It was a quiet Thanksgiving at the shelter, with our three residents happy to have someplace warm and dry to spend the holiday. Newest resident Chaps, the 11-year-old white and black male cat, is settling in to life in the cat room. And our long-haired, black frosted tip seven-year-old female kitty Beauty has started to show her playful side. Both are hoping to find forever homes before Christmas.

Please stop in to see if either of these cats is the companion you’ve been looking for. Calling all dogs and their walkers! The Edgartown Christmas Parade will take place on Saturday, Dec. 12 at 11 a.m. and the shelter is welcoming dogs to walk along with our Animal Shelter of Martha’s Vineyard float. If you’d like to participate, meet at the Edgartown School parking lot at 10 a.m., where your dog can be decked out with jingle bells. Holiday attire is encouraged for both you and your dog. We hope you can join us for this fun annual holiday event.

We would also like to remind everyone that on Dec. 5 at 11:30 a.m. Constance Messmer, author of Some Dogs Talk, will hold an informational talk at the shelter. Ms. Messmer is a professional psychic, medium and channel who has lectured and taught psychic development to both adults and children. Her book aims to teach animal communication through the story of Tony, a young boy who psychically converses with dogs, but second guesses his skills to the point that he thinks he may be imagining it. It leads both Tony and the reader into deeper relationships with their animal friends. The talk will focus on animal communication through psychic connection. Copies of the book are available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and campshorts.com. Please join us for this fascinating event which aims to help you strengthen your bond with your pet.

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 or visit animalshelterofmv.org.