What a swell party that was! The Garden Party for the benefit of the animal shelter broke all sorts of records. It was the best-attended event we have ever had. It was the first time we had goats as guests, the littlest one, a real kid, was a big draw. Mother Nature cooperated by providing a perfect Vineyard day. Marty Nadler was in top form as the emcee. Trip Barnes surpassed even himself as the auctioneer, even providing a second “magical mystery tour” led by him as the first one he donated proved to be so popular it quickly became oversubscribed. Meg Mercier was busy at her easel throughout the party, painting the view our hosts, Sal and Anne Giordano, enjoy every day. It was auctioned off before the paint was dry.

The jewelry table was popular. There was even a service dog in attendance, brought by Sue Fairbanks. Our excellent bartender, Katie, was accompanied by her Lab cross rescue dog, Vivian. Guests reached deep into their pockets to replenish the Suzie Fund, which was named in honor of Ray and Teddie Ellis’s rescue yellow Lab, and which provides special (read: expensive) veterinary care for some of the sickest animals the shelter takes in. A large thank you to the Giordanos, whose generosity allowed the animal shelter to hold this fabulous event in a picture perfect setting, to Trip Barnes and Marty Nadler, who kept the crowd laughing and bidding, to the board of the shelter, whose planning and execution of the myriad details resulted in the best Garden Party ever, to all the donors of the auction goodies, to the staff and volunteers of the shelter, especially Lisa and Gordon, our peerless leaders, and to all the animal lovers who came to the party and bid on both the live and silent auctions. The homeless and unwanted animals of Martha’s Vineyard are in your debt.

Speaking of unwanted animals, the shelter has a new resident, an orange female cat who was thrown out of a car! She is a beautiful girl who is multidactyl. That means she has so many toes she can be said to be on tiptoe when she walks. Lisa thinks she might be pregnant, in which case she will not be adoptable until her kittens are born and weaned and she is spayed. Meanwhile, Jessica the tuxedo lady and Austin the guinea pig who likes to be cuddled have gone to forever homes. Our black female kittens who were so skittish in the beginning, Laverne and Shirley, have warmed to human companionship and are now being given the run of the back hall where they play with visitors and each other. And then there is Skipper, who does not seem to want to play or interact with other cats or people due to his continued mourning for his deceased owner. He will be free to any kind-hearted soul who can coax him back into the world.

All those animal-loving patriots who would like to join the animal shelter contingent marching in the Fourth of July parade please bring your leashed dog or cat in a carrier to the parking lot at the Edgartown School by 4:30 Saturday to muster with them. It is always a lot of fun for all. Keep the dogs away from the thrown candy!

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.