Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

On behalf of the Animal Shelter of Martha’s Vineyard I want to thank all of the participants, the donors and volunteers who made the First Annual Walk For the Animals a huge success. A very special thank you to Pat Adler who brought us the idea to hold this event and her service on the organization committee along with the hard-working Christine Todd.

The weather was perfect and all the animals and their humans had a wonderful time while they generated a great deal of support for the shelter. We also want to thank the following businesses and organizations for their generous donations to this event: Black Dog, Broadway Screen Printing, Giordano’s, Good Dog Goods, Oak Bluffs School, UPS Store, Vineyard Bottled Waters and WMVY.

The past, present and future animals of the shelter extend a hardy and heartfelt shake of the paw to everyone who participated and contributed to this first annual, and all future Walk For the Animals events.

Duncan Ross, Oak Bluffs

The writer is chairman of the Animal Shelter Martha’s Vineyard.