The Animal Shelter is pleased to announce that Michael, the big black tomcat who regularly appeared in this column has found his forever home at last. We are so happy for him and for his new owner. Tux, the black and white male, has moved into Michael’s slot as the shelter’s tenant with the longest occupancy. Pandora, the four-month-old gray kitten, was renamed Pan when the vet visited this week. Surprise! She was a he! Except for the white patch under his chin, he could be mistaken for a Russian blue. He keeps company in the cat room with the other boys: Grant, a big black stray, and Homer, a stray gray and white. Then there are the ladies. Linda is black with striking golden eyes. Scout is a black and white tuxedo who, at 11 years old, can be taken for free to a good home.

There were some happy reunions of lost cats and their owners this week due to the shelter’s record keeping. Cats frequently wander miles from their home, often trying to return to their old home after their owner has moved. One cat, lost from a residence off Edgartown Road on 14th street, was found by someone in the Camp Ground. When an animal goes missing and is reported to the shelter, that information is entered in a log. It is then possible to contact the original owner should the pet appear on someone else’s doorstep. Browsing through the lost pets file, a visitor found the stray animal of a friend of hers. Another reunion in the offing!

Gizmo, the brown and white guinea pig, has grown to adulthood at the shelter while waiting for a home of his own. The two dogs, Lady, a black cocker spaniel and her son, Jackie, a larger black dog of mixed parentage, are also still at the shelter. Since they were raised outdoors by their previous owners, they love the shelter’s large, sunny outdoor space. They would be good companions for someone who loves long walks in the winter. They have good indoor manners as well.

Shelter hours are Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The shelter is closed Sunday and Monday. The telephone number is 508-627-8662. Contributions are always gratefully accepted; the shelter is funded solely by donations. Please make checks out to The Animal Shelter of Martha’s Vineyard. The mailing address is P.O. Box 1829, Edgartown, MA 02539.