January 2014 Complimentary

Peek a Boo . . .
Come see CAMO at the upcoming Not Your Average Dog Show
see ad page 9
2 Animal Life rJanuary 2014 animallifeonline.com

































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Vicki June, D.V.M.
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413-243-0757
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Pet
Portraits
with a whimsical touch. . .
Animal Laughter Studio
Kim Arre-Gerber, Artist
413-445-2545
www.animallaughterstudio.com
F
Animal LiferJanuary 2014 animallifeonline.com 3
L
ast month, I wrote an article about
homeless cats and the people who
help them. In it there was a story about
two adult female cats, abandoned by
their owner, who were temporarily
taken in by a kind neighbor. Both cats
both delivered litters of kittens in the
neighbor's home. One of the cats,
"Lovelace" was not producing milk and
as a result three of her babies died, but
the other mom cat, "Truffle" became a
surrogate for the two who were per-
ilously close to death. It was at that
time, on September 16, when the
Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter took in
the two cats and four kittens.
Lovelace was sent to a foster home.
She was fixed and found a fabulous
new home in a little less than a month
when she was sent to an open house
adoption event at Lenox Cat Hospital.
She's now the best friend of an elderly
gentleman who was looking for a feline
companion to keep him company.
Truffle, her two kittens, and her two
tiny extra kittens, went into a foster
home, where the foster volunteer dili-
gently took extra measures to make
sure the little ones were receiving
enough nourishment. Eventually, Truf-
fle and her two older kittens were ready
to be fixed, and they found great new
homes. The wee ones, Google and
Yahoo, remained in foster care as they
began to eat on their own and grow
stronger. Then, the week before
Thanksgiving, the foster volunteer's
house caught fire and burned to the
ground. Thankfully, Google and Yahoo
were removed from the house, safe and
sound. The kittens went to another fos-
ter volunteer who continued their care
and socialization. When the kittens
were big enough, they were spayed and
neutered. On December 22, Google and
Yahoo made their debut at Sonsini's
weekly Petco adoption event and were
adopted.
The long and winding story of these
two cats and her offspring is a happy
one because many animal-lovers par-
ticipated in each step of their rescue-
from someone taking them in from the
streets to the people who adopted them.
There are thousands of homeless cats in
Berkshire County, most of them unal-
tered and producing litters of kittens.
Shelters and rescue groups work hard
to turn hard-luck stories to happy end-
ings for animals, and maybe even more
importantly, spay and neuter animals to
end the cycle of overpopulation. But
even shelters and rescue groups can't do
much without the support of the com-
munity.
For those who want to play a part,
there many ways you can help. There
are low cost spay-and-neuter programs
to take advantage of if your cat or a
stray cat in your neighborhood is un-
fixed. Shelters, including the Sonsini
Shelter, are always looking for foster
volunteers to expand the number of cats
that can be helped. Donations to shel-
ters help defray the cost of caring for
and fixing animals they take in. Adopt-
ing a cat from a shelter not only helps
the cat you have adopted, but makes
room for a new one. Animal Dreams,
an organization dedicated to trapping,
neutering, and releasing (TNR) feral
cats and then caring for them in
colonies, requires donations and volun-
teers to carry out their mission. Every
person's effort helps towards a goal of
creating a world where there are no
homeless pets.
Carol Lew
Friends of Eleanor Sonsini
Animal Shelter
One Rescue Story
Followed to the End
The family who
adopted Google
Yahoo
Google
Truffle, the mother cat who raised
her sister's kittens as well as her own
Since 1889, those who live and work in the Berkshires have
relied on the friendly and familiar faces found at The Pittsfeld
Cooperative Bank to make them feel good.
Many banks have come and gone over the past 124 years
making The Coop's continued dedication to the community
so ... refreshing. And, that commitment will never fzzle out.
Here's to a happy and healthy
holiday season!
Te Communitys Bank Since 1889

Member FDIC Member SIF Equal Housing Lender
1525 W. Housatonic Street
Pittsfield, MA
413-464-9200
Serving Pittsfield & Beyond since 2006
SNUGGLES are
FREE!
4 Animal Life rJanuary 2014 animallifeonline.com
VCA All Caring Animal Hospital
Conventional & Holistic Veterinary Medicine
440 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington, MA
413-528-8020
www.vcaallcaring.com
OPEN
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Contributing Writers
Iris Bass Kayla Fuller
Carol Lew Yoanna Y. Maitre
Sheryle Bauer Mary Koncel
Kim Arre-Gerber, Graphic Designer/Artist
aladvertising@aol.com
For advertising rates or information call 413-212-9445
Lbetkoski@aol.com
Mail: POBox 804, Pittsfield, MA 01201
www.animallifeonline.com
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Animal LiferJanuary 2014 animallifeonline.com 5
A
lthough January is National Train
Your Dog Month, we here at Berk-
shire Humane Society (BHS) believe
that every month is a good month to
teach your dog appropriate behaviors
and manners. Whether you share your
home with a wiggly new puppy or a
much beloved older pooch, investing
time in proper training will reap a mul-
titude of benefits for you and your dog.
Four years ago, the Association of Pro-
fessional Dog Trainers (APDT) created
National Train Your Dog Month as a
way to promote the importance of train-
ing dogs in order to help them become
safe and well-behaved companions and
family members. The APDT, an organ-
ization that supports better trainers
through education, chose January as the
month to market this message because
they believe many dogs are adopted or
bought over the holiday season and
they want these new relationships to
start off right. Besides being fun for
both you and your dog, the APDT also
hopes to emphasize that training will
lead to improved communication with
your dog and a deeper understanding of
his/her behavior, all of which will con-
tribute to creating happy and healthy
households.
Family Dog School (FDS) at BHS
shares that philosophy. Since 1998, it
has provided an important service to
Berkshire County and beyond: educat-
ing and prompting a loving, respectful
relationship among dogs and humans
through training and play. Accord-
ing to Lisa Corbett, lead instruc-
tor at FDS, The original plan
for Family Dog School was
to help keep dogs in the
home by giving them some
basic training. At BHS and
other shelters nationwide, be-
havior and training issues are one of
the most frequent reasons why dogs are
relinquished. However, as Lisa ex-
plains, many of these issues can be ad-
dressed by using positive,
science-based training methods. Es-
sentially, she adds, we wanted to stop
problems early on or resolve them be-
fore they became unsurmountable.
To that end, Lisa and her assistant in-
structors at FDS offer a variety of
classes for dogs of all ages and training
levels in its large state of the art facility.
For example, Puppy Pre-School is de-
signed to teach handling skills to own-
ers and socialization skills to their
puppies. While Level 1 Manners cov-
ers good basic behaviors, such as sit-
ting, staying, and heeling, Level 2
Manners introduces more advanced
work, including hand signals as well as
distraction and off leash training. For
dogs who not ready to work in a group
or who have special needs, individual
sessions are available. And there are
agility classes for fun and competition.
Key to all effective training, Lisa says,
is using positive reinforcement that fo-
cuses on and rewards appropriate be-
havior so that the dog learns to re-
peat it. This method is in direct
opposition to some methods
that are based on dominance
theory and largely derived
from studies on captive wolf
packs in the 1940s. Accord-
ing to this theory, because dogs
are essentially being viewed as do-
mesticated wolves living in our homes,
alpha rolls, scruff shakes and other
forms of intimidation and aggression
should be used to establish leadership
or dominance over them. The result is
not a well-trained dog but one who is
submissive and fearful. Interesting,
later studies on wolves in their natural
environment showed that packs are or-
ganized into families and that order is
kept not by alpha males or vicious
fights but by dependence on and coop-
eration with family members.
Fortunately dominance theory is being
debunked. As Lisa explains, training
dogs based on how wolves behave is
equivalent to raising our children based
on how primates raise their young.
Since I started working with dogs, sci-
ence has come a long way, she contin-
ues. More studies are being done on
dogs, and weve learned that they have
cognitive thinking processes and can
learn from copying behaviors not only
from dogs but from humans. They even
share some of the same emotions as hu-
mans. So anything you may find offen-
sive, scary, or intimidating, they may
too. The trust they have in us is pre-
cious and should be cherished, which is
why my mantra is always Do no harm.
From there, its all fun and games.
For Lisa, a long-time dog lover and
staff member at BHS, her work as lead
instructor brings many rewards. But
the most satisfying is when she can ed-
ucate owners to better recognize what
their dogs are experiencing and feeling,
especially when dealing with a behav-
ior issue. For example, Lisa says, So
many times an owner thought the dog
was acting out to dominate a family
member, but in reality, the problem lies
in the dogs fear or anxiety. Once we
understand how dogs communicate, we
can start to listen more clearly. Clients
are often blown away to find out their
perception of their dog was wrong. At
that point the real training or rehab can
be begin.
For more information about
National Train Your Dog Month and
the Association of Professional Dog
Trainers, go to
http://www.trainyourdogmonth.com/.
To learn more the classes and services
offered by Family Dog School, visit
the BHS website
www.berkshirehumane.org,
or email Lisa at
lcorbett@berkshirehumane.org.
Mary A. Koncel is the Humane Edu-
cator at Berkshire Humane Society.
This article and previous articles can
be viewed at animallifeonline.com
January is
National Train Your Dog Month
Family Dog School (FDS) at BHS shares that philosophy. Since 1998, it has provided an im-
portant service to Berkshire County and beyond: educating and prompting a loving, respectful
relationship among dogs and humans through training and play.
CHILL Photography
Offering
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6 Animal Life rJanuary 2014 animallifeonline.com
Animal LiferJanuary 2014 animallifeonline.com 7
T
he colder weather is upon
us, and it becomes even
more important to be vigilant
about your animals health
care. Here are a few tips to
make sure you and your hoofed
friends get through another
long New England winter.
Body Condition
Periodically examine your horses
throughout the fall and winter to evalu-
ate their body condition. A blanket or
thick winter coat can easily hide signs
that a horse is losing weight. Ribs
should be felt with slight pressure, but
never seen easily through the skin.
Also check the neck, withers and tail
head area for changes in fat deposition.
Without careful monitoring by the time
you first notice a horse is thin, it will be
difficult if not impossible to increase its
condition again during severely cold
weather.
Nutrition
Be sure that you have enough hay to get
through the winter, and that it is of con-
sistently high quality, to ensure ade-
quate nutrition to meet energy
demands. Increase grain rations if nec-
essary, but keep in mind that a few
flakes of hay will create more heat and
fuel (for far less money!) than the more
rapidly digested concentrated feeds.
A cautionary note about round bales:
The cost of hay is on the rise, and the
chore of dragging these square bales
through snow drifts has led some horse
owners in the Northeast to turn to the
larger more affordable round bales to
feed their critters. Round bales are
often purchased from beef or dairy op-
erations and are not always of consis-
tent quality. Ruminants (cows, sheep,
and goats) are more tolerant of stem-
mier, moldy hay. Round bales can
place horses at risk for eye injuries and
even a life threatening disease called
botulism (caused by an organism that
thrives in the center of a wet ferment-
ing bale), and their feeding is not rec-
ommended.
Horses should have access to clean
water at all times. Cold weather can
significantly decrease water intake,
leading to an increase in the incidence
of such conditions as colic or
esophageal choke. Keep water clear of
ice and debris. Position troughs or
buckets in a sheltered sunny spot, cover
them partially with plywood, or leave a
basketball or soccer ball floating in the
container to help keep the water from
freezing over. Ideally, invest in a water
heater; these should be checked fre-
quently to ensure they are functioning
properly. Horses will drink more, and
stay healthier, when water is warmed.
Dental Care
Late fall is a great time to have your
horses teeth checked and floated if nec-
essary. Sharp points and hooks on the
enamel can lead to slow or painful eat-
ing or inefficient feed utilization, pre-
disposing to loss of condition,
especially during the winter months. A
healthy mouth can go a long way to
making sure your horse makes it to an-
other spring in top condition.
Vaccinations
Most people think of the spring as vac-
cination time, but with training and
horses shows going on year round,
some vaccines, such as those against in-
fluenza and viral rhinopneumonitis
(Flu/Rhino) will need to be boostered
every 6 months or even more fre-
quently. Breeding mares and yearlings
may also require additional vaccina-
tions in the winter. Tetanus vaccines
must be updated when any cuts or
scrapes are noted, as even a minor in-
jury can lead to development of this
deadly disease. Consult with your vet-
erinarian to institute a vaccination pro
gram tailored to your farm.
Deworming
Using a slow release product such as
ivermectin after the first hard frost is
the best choice for keeping your horses
free from parasites during the winter.
Your veterinarian can perform a fecal
analysis to be sure that the products you
are using are effective. A fecal egg
count should be performed in the spring
before you administer further deworm-
ers.
Footcare
Monitor your horses for signs of cuts or
scrapes, hoof cracks, and mud and ice
buildup on their legs and under their
hooves. Horses used for trail riding
during the winter may benefit from
winter shoes with a boron coating or ice
calks for added traction. Pastured
horses may do better with bare feet in
the winter, to prevent injuries from slips
and falls on the ice or losing a shoe.
Ask your farrier for his/her recommen-
dations.
Ventilation
Its tempting to shut up the barn during
the coldest days to stay cozy and warm.
However, this can lead to damp condi-
tions and ammonia build-up that can
cause a variety of health problems.
Make sure to maintain good airflow
through the barn, even if it seems chilly.
Its better for barn personnel to keep on
their winter jackets, or to blanket the
horses in their stalls than to close all the
barn doors up tight.
Pasturing
Evaluate your pasture for safety. Ex-
amine fences for holes, shorts, or
downed trees before the true winter
hits; fixing fence in subzero tempera-
ture is not much fun! Also be sure that
horses have some access to protection
from the elements in the form of a tree
line or run in shelter. Pastures should
have proper drainage to avoid ice build-
up.
Blanketing
Monitor your horse for signs of being
cold: cold ears, a hunched posture, and
shivering can all be signs that you may
need to blanket your horse. Take into
account the weather forecast: wind chill
factors and precipitation can quickly
lead to more severe conditions. Older
horses and those with thinner hair coats
will be more sensitive to wetness and
plummeting temperatures. Be sure that
blankets fit correctly and are in good re-
pair, to prevent chafing and injuries.
Stay warm, and Happy New Year!
Dr. Yoanna Matre is the owner of Berk-
shire Ambulatory Veterinary Services,
a mobile clinic that provides on-farm
medical and surgical care to horses and
farm animals in Berkshire County and
neighboring areas of New York State.
This article and previous articles
can be viewed at
animallifeonline.com
Yoanna Y. Matre, DVM, DABVP
hoof beat
Winter Care
8 Animal Life rJanuary 2014 animallifeonline.com
Taiz
Shepherd
Kennel
Since 1972
Specializing in the behavior and transition
problems of shelter and rescue dogs.
Training & Certification for
Therapy Dogs International
Home of:
Select AKC Champions 2000 Canadian Grand Victrix
United States Top Ten Police K-9 Unit Service Dogs
AKC Obedience, Agility and Herding titleholders NADAC &
Schutzhund titleholders Therapy Dogs and Canine Good
Citizens GSDCA Performance Award of Merit Recipients
Charlene Marchand
North Chatham, NY 518-766-3804
Charlene Marchand is a syndicated columnist for training, behavior, and health issues. She is
actively involved in canine rescue and sheltering, and is the co-creator and trainer for Columbia
County Sheriffs highly acclaimed A New Leash On Life Cell Dog Program.
Positive Reinforcement Dog Training
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413-445-8843
www.trainingforanimals.com
LEEA FORAN, CPDT-KA,CDBC, CTTP-2
I believe in training that brings a smile to your face and a
wag to your tail. I will never use force or intimidation to
train your dog. Positive reinforcement and up-to-date
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Sunday, February 9, 2014
P




The BCC Foundation presents
the 13
th
Annual
Not Your Average Dog Show

Paterson Field House 11:30AM - 3:00PM
All are Welcome Free Admission
Donations are greatly appreciated.
T








To register your dog for competition or for more information,
contact Ann at 413-236-2185 or email aphillips@berkshirecc.edu
berkshirecc.edu/dogshow
T


www.animallifeonline.com
Lick us on
Facebook
(oops. were animals)
Animal Life
Animal LiferJanuary 2014 animallifeonline.com 9
I
t was 1983, and it was the record that
almost didnt happen. Although An-
thony DAmbrosio prepared for it, and
believed he and Sweet N Low could
break the Puissance record, setting
records is never an easy task.
Anthony knew he had a good horse, a
horse possessed of tremendous scope.
Sweet N Low had an almost freakish
ability to jump high, and wide. But he
would need every ounce of that ability
in order to break the 7' 6 " set by
Glandor Akai and Barney Ward.
So they prepared. During the weeks
prior to the Washington International
Anthony and his wife Michael schooled
Sweet N Low over six feet, and a little
higher. Using the wall they had at their
home farm, they practiced the massive
heights in order to give the horse a re-
minder of the technique involved.
Sweet N Low, a 17.1 hand Thor-
oughbred who had run unsuccessfully
at Waterford Park, among other tracks,
was discovered by top horseman Vince
Dugan. Jack Rockwell, a Connecticut
professional, bought him from Vince
for a client. The horse was always high
strung and nervous, but Jack was very
patient in bringing him along. Sweet
N Low was sent to Terry Rudd for a
period of time, and she did a great job
of taking him to a higher level, what
was then called the Intermediate
jumpers. From Terry, Sweet N Low
came to Anthony.
Anthony discovered that there were
some issues that needed to be worked
out, such as Sweet N Lows fear of
water jumps. But it was always clear
that he could jump like few horses in
terms of sheer scope. He had placed in
some of the biggest Grand Prix of that
time, but never higher than third. He
did score a big win, the Ben OMeara,
at the Washington International the pre-
vious year, 1982. It was at that show as
well that Sweet N Low and Anthony
had their first crack at the Puissance,
where they tied for second with Danny
Foster and Kahlua at 7' 1". Although
Anthony knew that Sweet N Low
could jump higher, he thought it unfair
to ask him to try for the record in his
first Puissance class.
But here they were in 1983, and this
time back to win it and break the
record. They were prepared; they had
the ability. Anthony studied the Steve
Stephens designed course for the first
round. It was, as always, posted by the
in-gate. Puissance courses are very
simple, as the main objective is to clear
the last fence: the big wall.
As they entered the ring, Sweet N
Low could feel Anthonys excitement.
The horse knew that this was an impor-
tant round. They jumped clear.
Or so Anthony thought.
Excerpted from Ann Jamiesons For
the Love of the Horse, Volume IV
(www.loveofthehorsebook.com)
This article and previous articles
can be viewed at
animallifeonline.com
Sweet N Low (Part 1)
for the love of the horse
Ann Jamieson
imar 8ma Anima Hospita
Dr. Claire Blanchard
Dr. Donald Gulick
Dr. Hanan Caine
776 Main St., Great Barrington, MA
Hours: 8:30-5 Mon-Fri, 8:30-Noon Sat
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Looking for housecalls? Call Dr. Blanchard for details
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Walk-ins WELCOME for: Nail clippings, Ear cleaning, Trimming of hair between pads
www.shamrockdoggrooming.com
Shamrock Professional Dog Grooming
Sunday, February 9, 2014
P




The BCC Foundation presents
the 13
th
Annual
Not Your Average Dog Show

Paterson Field House 11:30AM - 3:00PM
All are Welcome Free Admission
Donations are greatly appreciated.
T








To register your dog for competition or for more information,
contact Ann at 413-236-2185 or email aphillips@berkshirecc.edu
berkshirecc.edu/dogshow
T


10 Animal Life rJanuary 2014 animallifeonline.com
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Animal LiferJanuary 2014 animallifeonline.com 11
The pages of Animal Life wouldn't fit the
pictures of the more-than 500 animals who
were adopted from the Eleanor Sonsini Animal
Shelter this year. These animals will just have
to represent the rest in sending thanks to
everyone in the community who supported
them while they were in the shelter, and to
those who welcomed them into their homes.
Photos of: Belle, Biscotti, Freckles, Haus, Mama, Nala,
Noah, Rosie, Shadow, Smokey, Squirt, Ziggy
Adopted!
12 Animal Life rJanuary 2014 animallifeonline.com
By Sheryle Bauer
M
eet Harrison. Hes a bandit-
masked raccoon that likes cat
food and cats.
In the wild, raccoons forage for food
in streams where they snare crayfish,
frogs and small fish. They also enjoy
fruit, insects and fresh eggs from nests.
This particular raccoon though, has
found another treat: a tasty dish of cat
food.
Raccoons are known for their brazen-
ness, they are very curious and oppor-
tunistic. They are fearless creatures, but
as tame as they might seem, be careful.
Some raccoons can
carry rabies and
theyve got very
sharp teeth. They
should be treated as
wild creatures, not as
pets.
Rhonda and her son, Ryan first spotted
the raccoon during the night. The furry
hunch-backed creature appeared on
their patio startling them at first, with
his awkward stance. They watched in
amazement as he shuffled to a nearby
cat dish full of kibble. They watched as
he feasted fearlessly on the tasty treats.
Rhonda was used to seeing the possums
that would scamper out from the
bushes, but she didnt expect to ever
see a raccoon.
Ever since that awkward first en-
counter, Ryan decided to name the rac-
coon, Harrison. Raccoons are nocturnal
creatures, but recently, Harrison has
been confident enough to enter
Rhondas house through the French
doors that lead into her kitchen. There,
he makes himself at home, popping in
for breakfast now and then, sharing a
bowl of food with her four cats. And
with four cats, whats one more mouth
to feed? But with one raccoon, there
were later more to follow.
For several months now, Rhonda has
been putting out 4 - 5 bowls of cat food
every night for whichever furry crea-
ture decides to pass through her yard in
the wee hours of the night. When she is
lucky, the raccoons come while she is
still awake and she sits and watches
them in the dark from behind a win-
dow. Harrison is her favorite. He is the
big guy, not as fearful as the others
when he spots her spying on him.
Sometimes he even sticks around while
she sits outside on her step and lets her
observe him drinking from her
fountain.
This article and previous articles
can be viewed at
animallifeonline.com
Harrison
the Raccoon
Harrison has been coming around for about six months.
He loves to drink from the fountain and hangs out there
for up to forty five minutes at a time. Sometimes he
comes more than once per night. I have often seen him
peering in the window with my cat, Loui on the other side.
I think they have a thing going, but Loui is keeping tight-
lipped about it. I just love watching them. It is so calming
to me and they just make me smile

8uJ /||oo, M.S., D.V.M. ko6io Kot|io, D.V.M.

413-2-VEI5
99 Moin 5lreel
Hoydenville, MA 01039
Iorge & smoll onimol heol|h core clinic, housecolls,
lormcolls, onimol chiroproc|ic, ocupunc|ure &
homeopo|hy, physicol |heropy, boording & grooming.
|omiIg 0rtrrinorion |rntrr
Looking for a new
best friend?








Dog & Cat Adoptions Lost & Found
{


Open Tues-Fri 12pm-6pm, Sat & Sun 12pm-5pm
Monduys by uppt. Downtng Industrtul Purk PtttsIteld
413-448-9800 www.ptttsItelduntmuls.org
W
e invite you to come visit and meet our wonderful
dogs and cats available for adoption. We are
Pittsfields municipal shelter and are dedicated to giving
animals who have been abandoned, neglected or abused
a second chance to find a loving new home.
Lost & Found
{
{
Animal LiferJanuary 2014 animallifeonline.com 13
289 Dalton Avenue
Pittsfield, MA 01201
413-443-4949
www.allenheights.com
Elizabeth Tullett
DVM
Certified in
Veterinary Acupuncture
Hours:
Mon-Fri 8-5, Sat. 8-12
BERKSHIRE AMBULATORY
VETERINARY SERVICES
394 Under Mountain Rd. Lenox, MA 01240
413-637-2223 maitredvm@gmail.com
www.berkshirelargeanimal.com
Yoanna Y. Matre, DVM
Licensed & Accredited in MA & NY
Treating cattle, horses, goats,
sheep, llamas, alpacas, and the
occasional pig at your farm or home
Treating cattle, horses, goats, sheep, llamas
and alpacas at your farm or home
Quality American Made
Pet food and Treats
Frozen Raw Diets
Stylish Accessories
Unique Toys and Gifts
Everyday Essentials
67 State Road, Great Barrington, MA 01230 413-528-5550
Mon.-Fri. 10am to 6pm Sat. 10am to 4pm Sun. 11am to 4pm
WWW. PAWSHBUDDI ES. COM
Now at: 165 Water Street
Lee, MA 01238
413-243-2626
Staci A. Barrett, Owner 10 Years Experience
Gift
Certifcates
Always
Available!
Boundaries
For Pets
boundariesforpets.invisiblefence.com
Purchase a lifetime of
security supported by our
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Up to $200 Off!
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* Free Mo Cbllgollon Vlsll
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800-732-3181
14 Animal Life rJanuary 2014 animallifeonline.com
Walk In The Park
Dog Walking/Pet Sitting Services In Te Berkshires
Member Pet Sitters International
American Red Cross Pet First Aid Certifed
Member Berkshire Chamber of Commerce
Certifed Professional Pet Sitter
Insured & Bonded Lynn Pfeiler @ 413-655-8721
References Ly25@verizon.net 413-446-0684
The Berkshire County Pet Sitters Network (BCPSN) is a group of
independently owned pet sitting businesses and individuals
who provide professional pet sitting services to residents of
Berkshire County. We provide professional and educational support
for pet sitters and serve as a valuable resource for pet owners and
animal lovers. We participate in local community events and
hold fundraisers for local pet-related charities. We are an all-
volunteer, membership-based non-profit organization. Our
members are committed to providing exceptional professional
pet sitting services, community outreach and promoting
responsible pet ownership in our community.
Licensed, Bonded & Insured
Certified Professional Pet Sitter
Certified Pet Tech Instructor #1497
Accredited by the Better Business Bureau
413-243-3040
BerkshirePetPals@aol.com D www.BerkshirePetPals.com
Professional Services With A Personal Touch
Serving Central & Southern Berkshire County, MA
DPet Sitting DPet Taxi
DDog Walking DPet Supplies
DPrivate Boarding DPrivate Daycare
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D D D
D D
D
D
D D D
D D D D D
GO TO GUIDE!
Do You Have the Ultimate Dog?
Full service dog grooming-all breeds
Walk-In nail trims
Self Serve Bathing Station: All tools provided,
just bring yourself and your dog!
Frequent Fido Cards-Get your sixth wash FREE
Boutique filled with unique dog items for dogs
and the people who love them!
High Quality Raw (Oma's Pride & Nature's Variety)
and dry (Blue Buffalo & Nature's Variety) foods.
Special Orders Available Upon Request
Chris & Jennifer Tompkins, Owners/Groomers
Amanda Hohman-Manager
Open Tue-Fri 8am-5pm,Sat-8am-3pm
CLOSED SUNDAYS
(860)435-8353
9 Academy Street, Salisbury, CT 06068
Reliable
Pet Sitting
Company
Serving Berkshire County Since 1997
PET SITTING
in YOUR HOME
Maryann Hyatt-Owner
INSURED BONDED
413.443.0443 or 413.329.5127
413.229.8486
PO Box 232, Pittsfield, MA 01202
NEW EMAIL: mhyattreliablepetsitting@gmail.com
Happy Hounds
All dog breeds welcome. And cats too! All products are natural. Hypo-allergenic
and Eco-friendly. Many Shampoos and conditioners available to ensure the right
one for your dogs skin and coat needs. No stress waterless foam baths for cats
who do not like water. Helps with dry-skin, dirt and dander.
Specialized Treatments available
Emu oil and oatmeal based oils to soothe-dry and itchy skin.
Paw and pad massage with bees wax ointment
for dry and cracked pads.
Pawdicures, nails painted with pet safe, water based long lasting polish.
Nights and weekends also available.
Happy Hounds Mobile Grooming
Contact: Jessie 413-446-8676happyhoundsmobile@yahoo.com
Mobile
Grooming
Call us
today!
D ALL ORGANIC-NATURAL DOG & CAT FOOD C
D ASK ABOUT OUR DELIVERY SERVICE C
D
L
E
A
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S
,

C
O
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S
,

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,

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C
59 Main Street
Lee, MA
413-243-1220
www.Meowandgrowl.com
NAIL TRIMMING call for date & times
$7 per cat or dog
Self Serve
Dog Wash Stations!
W
E
N
O
W
H
A
V
E
Animal LiferJanuary 2014 animallifeonline.com 15
16 Animal Life rJanuary 2014 animallifeonline.com
875 Dalton Avenue, Pittsfield
413-445-6817
www.charlandjewelers.biz
Meadow
Meadow is a beautiful blond, Tortoise Shell,
spayed female. Ostracized from her feral
family, Meadow was eventually rescued
when she was 6 months old. Extremely
malnourished and on the losing end of an
advanced URI, Meadow nearly died. She is
a lovely cat with a sweet and passionate na-
ture who prefers to live in a one cat home.
If you can allow her to be who she is and
warm up to you in her own time, and if you
throw a few tasty treats into the mix, rest as-
sured, in time, Meadow will become your
very best friend.
Beauty
Meet beautiful Beauty. She is a 2 year-
old shorthair female. Beauty has a
sweet, silly and fun personality and a
lovely slender body. Shes not fond of
most other cats, generally preferring
humans instead, however she would
rather not be around high spirited chil-
dren. She is spayed, has had all other
necessary vet care, is ready for adop-
tion and is looking forward to her new
loving home!
Come in to Animal D.R.E.A.M.S. and visit Meadow, Beauty and all of the other
wonderful cats waiting for their human families
Proudly sponsored by
Catering to the needs of the well loved pet.
K Super premium foods and treats
K Quality Toys
K Bedding and Clothing
K Bravo, Abady Raw Diets & Natures Variety
We love your pets.
Mon. - Fri. 9-5:30pm, Sat. 9-5pm
333 Main Street, Lakeville, CT
860-435-8833
Friends
A4-6 year old Pit Bull, who is just a fun and loving
girl! She will do anything for a cookie. Very smart.
Sponsored by:
Biscotti
392 Merrill Road
Pittsfield, MA 01201
PHONE: (413) 997-2006
(888) 232-6072
info@berkshiremm.com
370 Pecks Rd.,
Pittsfield
413-395-9550
Joe Nichols, Owner
Henny is always ready for a car ride and sits
patently in the passengers seat with his head out of
the window!
Sponsored by:
Henny
Keith Williams, LMT
152 North St., Pittsfield
413-442-7446
A great massage at a wonderful price
Meet Freeway! A 12 year old Lhasa
with a lot of pep in his step!
Sponsored by:
Freeway
Fritzy is one of 2 siblings. They're absolutely
adorable, friendly and healthy. She's the
one on the right.
Sponsored by:
Fritzy
Animal Laughter Studio
Whimsical Pet Portraits
413-464-5994
To Advertise In
Animal Life
Tri-State Berkshires Pet News
Call
413-212-9445
animallife/facebook.com
www.animallifeonline.com
of Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter
Animal LiferJanuary 2014 animallifeonline.com 17
Sheryle Bauer is a writer and mother of two. She has completed a book-length memoir, and is currently working on her 3rd novel
while living in Salt Lake City, Utah with her husband, their three dogs and a cat. She has been published in many magazines,
newspapers and periodicals. She is a regular contributor to Animal Life Online and devoted to writing about the welfare of dogs,
cats and their four-legged friends.
Sheryle
Bauer,
Blogger
Did you know you could read all Animal Life articles
past and present on our website?
Visit us online and catch up on what you may have missed. While you are there check out our exciting new blog.
Sheryle Bauer is an author and writer, mother of two, pet and animal lover, and now blogger!
animallifeonline.com
Maxton - I am energetic, enthusiastic, and eager. I need lots of ex-
ercise to drain my energy. I like to play with the big kids (adults). I
am learning a lot at the shelter. Come in and meet me!



















Please call
Berkshire Humane Society
413-447-7878
Sponsored by:
Barney is a sweet friendly male
Dalmatian, just 11 months old. He
is now awaiting the right home.
Barney will be neutered and up to
date in shots.
For questions and an application
Barney
Harriet Koss
917-670-3892
email: hckoss@aol.com
PETEY is a beautiful 3-4 year old neutered male mix
of dalmatian and staffordshire terrier. He is the most
lovable affectionate boy to people and especially
children. The only thing he loves more than people is
his favorite toy . . . A red ball. Petey would do best as
the only dog in a loving home with a backyard and
some humans who like to throw that red ball.
Petey
If you are interested in adopting or fostering Petey, Please contact
Harriet 917-670-3892
email: hckoss@aol.com
in the tri-state area
Adoptions










Each week HADDAD SUARU will be sponsoring a
'Dog of the Week'. If that dog's adopted during that week,
Haddad Subaru will pay $50 towards the adoption fee!


C a m o THIS WEEKS DOG IS:
I came to the shelter when my family had to make a move and I
couldn't go with them. I am a big adolescent dog with a big heart, but
plenty to learn. I can get a bit nervous when someone greets me and
I am working with the kind staff at the shelter to sit for greetings, walk
on a loose lead, and direct my jumping and chewing for pen time and
toys. I do not like kitty cats. I have not had experience with dogs. I
would love someone to continue my training, and guide me to be-
come an excellent adult dog. Where are the big dog lovers?
214 Barker Rd., Pittsfield, MA 314-447-7878

18 Animal Life rJanuary 2014 animallifeonline.com
Visit us online for a complete list of area Shelter and Rescue leagues
Allen Heights Veterinary Hospital
General Practice: medicine, surgery & dentistry
Preventive medicine for all stages of your pets life.
Small animal acupuncture.
Elizabeth Tullett, DVM, Claire Blanchard, DVM,
Yoanna Mairtre, DVM, Dip. ABVP
289 Dalton Ave., Pittsfield, MA 01201
Mon. - Fri. 8am-5pm, Sat. 8am-12pm
www.allenheights.com 413-443-4949
North County Veterinary Hospital
Dr. John C. Reynolds, Dr. Laura A. Eiszler
& Dr. Erika S. Teutsch, DVMs
838 Curran Memorial Hwy, North Adams, MA
413-664-4570
Animal ER of The Berkshires
The primary goal of the ER is to treat and
stabilize sick and injured pets until they can be seen
by their regular veterinarian for definitive
follow-up care.
Fri. 5pm-8am Mon., Holidays-24 hours
AnimalER@nycap.rr.com
1634 West Housatonic St., Pittsfield, MA
413-997-3425
Bilmar Small Animal Hospital
Claire Blanchard, V.M.D., Donald Gulick, V.M.D.,
Hanan Caine, D.V.M.
Full service hospital, drop off service,
housecalls, early evening hours.
776 South Main St., Great Barrington, MA
Fax 413-528-1763
Call for appointment 413-528-1180
Hilltowns Veterinary Clinic
Dr. Sharon Lynch, Veterinarian
Fred Davis III, CVT
Comprehensive Veterinary Services
Individual Attention Caring & Compassionate
Washingon State Road, Washington, MA 01223
www.hilltownsvetclinic.com 413-623-3211
Family Veterinary Center
Bud Allen, M.S., DVM & Robin Karlin, DVM
Large & small animal care, house calls, farm calls,
chiropractic care, acupuncture & homepathy,
boarding & grooming.
99 Main St., Haydenville, MA 413-268-VETS
VCA All Caring Animal Hospital
Barbara C. Phillips, D.V.M. Vicki June, D.V.M.
Full service veterinary hopsital offering traditional medi-
cine integrated with alternative veterinary care. Acupunc-
ture, Chiropractic, Homeopathy.
Open 7 Days a week!
440 Stockbridge Rd., Great Barrington, MA
www.vcaallcaring.com 413-528-8020
Pittsfield Veterinary Hospital
24 Hour Emergency care, animal chiropractic and dental care.
John C. Reynolds, DVM, Laura A. Eiszler, DVM,
Michelle P. Looney, DVM, Melinda M. Payson, DVM,
Carmen A. Swinson, DVM,
Lindsay M. Cermak, DVM, Erika S. OMara, DVM.
Hours: Daily Mon-Sat. Evenings: Mon.-Thur
www.pittsfieldvet.com
413-499-1580
Valley Veterinary Services
Julie Shanahan, DVM, Laura Aylesworth, DVM
920 Pleasant St., Lee, MA
413-243-2414 or 413-243-0757
Large Animal Veterinarian
Berkshire Ambulatory
Veterinary Services
Yoanna Y. Maitre, DVM
Mobile practice providing quality medical and surgerical
care for horses and farm animals. Vaccination,
deworming, health certificates. Coggins, custom
dentistry (hand & powerfloat). castrations, dehorning &
more. Serving MA & NY, by appointment & emergencies.
www.berkshirelargeanimal.com 413-637-2223
Fencing
Boundaries for Pets
Invisible Fence
Steve Gomez, dealer. Veterinarian approved,
professional installation & training, outstanding
customer service, over 17 years exp. written
containment guarantee, free on-site estimate.
860-435-0064 800-732-3181
Miscellaneous
Allen Heights Veterinary Hospital
Dog and Cat Grooming
Amanda Bevens
289 Dalton Ave., Pittsfield, MA
413-443-4949
Peacocks for sale
$150 413-528-2527
Now Open
in Sheffield
BERKSHIRE FENCE
& ACCESSORIES
Lawn & Garden Accents,
Cedar Frniture & More!
SUPERIOR INSTALLATION & REPAIR
Commercial Residential Industrial FREE ESTIMATES
Paul Brown
(413) 443-4515 (413) 229-9900
1625 West Housatonic St. 560 South Main St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201 Sheffield, MA 01257
www.berkshirefence.com
pbrown@berkshirefence.com Credit Cards Accepted




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veterinariansin massachusetts
To Advertise In
Animal Life
Tri-State Berkshires Pet News
Call
413-212-9445
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www.animallifeonline.com