Our garage takes on many roles: houses the car, serves as a workshop. In January, it be-came a respite for a colony of 17 feral and community cats. A space from which sev-eral generations of cats would enter a new, healthier, and stable phase of their lives.

We set up a large pen where the car usually sat. In it, lots of straw, shelter, food, warmth . . . and cats took up residence. The garage offered safety, darkness, and quiet, and we spent time with the cats sparingly and re-spectfully. Their story was changing but had been a tough and familiar one. These cats had bonded together for survival: some had been abandoned, lost or discarded by hu-mans, while others had been born directly into the colony. While their numbers were increasing, their health was declining and their future seemed bleak.

As volunteers for Animal DREAMS, Chris and I are passionate about TNR (trap-neu-ter-return) work. It’s a life-changer for cats, who are then no longer driven by reproduc-

tive behavior and can live as long as their housecat counterparts. We had the means to change their world. It made repurposing the garage a no-brainer.

They came to us a couple at a time after hav-ing been trapped and ferried to the vet. We expected a quiet, contrary bunch. And yet, looking into these little faces peeking back at us, we saw hope, a glimmer or two of trust, and mutual understanding. As they settled in, they entertained us with their purrs, me-ows, and antics. Still, several remained quite aloof. “Make no mistake,” the little tortie warned us, “we are our own family and we’re sticking together!” Of course, that was the Animal DREAMS plan all along.

The garage was a respite for just under two weeks. The cats have been returned to their outdoor existence alongside humans. They’re now being watched after and fed and will live long, happy cat lives. Chris and I will kick our car out of the garage again in a heartbeat.

Spring 2014

Berkshire

The Purr Respiteby Lisa Forestell

DREAMSAnimalUpcoming EventsArizonA PizzA ComPAny Dining to DonAte395 Pittsfield Rd., LenoxMay 16–17, July 18–19, Sept 26–27, Dec 19–20: Whether eating in, taking out, or buying a gift card for someone you love, mention Animal DREAMS and 20% of your bill will be donated to help community cats of Berkshire County.

CAt & Kitten ADoPtions At PetCo 690 Merrill Rd., PittsfieldEvery Saturday, 11–3

run for the CrittersMay 25: Local artist/story illustrator Melody Lamb will run 13.3 miles to raise $10,000 and awareness for Animal DREAMS.

THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS!Sunshine Dog Grooming, 535 Tyler St., Pittsfield, for donating all tips to Animal DREAMS (Who said dogs and cats can’t be friends?)

Berkshire Money Management, 392 Merrill Rd., Pittsfield, for underwriting the cost of this newsletter and for remaining an enthusiastic and generous supporter of Animal DREAMS

OUR MISSION To improve the lives and promote the humane care and acceptance of feral cats throughout Berkshire County and beyond. Through trap-neuter-return (TNR), the popu-lation of feral cats will become stabilized, with healthy cats and zero repro-ductive rate. Through advocacy, education, and

action, we raise awareness and activism among citizens, animal care professionals, local govern-ments, and the business community.

DONATE ONlINE ATBerkshireAnimalDREAMS.orgYour donation helps community cats that live right here around us and need you the most. We are a 501(c)3 charitable organization. Donations are tax-deductible. Please consider giving monthly to help us meet our ongoing commitments to the cats in our care.

Follow us on Facebook! Just type in Berkshire Animal D.R.E.A.M.S.

SHOP FOR YOUR CAUSE lets shop-pers direct a percentage of their online purchases to whatever cause they wish—including Animal DREAMS! Visit www.shopforyourcause.com, register, click on Select Your Cause, and type in Berkshire Animal D.R.E.A.M.S. Then click on Shop Now and shop!

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Stacey Carver, President and TreasurerJudy Isserlis, Vice PresidentBarbara Crocker, Secretarylisa Betkoski, DirectorPatty Brown-Charland, DirectorJohn Krol, Director

VOlUNTEER COORDINATORJaime Sotis

NEWSlETTER STAFFKatharine Wiencke, EditorTina Sotis, Graphic Designer

CONTRIBUTINg WRITERSJasmine Beckerlisa Forestelllin gamariCarol lewJaime Sotis

Animal DREAMS441 North St.Pittsfield, MA 01201

392 Merrill Road, Pittsfield, MA 01201888.232.6072 | 413.997.2006 | www.BerkshireMM.com

Dignified

Rescues

Education

Advocacy

Medical

Services

Gideon’s Story by Jasmine Beckergideon, a long-haired black cat with a superfluity of toes, was one of seven cats living in a barn in Berkshire County. In early 2011, the barn collapsed and Animal DREAMS was called to the rescue. We managed to trap all the cats, including gideon, who at the time was so vicious that no one could get near him. A couple of weeks went by, and gideon started showing his

true colors—his gentlemanly nature. He is now a giant fluffy couch potato who loves nothing more than to interact with people.

For the past three years, gideon has been a wonderful resident cat at Animal DREAMS, babysitting kittens (he’s a sort of feline uncle) and watching over the doings of the office. Now, after helping many cats and kittens find loving homes, gideon has decided that he is ready for a home of his own. If you are interested in adopting gideon or another cat at Animal DREAMS, please call our office Monday–Friday between 9 am and 4 pm to set up an appointment, or email us at admin@berkshireanimaldreams.org.

Animal441 North St., Pittsfield, MA 01201

(413) 997-2287

www.berkshireanimalDREAMS.org

info@berkshireanimalDREAMS.org

DREAMS

Animal DREAMS’ 40 volunteers (and growing) are an especially generous and good-humored bunch of people. The work each volunteer does is critical to our mission of making a difference in the lives of local feral and abandoned cats. If you want to be among the wonderful people who champion these neglected cats; if you believe in spay/neuter and the TNR model; if you are reliable, results-driven, and passionate about professionalism, we’d really love to have you on our team. Call the office and ask for Jaime, or email her at admin@berkshireanimaldreams.org.

Thank Goodness for Our Volunteers!We are in need of . . .• Canned kitten AND cat food (paté only)• Iams dry kitten food (purple bag)• Iams dry cat food (orange bag)• Dry food (any brand; for feral cats)• gas cards ($10, $15, $20) for

veterinary and trapping runs• Tractor Supply gift cards• Petco gift cards• Benson’s Pet Center gift cards• Corporate sponsors

DROP-OFF LOCATIONS FOR FOOD & WISH-LIST ITEMSPittSfiElD• Animal DREAMS (441 North St.; call first)• RSVP (Bartlett Ave., lower level of

public library building)• Pittsfield Veterinary Hospital

(1634 W. Housatonic St./Route 20)

GREAt BARRinGton • Pawsh Buddies (67 State Rd.)lEE • Meow & growl (154-1 West Park St.)lEnox • Chez Pet (lenox Commons,

55 Pittsfield-lenox Rd.)

It’s just after dark. Melissa Tharion, our lead volunteer trapper, is quietly setting up several traps in a Pittsfield backyard where feral cats live. The “caretaker” who regularly feeds the cats helps Melissa place food inside the traps. They are quiet as they work, and the cats are wary in the presence of a person they don’t know. Melissa leaves for a few hours, hoping that when she returns, she will find all the cats she’s trying to catch in the traps. If she’s not successful catching them all on this night, she will unset the traps and come back again the next night.

This is the job of a TNR (trap-neuter-return) volunteer, and it takes a special person to do it. We’re hoping to find more of these special people to help with our mission: to end the overpopulation of community cats in the Berkshires.

“I find it rewarding and exciting,” Melissa says. “You never know what kind of situation you’ll find. Often a caretaker will think they’re caring for ten cats, but when we set out traps, we discover there are several more they didn’t know about.”

Once the cats are trapped, they are settled into a quiet place where other volunteers maintain and care for them. At a local veterinary hospital, the cats are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and treated for parasites. Then they’re returned to the place they know as home.

“I’ve been doing this for many years,” says Melissa, our most experienced trapper. “The best part is when I go back after we’ve done

a TNR project, to see the difference it has made for the cat colony. They’re healthier and happier. They’re not stressed with pregnancies or fighting, and the population is stable.”

We’re looking for some extraordinary volun-teers to join our TNR team. You may be cold in the winter. You may be out late into the night, and you’ll likely never get a chance to pet the cats you’re helping, because most of them will be afraid of you. But if you are an adven-turesome animal lover who wants to make a big difference, give us a call at (413) 997-2287.

If trapping doesn’t seem like the right fit for you, we also need volunteers to transport cats to vet appointments and back. Can’t volunteer? Consider donating. Just go to www.Berk-shireAnimal DREAMS.org, or send a check to Animal DREAMS, 441 North St., Pitts-field, MA, 01201, or call for an appointment: (413) 997-2287. Thank you!

(This article is modified from Carol Lew’s “Trap, Neuter, Return. Repeat,” which appeared in the March 2014 issue of Animal life.)

TNR Volunteers Needed !by Carol Lew

Trapping Team members Melissa Tharion, Carol Lew, Scott Cooper, and Renee DeSantis

Sokiby Lin GamariA special kitten arrived on December 2; we ended up naming her Soki. (Yeah, an unusual name. More on that later.) Found at six weeks of age—left behind in an

apartment with her mother and four siblings—she was searching for food and adjusting to a deformity. Soki had been born with a curvature of her front limbs: she was essentially walking on her elbows. To watch her get around was both disheartening and enlightening. She was content, affectionate . . . and unfazed.

Her small frame was covered in plush black fur with sporadically placed silver tips. Within her subdued, sweet face were glazed yellow eyes—the ultimate synergy of tame and wild. We struggled to come up with a name that befit her. She was of course a kitten, with a tail and four legs and bouncy energy. But her silver-tipped fur and other-worldly stare were too wild for any typical moniker. She was a bit like a bear cub, so we called her little Bear . . . for a few weeks. It seemed lacking. What to call her? With her stand-on-end fur and licorice-colored nose, she reminded me of a baby gorilla. By golly, that was it.

One of my favorite books of all time is Gorillas in the Mist, the story of Dian Fossey. For 13 years, Fossey lived with Rwanda’s mountain gorillas, studying them in their natural habitat, attempting to connect with them in a setting of civil unrest and to save them from stop-at-nothing poachers. One could only say she was determined. The mountains where Fossey lived are called Karisimbi and Visoke. She coined a joint name for them: Karisoke. Our “gorilla baby” Soki embodies all these various attributes: wild, resolute, and of uncontained fortitude.

Soki’s first veterinary visit only revealed that she had a deformity, more than likely a birth defect. But good news! As her body has developed, her front legs have straightened—not perfectly, but she is running around like any other kitten. She’s received a lot of veter-inary treatment in her short life, and given her history, she’ll probably require lots more.

We welcome donations to help pay for Soki’s care and the care of other cats we rescue. You can donate online at www.BerkshireAnimal DREAMS.org, or send a check to Animal DREAMS, 441 North St., Pittsfield, MA 01201, or call for an appointment: (413) 997-2287. Thank you!

J A S M i n E BEckER Cat lover and whis-perer extraordi-naire, Jasmine Becker has been v o l u n t e e r i n g with Animal DREAMS since December 2012. With her intui-tive perception of

the feline mind, she was the obvious choice as our coordinator for cat health and wellness. Her job is to care for, monitor, and record the health and well-being of all the cats that come through our doors. Jasmine is a priceless asset in the task of understanding unstable behav-iors of cats. Thank you, Jasmine, for bringing heart and soul to the work you do!

RAnDy Win-tERS has been a loyal, competent, and reliable volun-teer with Animal DREAMS every Monday for more than four years! Thanks to Randy,

our donation bookkeeper, we are able to organize and record monetary donations to Animal DREAMS—and quickly show the gratitude deserved to those who have so generously given. Her love for the cats we serve is clear, unswerving, and beautiful. We wholeheartedly thank you, Randy, for your unyielding, upbeat, and contagious positive attitude. Animal DREAMS is so fortunate to have you on the team!

REnEE DeSAntiS All hail Renee De-Santis! She rocks solid! Besides con-sistently showing up twice a week to wash kitty dishes, litter pans, carriers, and traps; doing a splendiferously bra-vura job mopping our floors; and help-ing out at our Petco adoption clinics, Renee has also become one of our awesome TNR trappers. Her first solo trapping brought in a curious and ravenous skunk, which she, un-flinchingly, managed to release usnscathed. Thank you for your tenacity, Renee, and thank you for loving what you do!

Soki cont’ d from page 2

cont’ d on page 3

Run for the CrittersMelody’s Run for the Critters is May 25. Help her raise $10,000 for Berkshire Animal DREAMS!

“The inspiration for my Run for the Critters was born out of gratitude,” Melody says. “When my mother passed away in 2010, I worked out my feelings of grief by running. I wanted to give back, and chose to help animals in need. This year I hope to raise $10,000 for Berkshire Animal DREAMS!”

The race is a half marathon (13.3 miles), to be held in lenox, Massachusetts, on May 25, beginning at 8 am. To learn more about how you can help Melody reach her $10,000 goal, please visit her website: www.minia-tureanimalart.com/critters.html

Trap, neuter, return. Humane trapping and spaying/neutering of feral and abandoned cats is the most effective nonlethal way to reduce the population of cats living outdoors. TNR’d cats are vaccinated and ear-tipped; ear tipping is a universal sign that identifies a cat as having been neutered or spayed. After a brief recovery period, the treated cats are returned to their familiar outdoor habitat to live within

a more stabilized colony. The cats no longer have to deal with the stress of constant repro-duction, and no longer exhibit associated behaviors such as yowling and fighting.

Occasionally Animal DREAMS takes in kittens too young to be released back to their colony, yet young enough to be socialized. These cats, as well as very friendly homeless cats unable to survive on their own, are found caring, forever homes.

TNR