Category: Volunteers

Meet Erin O’Brien, TASP’s Berkshire Treasure

Those of you who have been participating in our Fantasy Pet Photo Clinics at Benson’s in Pittsfield already know Erin O’Brien as the ever-smiling, ever-joking ever-competent photog and computer operator who turns even the most incorrigible pet model into an absolute work of art. One Sunday each  month, Erin meets us at Benson’s ready to set up and shoot our fund-raising photos that draw folks from all over Berkshire County.

From our first meeting, Erin understood immediately what it was TASP was trying to accomplish with our mission to keep pets out of the local shelters through pet crisis intervention and mitigation. And by the time we handed her Zippy’s very first Fantasy photo, we were signing Erin up to be a TASP volunteer. Since then, TASP is stronger and so much better off for having Erin on our team.

Erin helps all the pets relax and have fun at photo clinics.

But don’t take our word for it, take it from Erin: “

“I stumbled across a TASP photo clinic at the Pittsfield Benson’s a few years ago and was so impressed with how patient Steve was with my dogs and how friendly the gang working the clinic was, that I volunteered to help out at future events. 

Before you know it I had learned a ton about PhotoShop, how to photograph wiggly dogs, and how to set up and tear down the photo clinic equipment.  But more importantly, I had met some of the best people I’ve ever encountered in the TASP family of volunteers.  You are all so dedicated, talented, and hardworking.  I’m impressed at every event with how much everyone does for animals in their spare time and not-so-spare time…….And of course, I’ve gotten to know some of the cutest, nuttiest, and sweetest animals and their loving pet parents.  The regulars at our events are the best for how supportive they are of TASP and it is obvious how much they love their fur babies.”

The family who dresses together stays together!

Not only is Erin a one-woman photo clinic, able to expertly handle every aspect of our process including setup, animal-handler, photographer, computer operator and admin; she is also an accomplished graphic artist with an absolutely joyful personalty that engages volunteers, pet owners and critters alike! Erin has been a volunteer with the outstanding Berkshire Humane Society for years and is a valuable resource to TASP and local residents who may need help navigating the animal welfare world on her side of the mountain.

Erin’s COVID drive-by birthday celebration for Zippy

A devoted pet mom and animal lover, Erin gives her whole self to her dogs: Gentleman Bud and Zippy the Wonderpup. And it’s clear they want nothing more than to be with their Mama, even when she’s not dressed up like one of them. Both dogs are so well trained by Erin they are even welcome at her workplace at Habitat for Humanity. Friends always look forward to seeing the latest facebook post from her about her dogs’ accomplishments and antics.

Berkshire Habitat for Humanity welcomes well-behaved pets belonging to their employees.

TASP’s appreciation for Erin just keeps on growing. Now that the COVID nightmare is under control in the Northeast, she’ll be managing our Fantasy Photo Events at local weddings, parties and other shindigs around her area. Stay tuned to our website and facebook page for more news about this expansion of our supporters’ favorite fund raiser that will earn more revenue for local pets in need.

Meantime, keep an eye out for Erin and her incredible smile in the Lenox-Pittsfield area. She’s the person every pet and every human wishes to be around……. and once you meet her, it’s a sure thing you’ll agree.


The Paws2Protect FREE FLEA AND TICK CAT COLLAR event at Troy Area United Ministries was a blast!

Folks did what they had to do to get to the event to take advantage of our free Seresto cat collar offer. Free spay-neuter-vaccination vouchers were also handed out to those who needed them, too! What an awesome day! Thanks to TAUM and our volunteers for making the event a success!


ASPCA Funds Construction of Canine Training Yard for The Animal Support Project

RPI’s Acacia Fraternity Joins TASP on Project Funded by ASPCA

Students from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Acacia Fraternity provided the manpower this month, helping The Animal Support Project (TASP) erect a secure 2,000 square foot outdoor canine training yard. The yard, constructed primarily from welded steel kennel panels obtained through a grant from The American Society for The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), will be used for humanely treating behavior in TASP program dogs through positive training and controlled behavior modification methods.

Training Yard build
RPI’s Acacia Fraternity Joins TASP on Project Funded by ASPCA

According to TASP President, Melinda Plasse, “TASP’s experience with companion animal crisis intervention indicates that problem behavior is a huge contributor to canine surrenders and euthanasia. We don’t expect to create lambs out of lions here, but of those who do have the potential, we intend to create clearer-thinking, more manageable pets who will have developed the emotional skills to live successful lives in the community. We are thrilled to have the Acacia Brothers onboard for this project, and we look forward to their further involvement during the actual operation of the yard.”

The ASPCA grant was awarded as part of a continuing commitment to Brooke, a dog rescued by TASP from ASPCA’s Hurricane Sandy Temporary Emergency Boarding Facility in Brooklyn, NY. In addition to Brooke, the training yard will offer a legacy of support to TASP program dogs needing behavioral adjustment in order to adapt to home and family life. ASPCA Behaviorists and Crawmer’s Animal Training of West Sand Lake, NY, will provide guidance to TASP volunteers operating the yard program.

For the full Press Release, please visit…   http://www.theanimalsupportproject.com/?p=662


In Their Words……

Messages of thanks from those we serve

Thank you! This has lifted a giant stressor off my shoulders! – Catherine

Oh, that would be amazing!  Thank you so very very much!! ……I can’t express how much I appreciate the help with him he’s a very sweet cat. – Mellissa

Becky and I thank you very much and Harley is running around chasing her tail she’s so excited cuz I told her the news that we’ll go for rides again. Thank you ever so much. That’s a wonderful Christmas present I will talk to you soon God bless – Dirck

I love you thanks and Merry Christmas And A Happy New Year xxxxxooooo – Linda

I never cared for Fraternities or Sororities till I read your newsletter. They went way up on my book for doing a good deed. – Sioux

Hello there! Happy New Year! I wanted to email you and say thank you for helping Kali get her teeth cleaned. She’s basically a brand new cat. She plays more and eats well. She’s definitely a lot happier now after the teeth cleaning. I just needed to say thank you for helping me afford her teeth cleaning. – Catherine

I did get the chewy box with the cranberry supplements and thank you so much for the food. – Donna

At this time we are all healthy and hope all of you are as well. What your program does to help so many is wonderful and we are glad to be doing our small part. Stay healthy! – Cathy

The kittens you helped us trap are doing well. Picture to come….. – Steve


RPI Alpha Phi Omega Students help TASP Staff Tag Sale Fund Raiser


RPI Acacia Brothers assist TASP with Scrap Metal Drive


TASP Joins ASPCA and Other Partners Caring for Hurricane Sandy’s Displaced Pets


ASPCA Funds Construction of Canine Training Yard for The Animal Support Project

RPI’s Acacia Fraternity Joins TASP on Project Funded by ASPCA

Training Yard build

Students from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Acacia Fraternity provided the manpower this month, helping The Animal Support Project (TASP) erect a secure 2,000 square foot outdoor canine training yard. The yard, constructed primarily from welded steel kennel panels obtained through a grant from The American Society for The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), will be used for humanely treating behavior in TASP program dogs through positive training and controlled behavior modification methods.

According to TASP President, Melinda Plasse, “TASP’s experience with companion animal crisis intervention indicates that problem behavior is a huge contributor to canine surrenders and euthanasia. We don’t expect to create lambs out of lions here, but of those who do have the potential, we intend to create clearer-thinking, more manageable pets who will have developed the emotional skills to live successful lives in the community. We are thrilled to have the Acacia Brothers onboard for this project, and we look forward to their further involvement during the actual operation of the yard.”

The ASPCA grant was awarded as part of a continuing commitment to Brooke, a dog rescued by TASP from ASPCA’s Hurricane Sandy Temporary Emergency Boarding Facility in Brooklyn, NY. In addition to Brooke, the training yard will offer a legacy of support to TASP program dogs needing behavioral adjustment in order to adapt to home and family life. ASPCA Behaviorists and Crawmer’s Animal Training of West Sand Lake, NY, will provide guidance to TASP volunteers operating the yard program.

For the full Press Release, please visit…   http://www.theanimalsupportproject.com/?p=662

ASPCA Grant Logo


ASPCA Funds Construction of Canine Training Yard for The Animal Support Project

RPI’s Acacia Fraternity Joins TASP on Project Funded by ASPCA

Training Yard buildStudents from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Acacia Fraternity provided the manpower this month, helping The Animal Support Project (TASP) erect a secure 2,000 square foot outdoor canine training yard. The yard, constructed primarily from welded steel kennel panels obtained through a grant from The American Society for The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), will be used for humanely treating behavior in TASP program dogs through positive training and controlled behavior modification methods.

According to TASP President, Melinda Plasse, “TASP’s experience with companion animal crisis intervention indicates that problem behavior is a huge contributor to canine surrenders and euthanasia. We don’t expect to create lambs out of lions here, but of those who do have the potential, we intend to create clearer-thinking, more manageable pets who will have developed the emotional skills to live successful lives in the community. We are thrilled to have the Acacia Brothers onboard for this project, and we look forward to their further involvement during the actual operation of the yard.”

The ASPCA grant was awarded as part of a continuing commitment to Brooke, a dog rescued by TASP from ASPCA’s Hurricane Sandy Temporary Emergency Boarding Facility in Brooklyn, NY. In addition to Brooke, the training yard will offer a legacy of support to TASP program dogs needing behavioral adjustment in order to adapt to home and family life. ASPCA Behaviorists and Crawmer’s Animal Training of West Sand Lake, NY, will provide guidance to TASP volunteers operating the yard program.

For more information, please visit www.theanimalsupportproject.org


About The Animal Support Project

The Animal Support Project, Inc. is a 100% volunteer 501.c.3 charitable organization dedicated to proactively reducing the suffering of all species of companion animals through crisis intervention. Through TASP’s combination of field response, public awareness, mentoring and spay/neuter initiatives, hundreds of animals each year are spared the stress of being surrendered to a shelter or euthanized. Equally important, the owners of these animals are enlisted in the process whenever possible, helping them become a part of the solution and part of a more humane community.

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ASPCA Grant Logo


ASPCA Grant Enables TASP Volunteers to Attend Training in Nashville.

In early May, a generous stipend from ASPCA® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) helped TASP send two volunteers, Donna Farnsworth and Debbie D’Angelo, to four days of intensive training and networking sessions at the annual Humane Society of the United States Animal Care Expo.  In addition to meeting with experts from all the major national animal welfare organizations including ASPCA, HSUS, RedRover and PetSmart Charities, Debbie and Donna attended seminars on fundraising, sheltering, and the latest veterinary and spay/neuter approaches. They visited the Expo Trade Fair, where they sampled all the latest technologies and products offered to animal welfare workers, and on their own dime, they purchased and donated to TASP, a complete video copy of the entire event’s seminars. Because of their efforts, all of our volunteers can now share in the information from Animal Care Expo. On opening day of the event, Debbie and Donna attended a day-long session on keeping pets with their owners through outreach. This topic is the foundation of The Animal Support Project’s mission and we are so proud to know the national groups are recognizing the value of that approach!  Having the ASPCA and TASP assist with the cost of sending these two wonderful ladies to this year’s Animal Care Expo enables us to remain on track with our approach to serving our community with all the latest techniques and technology as we perform our mission, without cutting into our direct-care budget of funds used for our daily operations.  We are proud and so grateful to receive ASPCA’s assistance!

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