PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There's a sweet and playful puppy looking for his new family.

iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home.

Beans is a terrier and American pitbull mix and came to the shelter with his littermates early December.

Canine caregiver and adoption counselor Simone Olivieri told us about Beans.

"There were four of these puppies in the litter. Each puppy looked very unique, different colors, different face shapes. They were all very, very unique puppies," she said.

Beans is a very active puppy and is always playing. He is still learning many things but will also cuddle you once he's tired out.

"Beans is super cuddly, very affectionate puppy. Once his needs are met, he's also very high energy, very playful. So he's gonna need a lot of attention training," Olivieri said. "He's really treat motivated. So he does love to learn once his physical needs are met and he has had some training. He, I mean, he turns into this just lovely, cuddly, snuggly boy."

He needs to be in a home with someone who can keep an eye on him and help train him as he is not used to being in a house. He is still learning where to use the bathroom and needs to learn to be in a crate.

"Lots of walks, lots of attention. A family who is home quite often would be wonderful for a couple reasons. First of all, so he can get a lot of attention, love, care, also to help him work on his potty training. He is not fully housebroken. He does know to potty outside, but we're still working on it," she said. "We're also working on his crate training. So he is going to need someone who has quite a bit of time on their hands, especially up front for the next few months, getting him integrated into the home. He had been living outside mostly before he came here."

Beans likes everyone but with his high energetic nature, he is preferred to go home with older children. He might be OK with a cat but it's unsure right now, and would be better to go home with an older female dog to help teach him not to be less rowdy.

"He gets along with every single person that he meets. But we are thinking for kids in the home, 12 and up, would be best. Just because he is still a puppy, he can still be a little bit mouthy and jumpy and rambunctious at times," Olivieri said. "He does OK with cats. He might want to chase a cat. So if there's a cat in the home, definitely a dog-savvy cat. If there's another dog in the home, we're opening it up, he can be a little bit rowdy and rough playing with other dogs.

"We've had some play dates here at the shelter. He's done well. He just needs to be with another dog that can really match his energy."

Adopters should make sure their house is Beans-proof. He loves to play with toys and will definitely tear up the soft toys — and possibly other things.

"He's still a puppy, still teething, he's going to want to just destroy stuff and rip stuff apart, and he's pretty good at it," she said. "So keeping him in a crate when you're not home or you can't watch him, and definitely puppy proofing the house is going to be really, really crucial for him, so that he doesn't ingest anything that he shouldn't."

Beans came from a home with other siblings in an unwanted litter. The Berkshire Humane Society wants to remind pet owners that it can help with grants and clinics to neuter or spay animals, as it can be expensive.

"There were four adult dogs in the home. We are working with the previous owners right now with their male dog, who is actually Bean's father, with getting him neutered through our clinic," Olivieri said. "We do have some grants from time to time through our wellness clinic, and we have some low-cost spay and neuter programs.

"We just want to let everyone know we're out there and we can help with the cost of spay and neuters for your dogs."

Once you meet Beans, you are sure to love him and he will love you as well. He is a great dog who will always stay by your side.

"He's a lot of excitement. He wants to be just like, on top you with you, either playing or getting, you know, touched and loved on. So he's going to be a commitment, but for the right person and right family who wants to go like all in with him, he is just a lovely dog, like he just, he's going to be a good soulmate for somebody," Olivieri said.

You can visit Beans at the Berkshire Humane Society and read more about him on the website.

The Berkshire Humane Society is open Tuesday through Sunday. The adoption center is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday.

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