Berkshire Humane Society

BHS was founded in 1992 when a small group of concerned animal lovers determined to ensure that the care of the area's homeless pets would continue uninterrupted after the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ( MSPCA ) closed its Berkshire County operation. The MSPCA helped the group through an 18-month transition period. Today, BHS is an independent organization with no ties to or support from the MSPCA or any other animal support group. The dogs, cats, rabbits and other small animals that reside at BHS while awaiting their forever homes live and play in a spacious, light-filled state-of-the art building that was opened to the public in July 2003. Dogs are housed in privacy suites or a glass-enclosed kennel that does not open to the outside. Instead, staff members or volunteers walk each dog on the spacious shelter grounds at least three times every day. Cats luxuriate either in their own condoin a U-shaped cat mall or in a large feature room complete with ladders, tree houses, and toys. The shelter can accommodate up to 30 dogs and 70 cats. In the 16 years that BHS has been open, over 13, 000 homeless pets have been placed in permanent homes. In 2007 over 1, 300 animals were either surrendered to the shelter by their owners or brought to the shelter by animal control officers or concerned citizens. All of the adoptable dogs and 97 percent of the adoptable cats were placed in forever homes. Before leaving BHS with their adoptive families, all dogs, cats, and rabbits are spayed or neutered through a cooperative program with area veterinarians. In addition, the dogs and cats are microchipped, and vaccinated.