Letter: Why Doesn't Berkshire County Have Emergency Veterinary Care?

To the Editor:

Yesterday, my husband and I had to say goodbye to our elderly dog. It was one of the most heartbreaking days we have experienced as pet parents. In addition to the emotional pain, we faced a 60–70 minute drive to reach an open veterinary facility to euthanize Tanner on a Sunday, enduring not only grief but also the anxiety of not having emergency care available locally.

I am writing in sincere confusion and concern.

Berkshire County has a number of well-established veterinary practices, each staffed with multiple veterinarians and veterinary technicians. From what is publicly listed, Berkshire Veterinary Hospital, Greylock Veterinary Hospital, North County Veterinary Clinic, and South Street Veterinary Services collectively employ approximately 16 veterinarians, in addition to support staff. Yet despite this, our community does not appear to have consistent 24/7 emergency coverage.

Meanwhile, a facility roughly an hour away manages to provide around-the-clock care, sometimes with veterinarians commuting to cover emergency shifts.

This raises an important question: why is this not possible here in Berkshire County?

Is per diem or rotating emergency coverage between clinics financially or logistically possible? Are there regulatory, insurance, or financial barriers that make this unworkable?

If there are valid reasons preventing 24/7 emergency care from being established here, I believe many pet owners would feel comforted simply understanding those reasons. Transparency would help our community to understand.  Pets are family members. In moments of crisis, time and location matter deeply. Even a collaborative or limited after-hours rotation system could provide peace of mind to pet parents throughout the county.

I share these thoughts while still grieving, but also hoping perhaps this experience might spark discussion about emergency coverage. 

Diane Spina
Adams, Mass. 

Cheshire Hires Adams Officer as New Police Chief

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
06:00PM / Friday, August 21, 2026

Matthew Wright shakes hands with board members and Town Administrator Jennifer Morse on Friday after being offered the post. 

CHESHIRE, Mass. — Adams Police Sgt. Matthew Wright has been tapped as Cheshire's next police chief. 

 

The four present board members unanimously voted to hire him after an interview on Friday afternoon held during a special Selectmen's meeting. 

 

Wright was the only finalist for a police chief search that lasted several months. The only public who attended, other than iBerkshires, was interim Police Chief Timothy Garner and Wright's wife. 

 

The board will meet in executive session with Wright for contract negotiations then set an open session to establish a start date. 

 

Board member Scott McWhirt recused himself from the interview as he had worked with Wright in the Adams Police Department prior to his retirement in 2016.

 

Wright highlighted his deep roots in Cheshire, where he was born and raised, being a Hoosac Valley High School graduate and earning an associate degree in criminal justice from Berkshire Community College and later a bachelor's from Westfield State University.

 

Now, he is raising his own family in town, following in his father's footsteps by giving back to the community by being a volunteer coach and participates in local festivities.