Lots of happy endings at the animal shelter this week. The two Labrador retrievers mentioned as possible arrivals last week were indeed surrendered to the shelter. Meadow, the black female, and Johnny Cash, the yellow male, are going to a new home once they have been spayed and neutered. A quick turnaround so to speak.

Lisa Hayes, the director of the animal shelter, has a special talent for matching pets to their people. Hearing of a St. Bernard who needed a new place to live, Lisa connected with a person who wanted that very breed. So, on the day the large dog named Care Bear was supposed to be occupying a cage at the shelter, he went instead to his forever home with his delighted new owner. Lisa, of course, had assessed the dog for health and temperament before Care Bear departed. Dog and man are now happily ensconced in their new residence together.

India needs a home. — Alison L. Mead

The last of the litter of kittens saved from certain death by Merri Walkenstein are now available for adoption. Both males, Wilbur is a pale beige tiger who was the runt and Augie is gray and white. Both have the calm and sweet dispositions of cats who have been hand raised. They are lucky to be alive. Special kitties, they deserve special homes.

A big orange male cat found as a stray in Vineyard Haven was added to the feline population at the shelter today. He looks young, despite his large size. He has been named Morris in honor of a deceased cat of one of the volunteers. Another recently arrived resident is Wally, an eight-year-old tabby whose owner is now living at Windemere. Wally is very reticent, probably due to her new and strange surroundings.

The two cats tearfully left here by a young father whose child was found to be allergic to them have been pronounced fit and healthy by the vet. Nala, the cream colored female, and Gizmo, the marmalade male, are just about two years old. Having been well cared for and loved in their previous home, they will make exceptional house cats for the lucky person who adopts them.

Winston, a gray bobtail with a big personality, needs an indoor/outdoor arrangement. — Alison L. Mead

Every visitor falls in love with Winston, the gray bobtail with the big personality. Unfortunately, he prefers not to use the litter box. Thinking over this stumbling block to finding a home, the great minds at the shelter think that he needs to be an “only” animal and that he wants the great outdoors to be his bathroom. He and we hope that someone is willing to give this solution a try. That person will be rewarded with Winston’s outgoing, in more ways than one, attitude.

Thank you to all who showed up, leashes in hand, for the Walk for Animals last Saturday. The board members of the Animal Shelter greeted the animals and humans who participated. Special mention goes to the winner of the best costume, the dog dressed as Clifford, the Big Red Dog. Everyone enjoyed the beautiful October day, dogs and owners alike, and the shelter’s coffers benefitted 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.