Despite this snowy, windy, freezing weather, Islanders still come to the animal shelter to find the perfect warm animal to cuddle. The cat room empties out and then a new resident or two appears. Call it coincidence but lately each tuxedo cat that is adopted is replaced by another one looking for a home. We still have Mickey, a black and white six-year-old male, and he has been joined by a lovely three-year-old female. She is also a tuxedo, but she has an unusual feature. She is polydactyl, or double pawed to us laymen. Ask for Muffin if you are planning to visit or claim her. We are happy that Big Baby and Linus, who both had some medical issues, have gone to forever homes.

With a fresh coat of snow once again covering our walkways it is hard to believe that March begins on Sunday. At the shelter, we are hoping that the new month brings Mother Nature’s melting machine, the sun, in more abundant quantities. At the end of the month, March 28 to be exact. the annual rabies clinic will take place at two locations on the Island, in West Tisbury at the emergency services building and in Edgartown at the animal shelter off the Edgartown/ Vineyard Haven Road. Both clinics takes place between 10 a.m. and noon. At $20 per animal, pet owners save about half the cost of a vet visit for the same vaccine. All dogs must be leashed and cats must be transported in carriers. Please bring your animal’s previous immunization certificate if you wish to obtain a vaccination good for three years. No early birds will be allowed into the shelter until 10 a.m. This column will carry reminders of this event throughout the month.

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.