Greenfield animal shelter to close

GREENFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Some Franklin County residents are worried about the impending closure of the Dakin Pioneer Valley Animal Shelter in Greenfield.

The Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society hosted a Community forum at Greenfield High School tonight.

They want to reassure residents worried that Dakin intends to close their Greenfield facility June 30th, and expand to the MSPCA building in Springfield.

A smaller facility in Leverett will remain open, but some animal lovers think they won't be served.

Nora Blake of Florence expressed her concerns to 22News, "Having just a facility in Springfield concerns me a little bit about how folks in this part of the state are gonna be able to help animals, work with animals, find animals."

Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society Executive Director Leslie Harris said the moves were all positive.

"Being able to be in Springfield, and having a larger building to conduct our programs means that we will be able to expand programs in the upper valley."

The Dakin pioneer Valley Humane Society has set a date of August First to open the Springfield shelter in the building they purchased from the Massachusetts Society For The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.