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February 25, 2003
  Articles on this page: • It's a dog’s (and cat’s) life
It's a dog’s (and cat’s) life PITTSFIELD -- With high-ceilings, exposed beams and lots of open space, it looks like one of the renovated old mills that have become one of the area's architectural hallmarks. But this $4 million building is brand new, and contains neither office space nor modern art. The state-of-the-art headquarters of the Berkshire Humane Society on Barker Road is strictly for the dogs. And cats. It was specially built to improve the care of the animals and the experience of their potential adopters, and from the way guests have been coming and going, all of the little extras included in the building's design seem to have paid off. Since opening its new digs last July, the Berkshire Humane Society has cared for an average of 60 animals per day, said John Perrault, the society's executive director. "We built this place so we could grow into it," Perrault said, "but four hours after we opened, the place was at capacity." By contrast, the shelter's old location in a former barn could house about 20 animals daily. It also smelled like, well, a barn. Standing in the lobby of the new shelter, a visitor's senses are accosted by neither overwhelming smell nor sound of the building’s four-legged residents. In the glassed-in, climate-controlled dog kennels, the seamless epoxy floors slant towards a center drain to facilitate cleaning. The ceilings throughout the animal areas are sound-reducing and contain a separate air-filtration system that circulates the air 16 times an hour. These measures work toward the three-part goal to which Perrault said the architects and builders referred at every step of the design and construction: The Humane Society wanted the building to be easy for the staff to clean, comfortable for the animals and inviting to the public. Their achievement of these goals is evidenced by a layout that is a model of efficiency. And just ask the gray calico cat twins snuggling in their fluffy bed how contented they feel. As to the public, from the open floor plan to the separate entrance for the pet food bank, the place was built with people in mind. "It has more room and it's a better place for the animals," said 10-year-old Shauna LeFebvre of Cheshire, whose family adopted a German Shepherd-mix from the former location. "The cages there were small, and it was crowded." Shauna was visiting the new shelter with Girl Scout Troop 516, a dog-loving bunch of fourth and fifth graders that made the snowy drive from Cheshire to talk with Perrault about animals. Though their affection over-stimulated at a beagle-mix puppy named Christopher and their cooing over a litter of kittens may have drowned out one of Perrault's lessons, the girls learned, and appreciated, how human and animal behavior affect the operation of the shelter. "They have good safety rules," said Amanda LeBarron, 10. For the Girl Scouts, their visit was helpful in obtaining a Plants and Animals badge. But it also exemplified the community education program Perrault considers one of his most important jobs. The Humane Society ventures to classrooms to talk about proper animal treatment, sponsors summer camps and is working to implement a broader training program, for animals newly arrived at the shelter as well as for pet-owners.
"Most of the time dogs are surrendered," Perrault explained, "it's because the dog-human bond has broken down." To keep that bond intact, the shelter offers classes that teach people to care for dogs, cats, small animals like rabbits and gerbils, and even their geriatric pets. "We've really cut down on the number of pets that have had to be destroyed thanks to humane education" of current and prospective pet-owners alike, Perrault said. A black Labrador retriever named Onyx, who despite good-looks and an even temper has lived in the shelter for months, trotted around the fishbowl-like Dog Feature Room, sniffing his toys, jumping on and off his chair and looking generally cute and adoptable. The staff hoped his prime location in the center of the building would help Onyx find a home. For the time being, though, he is well taken care of, having just returned from a blustery but private walk with a shelter volunteer. Because there is a maximum of five staff members on duty at any given time, non-paid help is essential to the smooth operation of the shelter. While finding folks to donate time during weekdays can be tough, Perrault said, "We've had some awesome volunteers." Luckily, they've also had some pretty good donors. To date, the shelter has raised about $2.6 million toward the cost of the new building. A raffle for a Porsche Boxster last year netted $55,000, and sponsorships of named rooms in the facility have brought in more than $600,000 so far. "I'm amazed at the level of support we’re getting from the community," said Sharon Shepard, the shelter’s new development director. "I never realized the extent to which people will go for animals." Still, with $1.4 million left to raise for the building, an operating budget that blossomed from about $650,000 to about $900,000 with the move, and no state or federal money, the Berkshire Humane Society is trying to rejuvenate its fund-raising efforts. Upcoming events include the second annual Humane Race in Williamstown in April; a Dogwalk in Pittsfield in May; the "Lucky Dog" cash raffle this summer; and an August horse show at Overmeade Farm and a November auction at Seven Hills Country Inn, both in Lenox. While Shepard is planning a reception for the fall to recognize donors who have given $500 or more, smaller gifts and in-kind donations are common and helpful. The Cheshire Girl Scouts brought on their visit chew toys, cat treats, cleaning supplies, and a $25 check. "The girls took a vote and decided they wanted to make a monetary donation," said Kelly LeBarron, the scout leader and Amanda's mom. "It’s meager because it’s not cookie time." But it was appreciated, Perrault assured her. Fifteen cats lazed in individual units. Some soaked up the mid-morning sun. Others visited their neighbors through portholes connecting their quarters. One scratched at her personal litter box that sat in a separate room from her flannel bed. But the Cat Habitat Room -- which looks like cat heaven with toys, jungle gyms and a long catwalk perched above the carpeted cat trees -- was vacant. It seemed silly that such a fun playground would go unused, what with all those cats just across the hall. As it turns out, the Cat Habitat, which sits in the center of the building to the right of Onyx's private suite, is only for cats that have been at the shelter for longer than two weeks. On this particular winter weekday, all of the old-timers had been adopted and the only cats left were those who had been surrendered recently. "Our adoption records have gone through the roof," Perrault said. An average of 300 cats, dogs and other small mammals have been surrendered each month since the new facility opened, some from as far away as New York, Connecticut and Vermont. But on the flip side, the 1,229 animals adopted in 2003 handily beat the Berkshire Humane Society's previous high mark of 1,074 animals taken in 1999. Perrault said he and his staff celebrate this high rate of turnover, and attribute it in large part to the appeal of the new building. And perhaps there's also a more base emotion at work. "When you hear one dog crying," said nine-year-old Jessica Gale of Cheshire, "it's like, oh, I want all of them."  RETURN TO TOP |
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