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In the summer of 2025, we have now seen three major news stories in the Capital Region pertaining to unspeakable animal abuse.

The incidents began in early July with a Halfmoon woman running a doggy daycare and boarding facility, A Time Four Paws, who was abusing animals by failing to provide sustenance and basic ventilation, leading to the death of one dog. Then, later in July, 54 golden retrievers and a chihuahua had to be taken from a Milton man and woman who were charged with 55 counts of overdriving, torturing, and injuring the animals. Most recently in late August, in the tragic third instance so far this summer, 21 dogs were found dead at a boarding facility, Anastasia’s Acres Dog Boarding in Argyle. I urge everyone to watch the ABC7 New York video of the poor child who had to bring her dead dog, Piglet, home to bury in the backyard after a weekend trip in which they entrusted Anastasia’s Acres to care for their pet.

This is becoming a sick pattern. Oversight needs to become more strict, with regular checks, perhaps led by a task force of various local animal control departments.

Doggy daycares and boarding facilities are places you should be able to depend upon. No one should return from a trip to find that the business that you trusted to keep your dog safe was, in fact, keeping them under terrible conditions, let alone come back to find that your four-legged family member died. This cannot keep happening.

Published Sept. 15, 2025

The article “Struggling firehouses reach for volunteers,” Aug. 18, highlights a critical issue facing our communities. In September 2024, Questar III BOCES worked with local fire companies in Columbia and Greene counties to launch a fire science program at the Donald R. Kline Technical School in Hudson.

This one-year program not only equips high school juniors and seniors in Columbia, Greene and Rensselaer counties with invaluable skills but also directly addresses a pressing workforce need. By allowing students to earn their New York State Basic Exterior Firefighter Operations certification while still in high school, the program offers a clear pathway into a paid or volunteer career.

This initiative is a true win-win: our students gain a head start on hands-on skills in various careers, and our communities gain a new generation of trained and dedicated firefighters. This kind of partnership is an investment in the safety and future of our region.

The writer is the District Superintendent for Questar III BOCES.

Published Sept. 15, 2025

After more than five years of being involved in efforts to close the S.A. Dunn construction and demolition debris landfill in Rensselaer, I have come to find that not everyone........

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