All is quiet at the animal shelter right now. Islanders are busy shopping and decorating for the coming holidays. It is a time to maintain the domestic status quo until the festivities are over. Speaking of which the annual Christmas parade takes place in Edgartown next Saturday, Dec. 13. Dress yourself and your leashed dog in holiday attire and join the contingent from the animal shelter. Muster behind the Edgartown School at 10:30 a.m. to be a part of this event.

Want to win $100 worth of oil or propane? With the cold weather upon us, who wouldn’t? All it takes to be considered for this prize is a $20 donation to the Animal Shelter of Martha’s Vineyard. Enclose a note with your name and telephone number to let us know that such a windfall would be welcome.

There is lots of room to roam in the cat room for the only two occupants, Nala, a two-year-old beauty and our new resident, Princess. The latter has an interesting back story. She was originally what we call a TNR for trap, neuter, and release. Surprisingly she is not feral, quite the opposite. Not only is she friendly, but she has good kitty cat manners, always using the litter box and coming to greet you when you enter the room. This is due to the kind gentleman who fed her for years and gave her a good deal of human affection. She is a tricolor cat and, at approximately 14 years of age, is a beneficiary of our “free to a good home” policy.

Rumor has it that a puggle is coming in for adoption. She is named Cali. She is only four months old. Her owner, the mother of three young children, finds the puppy energy and training she requires does not fit into her already busy schedule. One person has already signed up to adopt her, but since no one here has met this little one yet, we do not know for sure if this will happen. Just saying...

Once more we have Betsy, a two-year-old tabby whose new owner found that she did not have the time to properly care for her. She was originally placed last March, but now needs re-housing, this time we hope forever. She has a shy but loving personality and, at two years old, is as fit as a teenager should be.

Then there is our handsome black male guinea pig, Harrison Ford. He loves lettuce and lap sitting. He would be a fine companion to a child.

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.