Berkshire Humane Society Start an adoption application

The only open-admission animal shelter in the Berkshires, taking in over a thousand animals a year.

Adoption fee From $250
Hours Closed Monday. Tuesday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm. Wednesday 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Thursday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm. Friday - Saturday 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Sunday 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Closes at noon the last Wednesday of each month.
Areas served The Berkshires, Massachusetts. Main shelter in Pittsfield plus Purradise, a dedicated cat facility in Great Barrington.
Adopting

Fees, requirements & process

From $250

Cats: $275; Kittens (under 6 months): $325; Senior cats (7+ years): $250; Adult dogs: $375; Puppies: $475; Senior dogs: $250. All fees include medical care, vaccinations, spay/neuter surgery, microchipping, grooming, care instructions, a free health exam at local veterinarians, a local pet store discount, and lifetime advice.

Requirements

Stop by the main shelter or Purradise and pick up an application or download one for cats, dogs or small mammals and birds . Bring this completed form to the shelter or email it to canineservices@berkshirehumane.org for dogs or felineservices@berkshirehumane.org for cats and small animals. At this point, we’ll talk with you about what you’re looking for. Before approving your application, we require proof of home ownership or your landlord’s permission. Applicants must be 21 years old or older with a valid photo ID.

How it works

Start with the adoption application at https://berkshirehumane.org/adopt/, then contact Berkshire Humane Society at (413) 447-7878 to arrange meeting a cat.

Location

Find Berkshire Humane Society

The area

Berkshire County at a glance

Population 129,430
Housing units 70,004
Est. households with a cat 18,485

Estimated by applying the AVMA's 2024 national cat-ownership rate (32.1% of households) to the county's real household count from the Census Bureau — a national rate applied locally, not a local survey. Population and housing figures are from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to adopt a cat?

Cats are $275, kittens under 6 months are $325, and senior cats (7+) are $250. Fees include medical care, vaccinations, spay/neuter, microchipping, grooming, and a free follow-up vet exam.

Get involved

Support Berkshire Humane Society

Surrendering a cat

Surrender program at berkshirehumane.org/program/surrender/

Looking to adopt right now?

Browse cats and kittens available from breeders and shelters in Massachusetts on Petfinnly.

Browse in Massachusetts

Other shelters in Massachusetts

Is this your organization? Claim this shelter profile