching grant, we’re moving forward with our plans to create a Safe Pet Room where we could care for these special animals before placing them in foster homes. According to John Perreault, Executive Director of BHS, the need for the Safe Pet Room is great. “Over the last year, we’ve received phones almost every week from different agencies looking for assistance for their clients with pets.” he explains. Last week, it was Elder Protective Services with a woman who was hospitalized and had no friends or family to care for her dog. Before that, the Brien Center with a client who needed emergency services but won’t seek treatment because he didn’t have a place for his cats or the Red Cross with a homeless family but no shelter that would accommodate their pets. As in the past, even with the Safe Pet Room, our priority will be placing these pets with one of our approved foster homes. Right now, however, we have to first locate a home before we can offer to take the pet. Sometimes that takes several days – days which people facing an emergency do not have. And sometimes, especially in situations with larger dogs, we can’t always find an appropriate foster home. With the addition of the Safe Pet Room, we’ll be able to respond more quickly by taking the pets right away and then looking for foster homes. “Often we couldn’t help because we didn’t have the space,” John says. “But now we will.” Fortunately, when we built the shelter in 2003, we planned ahead. The final design included an extra space – a covered patio with a poured concrete floor, lights, and a chained-link fence. Currently, we use it to socialize and provide playtime for our dogs in inclement weather. But by the end of this year, however, we’re hopeful that this area will be renovated into the Safe Pet Room, a warm, secure location that can accommodate 8 – 10 dogs as well as some cats if needed. In emergencies, we have other places within the shelter where we can house felines. John estimates that the total cost of the Safe Pet Room is $90,000. To raise the additional $40,000 needed to receive the grant from the Wiederhold Foundation, our grants committee is working hard, applying for additional funding to make sure this project becomes a reality. But we could also use your assistance. Please consider making a donation – designated for the Safe Pet Room – to this worthwhile project. Help us help people and their pets in crisis.
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
FRECKLES, FIV, AND A FOREVER HOME Often finding a home for cats with special needs takes time. But not for recently arrived Freckles, a beautiful 5-year-old orange and white long-haired tabby who is fond of purring and cuddling in laps. One look at her, and it was love at first sight for her new adopter. Like all cats surrendered to Berkshire Humane Society (BHS), Freckles was quarantined, examined, vaccinated, and tested for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) as part of the intake process before being placed for adoption. Unlike most other cats, however, the testing revealed that she was positive for FIV. Not once, but twice. As Cheryl Truskowski, BHS shelter manager, explains, the next step involved some detective work - determining if Freckles had been previously vaccinated for FIV because a cat that has been will always test positive. Unfortunately, however, most of Freckle’s history is a mystery. One year ago, a woman in Otis took Freckles in as a stray - spayed and declawed – until allergies forced her to bring Freckles to BHS, not knowing she was FIV positive. Because Freckles was not micro-chipped, which would have allowed Cheryl to contact her original owner to gather more information about her, it was impossible to delve any further into the tabby’s past.
In the United States, according to Cornell University, approximately 1.5% to 3% of cats are infected with FIV. Bite wounds are the primary mode of transmission, but cats can also be born with the infection or exposed to it by sexual transmission. Cats with FIV live for many years without showing symptoms. Eventually, though, an infected cat becomes prone to frequent infections and experiences other problems including hair loss, swollen lymph nodes, and diarrhea. The decision to place a cat with FIV for adoption is a difficult one, but because Freckles appeared so healthy and is so friendly, Cheryl decided to offer her the chance for a new home and life. Enter Rosemary of Dalton, MA. Recently, Flowers, her cat of 8 years, whom she also adopted from BHS when she was 9, died. Although she wasn’t looking for another cat, she happened to go to the BHS website and see Freckles. “For some reason, I was so attracted to her,” Rosemary says. “She just has this beautiful face.” Although Rosemary didn’t find out that Freckles was FIV positive until she came to meet her, as she explains, “By then, it didn’t make any difference.” Rosemary did some research on FIV and talked to staff at her veterinarian’s office. Both confirmed what she had been told by BHS staff: cats with FIV can live into their teens with proper management. But, because their immune system is challenged, it’s essential that they live in a stress-free environment, visit a veterinarian regularly, and are fed a nutritional and balanced diet. Staying indoors is also a necessity, and, if possible, being the only cat in a household. And that’s exactly the home that Rosemary is giving Freckles. According to recent reports, Freckles has acclimated quickly to her new life. “She found her food, water bowl and litter box in 20 minutes, and then went to take a nap on my bed,“ Rosemary says, adding, “She’s a real joy.”
BERKSHIRE HUMANE SOCIETY 214 Barker Road, Pittsfield, Massachusetts 01201 • www.berkshirehumane.org • 413-447-7878 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Cindy Bartlett President
Fred Pomerantz Vice-President
Leslie Weil
Evan Morowitz Christopher Nerrie Jane Patton John Reynolds Janie Strachan Diana Wall
Vice-President
Deborah Storie Secretary
Patricia Sinclair Treasurer
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF John Perreault Executive Director
Lisa Corbett Alix Cabral Jonathan Cluett, M.D.
Family Dog School Head Instructor
Assist. Secretary
Cheryl Truskowski
Karen Leopardi Jackie McHugh Assist. Treasurer
Shelter Manager
Elizabeth Brown
Mary Koncel
Humane Educator
Terry Bissaillon
Volunteer Coordinator
Diane Briggs
Administrative Assistant
Sherry Betit
Financial Specialist
PURRADISE Berkshire Humane Society Cat Adoption Center 301 Stockbridge Road Great Barrington, MA 413-717-4244 Danielle Hammell Manager
Outreach Coordinator
Newsletter Design: Shirley Sparks, Stockbridge, MA • Photos: BHS Staff • Printed by: Quality Printing, A Green Co.