Kelly Hathaway of Pittsfield pleaded guilty on Friday to two counts of animal cruelty in Central Berkshire District Court as part of a plea agreement. Following the plea agreement, she was ordered to have a mental health evaluation and follow any after care as instructed by the court.
She was placed on two years probation and ordered to perform 50 hours of community service. She is not allowed to possess any animals and was ordered to surrender any she has in her care. She is also prohibited from volunteering with any animal groups.
Hathaway and another defendant were charged last March with abandoning 15 cats on back roads in Richmond and Lanesborough after an investigation by Lanesborough Police, Lanesborough Animal Control and the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Two of the cats died, possibly from exposure, and another was never found. Temperatures ranged from about minus-6 to 28 degrees on the weekend of Jan. 28 and the cats found in Richmond were undernourished and dehydrated.
According to the police report, Hathaway said her landlord had told her to remove the animals because of the smell.
The cats were discovered by a motorist on Jan. 31 and he, animal control, volunteers and the Berkshire Humane Society worked to get the cats to safety. They were later adopted out by the Humane Society.
The animal cruelty charges could have meant fines of up to $5,000 and time in jail or prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Aleah Fisher and Megan Rose.
The Berkshire District Attorney's Office thanked the agencies involved for the assistance in the investigation, including the State Police.
"We are very pleased that we can bring this case to a resolution. MSPCA was very pleased with the outcome as we took into consideration the defendant's intellectual disability and willingness to accept responsibility," said Rose. "Thank you to the Berkshire Humane Society for their assistance with finding homes for the abandoned animals."
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Pittsfield Shares Updated Delivery Schedule for Toters
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The new residential curbside trash and recycling rollout has launched. The City of Pittsfield announces an updated schedule of delivery for the new toters for residents to receive them in time for the first pickup.
There are approximately 3,500 toters being delivered for each collection route. Casella will begin delivering toters for each route earlier than expected. For each route going forward, delivery of toters will begin four business days prior to the start of the pickup.
For example, residents who have Thursday collection routes will start to see their recycling toter delivered beginning tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 13 for the first pickup on Thursday, Sept. 19. For trash toters, residents will begin to receive their toter on Friday, Oct. 18 for a pickup on Thursday, Oct. 24.
Delivery will continue over those four days until every household receives their designated toter, so we ask residents to be patient if they do not receive their toter on the first day of delivery.
There is no need for residents to be home to receive their carts. As part of the delivery, carts will include additional instructions for placement as well as a calendar and frequently asked questions. As a reminder, there are no changes to the collection day. If a resident currently has trash and recycling collection on a Monday, they will continue to have collection on Mondays.
The Select Board will discuss whether to hold a special election to fill his vacant seat or wait until Diver's term expires next June and have his seat up for election as part of the standard Select Board election. click for more
Mayor Peter Marchetti shared information and reflections on the process with Executive Director of Pittsfield Community Television Shawn Serre during Monday’s episode of “One Pittsfield.” click for more
The Airport Commission last week approved a cleaner design that depicts a jet flying over a green mountainscape. It is a far cry from the former branding, which had more than 10 saturated colors.
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