Noelle Howland is committed to keeping alive the late Pittsfield ACO Eleanor Sonsini's mission of helping animals ... albeit farther north in North Adams.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — No Paws Left Behind Executive Director Noelle Howland has been selected as the November Community Hero of the Month.
The Community Hero of the Month series honors individuals and organizations that have made a significant impact in their community. The series sponsor, Haddad Auto, has extended this initiative for one more month.
Howland breathed new life into the mission of the former Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter, which closed in August 2023.
The shelter in Pittsfield operated under the mission established by Eleanor Sonsini, a local animal rights activist and longtime animal control officer in Pittsfield, to be a no-kill shelter committed to finding surrendered and abandoned pets new forever homes.
Howland's love for animals, dedication to their well-being, and expertise in animal behavior and training and shelter management brought this mission to new heights at No Paws Left Behind, a new shelter for dogs located at 69 Hodges Cross Road.
"I want people to understand that I know it's hard to surrender. So, my biggest thing is [making sure] people know that, of course, we're not judging you. We're here to help you," Howland said.
When Sonsini announced its closing, Howland, who was the shelter's manager, worked to save it, launching fundraising initiatives. However, the previous board decided to close the shelter down and agreed to let Howland open her own shelter using their mission.
Howland designed protocols that prioritize the well-being of the dogs and provide a supportive experience for the adopters, ensuring a smooth transition.
Unlike its predecessor, No Paws does not allow visitors to directly see the animals in the kennels.
Howland explained that constant public access and interaction can be very stressful for the dogs, especially those who are newly surrendered or in a shelter environment.
Limiting direct public access creates a calmer and less overwhelming environment for the animals, she said.
"A lot of these dogs are amazing outside of the kennel, but when you're in the kennel environment it's very difficult for them," Howland said.
The reason for not allowing visitors into the kennels is difficult for some to understand, but Howland wants them to know that they are doing what is best for the animals.
The shelter allows potential adopters to see the dogs during meet and greets in a managed environment where adopters can get a better sense of their true temperament and behavior.
She has also implemented a 72-hour trial period, during which adopters can take home the pet to see how they are in a home environment.
Howland stays in contact with the adopters to provide support and guidance, such as ways to maintain training, in an effort to help the animals thrive in their new homes.
The shelter has also made a conscious effort to minimize the dogs' time in the kennels and provide them with ample opportunities for exercise, enrichment, and decompression throughout the day.
"We also do quiet time here between 11 and 12. So, we always shut the lights off, I give them enrichment and we play a sound machine. It just gives them time to decompress," she said.
In addition, she has made training and behavior management a key priority at the shelter, utilizing both in-house and external trainers work dogs to improve its behavior.
Alison Mulcahy, a dog-walking volunteer, said she loves the protocols Howland implemented, highlighting how it helps reduce the dogs' anxiety and creates a calm and happier environment.
"A kennel in and of itself, and not being in a home environment is a stressful environment. So anytime that you can lower that stress level is just going to make them a happier animal," she said.
A community hero is someone who is selfless and does things to make the environment better for those who live in the community.
Howland has gone above and beyond in telling protocols and procedures in the adoption process to make sure that there is the best bond for both the animal and the family, Mulcahy said.
"For her age, she is wise beyond her years when it comes to what she's doing and she's taken a huge endeavor on and, from what I've seen, she's succeeding at it," she said.
Debbie Melle, volunteer for the cats, said Howland's endeavor in opening No Paws Left Behind has brought the community together and has helped it through both the shelter and its pet pantry.
There are so many pieces involved in running a shelter. "It's a juggling act," Melle said.
Melle said when the former shelter closed Howland "swooped in" as a 20-something-year-old, and said, "I am not letting this shelter go. I'm going to fight to bring it back and to bring it back better, and to not let Eleanor Sonsini's mission go."
Howland and the former shelter's core staff members persevered and "and look where we are. Every day, I'm amazed at the community," Melle said.
The conditions at the former location were disappointing and not fair to the animals and staff, Howland had said. When a new board of directors was established, they decided to look northward for a new home.
"I think for me, knowing that North Adams has never had a real working shelter like this, it made me want to do it even more, because when I worked at [Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter] a lot of the animals would come from North Adams, or Williamstown, or Adams," Howland said.
Howland said she has a good relationship with North Adams and works to make the shelter an accessible resource for the local community.
During their search, Mayor Jennifer Macksey recommended the space in the former aluminum anodizing plant on Hodges Cross Road. The Department of Public Works is located in the building and a pound had been created for an animal control officer.
"I knew the second I saw it, that this is where I wanted to be. I did look at a few other smaller places …but I knew, once I saw those kennels back there that was everything I wanted," Howland said.
After a few renovations to the space, the shelter has 14 kennels, a quarantine area, an area for cats, an office and garage to both store the animal control vehicle and create a secure area for transporting animals.
"I absolutely love this organization," said the mayor. "They have been an excellent partner with our animal control officer to ensure our animals receive the best care until a safe and stable home is found. They are helpful, professional, and most of all willing to ensure safety for our four-legged friends.
"Noelle is a rock star, very knowledgeable in her trade, and wants the best not only for the animals but the adoptive families. I couldn't ask for a better organization to partner with in helping the city navigate our homeless animal situation."
No Paws Left Behind collaborates closely with the city's animal control officer to streamline operations and care for strays.
The AOC handles the initial intake and holding of stray animals, while Howland and her staff focus on the care and rehabilitation of the animals. After the 10-day holding period, if no one claims the animal, it becomes the responsibility of the shelter.
Howland comes from a lineage of animal lovers and her passion from animals started from a very young age.
She knew she wanted to work with animals after seeing her mother has foster multiple dogs, and kept one from the program after the veteran who was supposed to take him passed away.
There were multiple times when a dog was supposed to go back home, but it ended up staying with Howland's family. This experience made her realize that she really wanted to at least foster dogs someday because it gives them a second chance at a happy life, she said.
"So, I think it's good to see that you are able to give the dogs a second chance. And that was very big for me that I knew I at least wanted to foster, but I just landed into something even bigger than that," Howland said.
In high school, she interned for Greylock Animal Hospital, where she was able to observe the veterinarians and vet techs at work.
She began her studies at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, where she pursued a biology degree with a pre-veterinary concentration. Later, she transferred to Unity College in Maine, allowing her to complete her degree online.
During this time, she gained hands-on experience in the animal field by working at Northern Berkshire Canine, a dog daycare and training facility. There, she learned extensively about animal behavior and management.
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