Berkshire County pair accused of animal cruelty against 15 cats

Two people from Pittsfield are facing animal cruelty charges for allegedly dumping 15 cats in Berkshire County in late January.

The cats are in good condition, according to officials at the Berkshire Humane Society. They are slightly underweight, but are on the road to recovery.

The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says Kelly Hathaway and Arthur Raney are both facing 15 counts of animal cruelty charges.

According to court documents, Hathaway owned the cats. Hathaway dumped the cats because she feared facing eviction from her apartment.

The documents also say Raney drove Hathaway to dump the cats. The cats were dumped in Lanesborough and Richmond.

The Humane Society is caring for 11 of the cats. Unfortunately, two of the cats died, and they are still looking for one cat. One of the cats is being cared for by another person. However, the Berkshire Humane Society staff are relieved most of the cats are safe.

"Just the collaboration effort between everybody – it just makes you feel good that this effort was made by so many people. You know, they say sometimes it takes a village. It took a village this time, and those 11 cats are going to be so lucky," said John Perreault, the executive director of the Berkshire Humane Society.

Hathaway and Raney will be in court on March 18.