TPURRADISE

301 Stockbridge RdGreat Barrington, MA 01230

413-717-4244

alesMAIN SHELTER214 Barker RdPittsfield, MA 01201413-447-7878

HBERK SH I R E H UMANE S O C I E T Y N EWS L E T T E R • S P R I N G 2 0 1 3

berkshirehumane.org

umane

“The least I can do is speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves." - Jane Goodall

CELEBRATING BEVERLY TROWILL

On February 4th, the BerkshireHumane Society (BHS) and ouranimal community lost a greatfriend and animal protector.Beverly Trowill (Bev) was one ofthe original volunteers for BHS

when we formed more than 20 years ago. Bev knew the important rolevolunteers would play in a small non-profit organization and quicklyorganized and coordinated our volunteer base. From day one until shepassed, Bev was heavily involved in every aspect of what went on at theshelter. Bev was always eager to help, very organized, and totallycommitted to the success of BHS. She quickly became a member of itsboard 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 organizedand 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 forBev and her organizational skills, many an auction might not havehappened.

We don’t know how Bev did it all, but she also transported animals inneed of medical care back and forth from the shelter, staffed the frontdesk, took care of all adoption filings and follow ups, and worked ourbooths at various events. She was also the editor of our newsletter.

However, Bev’s real joy was becoming an adoption counselor andworking directly with the felines and their adopters. You could always

find her in the cat area on Thursday nights, Sunday afternoons andwhenever she stopped by the shelter for a short visit—which usuallyturned into a few hours stay! This is where Bev worked her magic withpeople. She enjoyed nothing more than adopting cats into great homesand then befriending the adoption family and offering them whateverhelp was needed to ensure the cat’s needs were taken care of. It was notuncommon to see Bev having lunch with her adoptees or going to theirhomes to trim their cat’s nails. On some Sundays, a line of people oftenwaited to see Bev for a nail trim. Next to her family, there was nothingmore important to Bev Trowill than BHS and the thousands of animalswe care for each year. There was no doubt that Bev had to be the firstrecipient of our Volunteer of the Year award.

When we lost Bev, we lost the equivalent to 20 plus volunteers. Shewas an amazing person, and she can never be replaced. Bev may havebeen small in stature, but her opinion on the well-being and proper careof all animals could not be argued. Regardless of any occasional ups anddowns one may have had with Bev, we all knew how much she trulyand deeply cared about BHS, the animals, and her family.

BHS has lost a wonderful family member. We miss Bev’s numerousvisits, calls and e-mails but mostly her friendship. We will never forgetthis very special lady who had such a huge impact on so many peopleand pets. Her extended family at BHS now smiles and laughs as weremember the many antics Bev shared with us over the years. She wasone 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 theanimals and friends who went before her.

John Perreault, Executive Director

SAVE THE DATE

DANCING

for the STRAYSSaturday July 20, 2013 ~ 6 to 10

Hancock Shaker Village

The Berkshire Humane Society (BHS) is excited to introduce itstwo newest staff members - Elizabeth (Lizzy) Brown, OutreachCoordinator, and Mary A. Koncel, Humane Educator. Both bringtheir many talents and abundance of energy to BHS after successfulcareers in very different professions.

Lizzy is a Berkshire County native.After living in different cities in theUnited States, from Philadelphia toPhoenix, Lizzy moved back to theBerkshires to be near her family. Onceshe did, it suddenly expanded to includefour cats, two dogs and a hamster.

Previously, Lizzy spent 15 years as adesigner for many major corporations.However, creating all sorts of printedmaterials, website designs, and marketingcampaigns didn’t quite fulfill her aspirations

for a better world. With encouragement from her partner, Ken, andtheir four-legged kids, she applied to BHS when a position opened.

For Lizzy, working at BHS is a welcomed change in making theBerkshire community a better place, and collaborating with her colleagueMary is a joy. She’s looking forward to a long future dedicating herwork efforts to this new career path.

Before coming to BHS, Mary taughtwriting at Smith College and worked asa free-lance writer for many years. However,after volunteering in the Gulf Coast afterHurricane Katrina, she was inspired tochange careers and pursue work withanimals – a life-long passion. To that end,she received a Masters in Animals andPublic Policy from the Tufts/CummingsSchool of Veterinary Medicine where shedid research on wild horse welfare andadoption.

Born and raised in Chicago, Mary now lives in Worthington, MA,with her husband, Dick, and their small menagerie of animals: twodogs, a cat, two horses, and six chickens. Although Mary loves all heranimals equally, she has a particular fondness for her chickens andmustang mare, Rain, and she frequently writes about them in a blogand articles.

Mary is thrilled to be on the BHS team. She has long admired itswork and mission, and especially its many programs that benefit bothanimals and people. For Mary, one of the best parts of the job is workingwith Lizzy and other staff members who are committed to improvingthe lives of animals, both professionally and personally.

MEET LIZZY AND MARY

Most people who know Lexi, achocolate brown lab/pit bull mix,describe her as “a lot of dog.” Formost adopters, that means she’s “too much dog,” but for that specialadopter, it could mean she’d be “justthe right dog.”

Lexi came to Berkshire HumaneSociety (BHS) on April 27, 2012, asa two-year old with little to no training.Her previous family acquired her asa puppy on Craigslist but eventually

was unable to meet the needs of a high energy, grown dog. Also, thechildren and cats in the household created an environment that proveda little too chaotic for Lexi.

In the year that Lexi has been with us, however, kennel staff havebeen continually impressed with her exuberant personality and herintelligence, both of which make her a quick and willing learner. Askthem 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, shetends to bark and charge at the front of her kennel, behaviors that arefar from endearing. Once outside, though, she’s much more relaxedand friendly. But usually by then, potential adopters are expressinginterest 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 homesoon. For Lexi, that home is one that can provide a quiet and stableenvironment and has no children, cats, or other dogs. Ideally, givenLexi’s vivaciousness, Laura sees her as a great walking or hiking partnerfor an experienced dog owner who would also be eager to continue hertraining. “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 ratherbe celebrating Lexi’s new and well-deserved forever home. Are you theadopter who could provide that home? Can you give Lexi and us areason to celebrate? For more information about her, call 447-7878,ext. 26, or just stop by the shelter and visit.

Since coming to BHS, Lizzy and Mary have been keeping busy. Top on their list is expanding the curriculum for bothCamp Humane and humane education visits to local schools as well as developing more outreach programs for the Berkshirecounty community. If you’re at 214 Barker Road someday, stop by the classroom to meet them!

RRRRA HOME FOR LEXI

Like us on Facebook. Call us at 413-447-7878. Visit us at berkshirehumane.org

THREE CHEERS FOR ELEANOR!We’re so proud of our sweet Eleanor.

Two months ago, this 8-year-old classictabby came to the Berkshire HumaneSociety (BHS), frightened, withdrawn,and terribly obese – 22 pounds to beexact. Today, to say that Eleanor’sbeen transformed would be an under-statement. While losing two pounds,a significant loss for a cat, Eleanorgained back her personality, one soengaging that she’s easily become thestaff’s favorite resident.

Sadly, as a pattern of neglect, Eleanor’sprevious owners did little to limit her food intake, and her weightsoared. Ideally, a cat with her frame should weigh between 8 and 10pounds. Because Eleanor was so heavy, she was unable to groomherself, and her owners thought she posed a health problem to them.Their solution was to force her to live in the basement or outdoorswith little human contact and no veterinary care.

Like many cats with special needs that come to BHS – whethersick, injured, or elderly, Eleanor was taken under the care of DianeBriggs. Officially our administrative assistant, Diane is also widelyknown around the shelter as the “In-House Foster Mom.” In the 14years that she’s worked at BHS, dozens of cats requiring “extra attention”could be found in Diane’s office before being placed in their newhomes. Eleanor is no exception.

In her first few days here, Eleanor chose to hide in a closet, a typicalresponse of frightened cats. But with Diane’s gentle encouragement,she eventually settled into one of several beds by her new foster mom’sdesk. Although her weight made even walking difficult, she’s nowtaking strolls around the office, playing with the many toys thatsurround her, and even sitting in Diane’s lap. “I’m very impressedwith how well she’s doing, “says Diane. “She’s a real love bug. Shehas a sparkle in her eyes that wasn’t there when she came.”

With cats that are as obese as Eleanor, losing weight needs to be aslow process. To that end, BHS shelter manager Cheryl Truskowskihas placed Eleanor on a strict weight management diet that’s high infiber but low in fat and calories. Cheryl empathizes that most catsbecome overweight because of improper diet – too much canned ordry food that offers little meat protein and too many carbohydrates inthe form of corn, rice, and wheat. Diabetes, arthritic joint disease,high blood pressure, and kidney failure are just some of the conditionsthat 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 freefeeding all day.

Our goal for Eleanor is a loving, permanent home. And she’s onthe right path. Surprisingly, a visit to the veterinarian revealed thatshe had no major health problems. While Cheryl will keep track ofEleanor’s weight loss each week, Diane will continue to build Eleanor’strust and confidence. We strongly suspect a home for Eleanor is nottoo far off in the future.

MORE OFFERINGSFROM FAMILY DOG SCHOOL

For the last 15 years, Family Dog School (FDS)at Berkshire Humane Society (BHS) hasprovided a valuable service: educatingand prompting a loving, respectful rela-tionship among dogs and humans throughplay and training. Now, with somerecent changes, we’re pleased to announcethat FDS will be expanding and providingeven more learning opportunities for bothdogs 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 givingthem some basic training. Essentially, we wanted to stop problemsearly on.” To that end, a variety of classes and private sessions wereoffered. For example, Level 1 covers basic manners, such as sitting,staying, heeling, and coming as well as initial preparation for theCanine Good Citizen Test, while Level 2 introduces hand signals,distraction and off leash training, and additional Canine GoodCitizenship exercises. For dogs not ready to work in a group, individualconsultations are available.

Yet, despite the success and popularity of FDS, both Lisa and JohnPerrault, Executive Director of BHS, felt that it wasn’t meeting itsfull potential, especially given the school’s impressive training facility.“It’s one of the best around,“ explains Lisa. “We have great indoorand outdoor space as well as equipment for agility and other types oftraining.”

Key to expanding FDS, though, was Lisa. Besides being the leadtrainer, she was also managing canine services – two very bigresponsibilities for one person. However, some thoughtful shifts instaffing last fall, including the promotion of Roberta Townsend tokennel manager, has now allowed Lisa to devote her time and talentsexclusively to FDS.

With the help of her assistant trainers, Lisa has many plans forFDS. While Level 1, Level 2, and agility classes and private sessionswill continue to be part of the curriculum, other new offerings, suchas scent training, will be added. The FDS trainers are also creatingseveral seminars and workshops on “everything dog.” The first isPuppy Picking 101, which will discuss topics related to selecting anew puppy or dog. Additionally, to allow more people to attendKindergarten Puppy Training, a four-week course, Lisa will be imple-menting an open or rolling enrollment for clients.

˚

FAMILY DOG SCHOOLGroup Classes ~ Private Lessons ~ Consults

Lisa Corbett, Senior Instructor413-447-7878 ext. 39

lcorbett@berkshirehumane.orgwww.berkshirehumane.org

SAVE THE DATEfor our

ANNUAL MEMORIAL DAY

WEEKEND TAG SALESat., May 25th 9-5

& Sun., May 26th 9-3

BERKSHIRE HUMANE SOCIETY CAT

ADOPTION CENTER301 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

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:

THE 11TH ANNUALHUMANE RACE!

SAT., MAY 4TH @ 10AMThe Humane Race is a unique 5K Fun Run and One MileWalk with something for every member of the family, includingthe dog! Run or walk, with or without your dog, and enjoymusic, food, prizes, and tons of fun! Brought to you by yourfriends 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 allparticipants receiving a goody bag. Enjoy food, music, and lots ofgreat prizes at our finish line festivities. Because the Humane Raceis for the dogs, we have wading pools and lots of treats for theirpost-race pleasure!

New and Exciting News: Those of you who raise $500 or morein pledges, including runners/walkers, will be entered into a drawingto win a photo shoot with premier animal photographer AmandaJones (amandajones.com)! A local resident, Amanda has generouslydonated her services to help motivate you to get out there and raisemoney for the Berkshire Humane Society, a cause close to herheart. For every $500 you raise, you’ll receive one entry into thedrawing.

For 10 years, Humane Race founders, Alix and Brian Cabral,put their hearts and souls into creating a great event that raisesmuch needed funds – over $120,000 and counting – for theBerkshire Humane Society. This year, they’re stepping down asdirectors and handing the reins over to new race directors, ChristaAbel and Dawn Catelotti, the proprietors of Bark N’Cat in NorthAdams (www.barkncat.com). Christa, Dawn, and their team bringfresh ideas and lots of energy to the event, and they’re committedto making the Humane Race better than ever. Thank you, Alixand Brian, for all the amazing work you’ve done over the years!

To learn more about the Humane Race or to register for it, goto www.HumaneRace.org.

HELPING PEOPLE AND THEIR PETS IN CRISIS

Over the last 21 years, Berkshire Humane Society (BHS) hasbeen constantly evolving. Because we are an integral part ofBerkshire County, our goal is to always respond to the needs ofthe community. In the past, that need was primarily helping tocontrol the pet population. While we continue to address petpopulation and other welfare issues, we’ve also been presented witha new and urgent need – providing safe, temporary housing foranimals of people who are in crisis.

Now, thanks to the generosity of the John T. and Jane A.Wiederhold Foundation, we’re ready to take on that challenge! Asa result of their $50,000 matching grant, we’re moving forwardwith our plans to create a Safe Pet Room where we could care forthese special animals before placing them in foster homes.

According to John Perreault, Executive Director of BHS, theneed for the Safe Pet Room is great. “Over the last year, we’vereceived phones almost every week from different agencies lookingfor assistance for their clients with pets.” he explains. Last week, itwas Elder Protective Services with a woman who was hospitalizedand had no friends or family to care for her dog. Before that, theBrien Center with a client who needed emergency services butwon’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 wouldaccommodate their pets.

As in the past, even with the Safe Pet Room, our priority will beplacing these pets with one of our approved foster homes. Rightnow, however, we have to first locate a home before we can offerto take the pet. Sometimes that takes several days – days whichpeople facing an emergency do not have. And sometimes, especiallyin situations with larger dogs, we can’t always find an appropriatefoster home. With the addition of the Safe Pet Room, we’ll beable to respond more quickly by taking the pets right away andthen looking for foster homes. “Often we couldn’t help becausewe didn’t have the space,” John says. “But now we will.”

Fortunately, when we built the shelter in 2003, we plannedahead. The final design included an extra space – a covered patiowith a poured concrete floor, lights, and a chained-link fence.Currently, we use it to socialize and provide playtime for our dogsin inclement weather. But by the end of this year, however, we’rehopeful that this area will be renovated into the Safe Pet Room, awarm, secure location that can accommodate 8 – 10 dogs as wellas some cats if needed. In emergencies, we have other places withinthe 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 fromthe Wiederhold Foundation, our grants committee is working hard,applying for additional funding to make sure this project becomesa reality. But we could also use your assistance. Please considermaking a donation – designated for the Safe Pet Room – to thisworthwhile project. Help us help people and their pets in crisis.

BERKSHIRE HUMANE SOCIETY214 Barker Road, Pittsfield, Massachusetts 01201 • www.berkshirehumane.org • 413-447-7878

Newsletter Design: Shirley Sparks, Stockbridge, MA • Photos: BHS Staff • Printed by: Quality Printing, A Green Co.

BOARD OF DIRECTORSCindy Bartlett

President

Fred PomerantzVice-President

Leslie WeilVice-President

Deborah StorieSecretary

Patricia SinclairTreasurer

Alix CabralJonathan Cluett, M.D.

Assist. SecretaryKaren LeopardiJackie McHughAssist. Treasurer

Evan MorowitzChristopher NerrieJane PattonJohn ReynoldsJanie StrachanDiana Wall

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFFJohn PerreaultExecutive Director

Lisa CorbettFamily Dog SchoolHead Instructor

Cheryl TruskowskiShelter Manager

Elizabeth BrownOutreach Coordinator

Mary KoncelHumane EducatorTerry Bissaillon

Volunteer Coordinator Diane Briggs

Administrative AssistantSherry Betit

Financial Specialist

PURRADISEBerkshire Humane Society Cat Adoption Center

301 Stockbridge Road Great Barrington, MA413-717-4244Danielle Hammell

Manager

FRECKLES, FIV, AND A FOREVER HOMEOften finding a home for cats

with special needs takes time. Butnot for recently arrived Freckles,a beautiful 5-year-old orange andwhite long-haired tabby who isfond of purring and cuddling inlaps. One look at her, and it waslove at first sight for her newadopter.

Like all cats surrendered toBerkshire Humane Society (BHS),Freckles was quarantined, examined,vaccinated, and tested for FelineImmunodeficiency Virus (FIV)and Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)as part of the intake process before

being placed for adoption. Unlike most other cats, however, the testingrevealed that she was positive for FIV. Not once, but twice.

As Cheryl Truskowski, BHS shelter manager, explains, the next stepinvolved some detective work - determining if Freckles had been previouslyvaccinated for FIV because a cat that has been will always test positive.Unfortunately, however, most of Freckle’s history is a mystery. One yearago, 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 wasFIV positive. Because Freckles was not micro-chipped, which would haveallowed Cheryl to contact her original owner to gather more informationabout her, it was impossible to delve any further into the tabby’s past.

In the United States, according to Cornell University, approximately1.5% to 3% of cats are infected with FIV. Bite wounds are the primarymode of transmission, but cats can also be born with the infection orexposed to it by sexual transmission. Cats with FIV live for many yearswithout showing symptoms. Eventually, though, an infected cat becomesprone to frequent infections and experiences other problems including hairloss, swollen lymph nodes, and diarrhea.

The decision to place a cat with FIV for adoption is a difficult one, butbecause Freckles appeared so healthy and is so friendly, Cheryl decided tooffer 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 shewasn’t looking for another cat, she happened to go to the BHS website andsee Freckles. “For some reason, I was so attracted to her,” Rosemary says.“She just has this beautiful face.” Although Rosemary didn’t find out thatFreckles was FIV positive until she came to meet her, as she explains, “Bythen, it didn’t make any difference.”

Rosemary did some research on FIV and talked to staff at her veterinarian’soffice. Both confirmed what she had been told by BHS staff: cats withFIV can live into their teens with proper management. But, because theirimmune system is challenged, it’s essential that they live in a stress-freeenvironment, visit a veterinarian regularly, and are fed a nutritional andbalanced diet. Staying indoors is also a necessity, and, if possible, being theonly cat in a household.

And that’s exactly the home that Rosemary is giving Freckles. Accordingto recent reports, Freckles has acclimated quickly to her new life. “Shefound her food, water bowl and litter box in 20 minutes, and then went totake a nap on my bed,“ Rosemary says, adding, “She’s a real joy.”