Berkshire Humane Society offers more discounts amid low adoptions

PITTSFIELD, Mass. (NEWS10) -- As the year comes to a close, the Berkshire Humane Society is looking to get all their animals adopted. Yet, despite numerous adoption sales throughout the year, their adoption numbers are still down compared to last year -- something they want to change before the year is over.

104 animals at the shelter, are looking for their forever home -- but it seems to be taking forever to find.

"This still isn't a home, Beethoven wants to be in a home, Freya wants to be in a home, Mina wants to be in a home," said John Perreault, executive director of the Berkshire Humane Society. "It doesn't take the place of a home."

Perreault said the shelter is doing everything they can to bring adoptive parents to the shelter. The past two months they offered 50% off adoption discounts -- a sale that allowed 82 animals to be adopted in the month of November alone. Of those animals were two twin chihuahuas that had been at the shelter for over four months.

“The last time you were here we had our little chihuahua friends," said Perreault. "They found this perfect home where they travel with the parents they visit their child, and everybody who meets them loves them and cannot believe that Teddy and Rosie were in our shelter for over four and a half months."

The Berkshire Humane Society has 20 less animals than they did in October, meaning they are not completely full at the moment. Perreault said they did more promotions this year than any other year to combat the lack of adoptions over the last few months.

“Without what we did in the coalition, and waiving fees for those two weeks and we continued it through November with those other specials, without that, we wouldn't have placed as many animals I think our numbers would be even lower," said Perreault.

Last year, the shelter adopted about 782 animals around this time, this year, that number is only up to 703. However, the shelter is not giving up.

"Its the job of our adoption counselors to match that right pet with the right owners so that adoption lasts a lifetime," said Perreault.

Plus, they aren't the only shelter experiencing this downward trend. The Mohawk Hudson Humane Society said they adopted around 1,962 animals around this time last year. This year, they're up to 1,888.

The Berkshire Humane Society is waiving adoption fees for dogs one year or older. There are currently 19 animals available for adoption, but plenty more that will be ready soon. Perreault encourages people to call them if they don't see the animal they're looking for on the website.

Additionally, as the holidays approach, Perreault does not recommend surprising loved ones with animals. Instead, he said to come down to the shelter and explore options together.

“Gifts are not good. If there’s someone you want to find an animal for, let them pick out their companion. They should be the one to pick out who they want to spend the rest of the animal’s life with," said Perreault.

According to workers at Berkshire Humane Society, it takes a village to care for all of these animals. Anyone interested in volunteering can find more information on their website.