Chris Stakes, noted pet communicator and owner of Pet Paradise in Carrollton, will speak at the April 9 meeting of the Suffolk Humane Society at 6:30 p.m. at the Magnolia Ruritan Club building at 1029 Nansemond Parkway, near the corner of Nansemond Parkway and Portsmouth Boulevard. The meeting is free and open to the public.

Stakes will discuss not only how to communicate with your pet but also how to set your pet up to succeed. Attendees can also ask questions and register for the fifth annual Mutt Strut Dog Walk and Festival, a pledged dog walk fundraiser scheduled for May 5 at Sleepy Hole Park.

“This is wonderful opportunity for everyone to learn more about what their pets are really thinking from one of the area’s best known pet communicators as well as find out everything Suffolk Humane is doing to make our community a better place for us and our pets,” said Michele Thames, executive director of the group. “We invite all animal lovers to attend the meeting that evening.”

Call 538-3030 for information or visit www.suffolkhumanesociety.com.