At the Animal Shelter of Martha’s Vineyard social plans for the spring and summer seasons are underway. Coming right up on Saturday, May 10, is the Pink and Green celebration in Edgartown featuring people and pets sporting those preppy colors. Awards and ribbons for appropriately attired animals will be handed out in the small park on Main street in Edgartown. If otherwise engaged during the day one can always attend the party being held at the Seafood Shanty with dancing to the Chandler Blues Band and a performance by the shelter’s own singing sensation, Gordon Healy, beginning at 10 p.m. A portion of the money made will be donated to the shelter.

Currently in residence at the shelter are Scout, a four-year-old tabby who is happy to be either an outdoor or an indoor cat; Cody, who prefers to be indoors; and Pibby, who, despite being declawed, makes do very well for herself on outdoor forays. The orange fur balls that are the shelter’s new kittens are being carefully tended and raised by their mother who, though ever watchful, leaves them from time to time to stretch her legs. She lets the staff and volunteers cuddle her babies, very important for their development as friendly house cats. And a source of much pleasure for the human handlers as well.

Ed, the guinea pig and his female cohorts, separately housed of course, are still awaiting a forever carrot-giver. The girls are Lucy and Ethel. All of them are very sweet and gentle as guinea pigs are wont to be.

No dogs in residence at the moment, but Lisa Hayes, the director of the shelter, knows of some in the community whose owners would like to find suitable homes for their animals. As we all know, circumstances change and sometimes one must surrender a pet. The shelter is safe and warm but the current owners feel the dog would be better off in a home environment and so decide to keep them until a new owner is located.

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.