Dukes County is happy to announce that the new
Animal Shelter of Martha’s Vineyard
is open
Wednesday 8.30am to 2.30pm
Thursday & Friday 8.30am to 6pm
Saturday 8.30am to 4pm
Special arrangements for a different day/time are possible by calling
508-627-8662
The Shelter is located at the old MSPCA building at 1 Pennywise Path off the Edgartown - Vineyard Haven Road in Edgartown.
Volunteers needed
If you interested in helping with animal care feel free to contact Lisa Hayes at the Animal Shelter at 508-627-8662.
If you would like to help in another way, please call Martina Thornton at 508-696-3840.
After the MSPCA announced the closing of the animal shelter in Edgartown, a group of volunteers worked hard to make sure that this important community service will stay in place. Dukes County was asked at the All-Island Selectmen meeting to step in and help save this function for all island towns and residents. Starting May 1st the County took over the shelter and developed a 6-month short-term plan and budget. The County is using its reserve funds to front the money for the operation with the understanding that the county reserve fund will be replenished by the towns at the end of the first 6-months. In the meantime a long-term plan would be developed for funding the operation. We hope that the shelter will support itself mostly through adoption fees, donations and fundraising events. But we feel that town
funding is needed as a back up to ensure uninterrupted service.
We are working closely with a 5-member advisory Board of Directors on fundraising, PR, policies and procedures, building and grounds maintenance, etc. The Board would be making any important decisions regarding the animals that are being taken care of at the shelter.
The shelter will have two to three temporary part-time employees to run the shelter on day-to-day bases. This allows only for limited schedule and we hope to develop a reliable base of volunteers that would help our staff with the care of the animals as well as other aspects of the shelter operation.
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