The Warwick Beacon is continuing its partnership with the Warwick Animal Shelter to help raise awareness about the dogs and cats available for adoption at its location on Arthur Devine Boulevard – this time with the aid of video.

While the Beacon and its sister papers, the Cranston Herald and Johnston Sun Rise, already feature a series on Thursdays called “Animal Talk,” which spotlights individual animals up for adoption (along with their personal stories that brought them to various shelters across the state), a new series of videos will aim to provide another in-depth element to showcase the animals up for adoption.

“Our goal with Animal Talk is to showcase adoptable animals in our community with the hopes of finding them a loving forever home,” said Karen Kalunian, who helps in various capacities with animal shelters in Warwick and Cranston, as well as the East Greenwich Animal Protection League and the Rhode Island Parrot Rescue, and authors the Animal Talk section. “There's a beautiful one waiting for you right now.”

On Friday, Beacon associate editor Ethan Hartley and Kalunian visited the Warwick Animal Shelter to showcase two female adult cats, Connie and Star, who were rescued from a hoarding situation in Warwick. They were confined to a small trailer without proper care or amenities. Connie developed an ear infection so bad that she had to have one of her ear canals surgically removed. They are now both healthy and up for adoption at the shelter.

Connie walks a little off-kilter due to the ear canal issue, but is otherwise a total love bug who curls right up into your lap and starts purring. Star is less of an attention ham, but still enjoys head scratches and will roll around for some love as well. They both play well with others, have no aggressive tendencies and could be a perfect addition to a home looking for a cat – or two cats, if you have the space.

The shelter features a specialized cat room, with over a dozen other cats up for adoption of all types and sizes, in addition to a smaller selection of dogs. The shelter staff works hard to keep the facility clean and takes care to exercise each dog every day.

The video taken on Friday will be going live on the Warwick Beacon Facebook page later today, and will ideally kick off a series of similar videos to be published semi-regularly.

To contact Kalunian directly to inquire about any adoptable animals in the local area, email her at ilovedogs1920@gmail.com. To contact the Warwick Animal Shelter, call 468-4377 or visit them in person at 101 Arthur W Devine Blvd during business hours on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 12 to 4 p.m. (closed Thursdays), and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.