DAPHNE, Ala. — The 7th Annual Animal Rescue Dog Run will be held Dec. 15 at Centennial Park in Daphne. The 5k event begins at 8 a.m.; the 1-mile at 9 a.m., rain or shine.

Organizers said they hope the race will raise awareness about the importance of spaying and neutering pets.

“There’s nothing cute about a litter of kittens or puppies sitting on death row in an animal shelter,” said James Pennington, member of the Animal Rescue Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Mobile. The race is the ARF’s primary fundraiser.

Registration postmarked by Saturday is $15 for the 5k; $14 for the 1-mile run.

Same-day registration begins at 6 a.m. and costs $18 for the 5k and $16 for the 1-mile run.

All proceeds go to the ARF. The money will help rescue abused and abandoned pets in Mobile and Baldwin counties. Funds also pay for animals’ spaying and neutering, medical care and food and shelter until they’re adopted.

Like The Haven in Fairhope, the ARF is a no-kill organization.

“We don’t euthanize pets when we can’t find them a home,” Pennington said. “We are trying to move toward a no-kill nation,” he said.

Five-thousand animals were euthanized in Baldwin County last year; 3,000 of them were healthy, according to Kathy Eddy, executive director of the Baldwin Animal Rescue Center, formerly the Baldwin County Humane Society. There’s one abandoned animal for every 16 residents in Baldwin County, she said.

“A female cat can have two litters per year,” Eddy said. “An average of 2.8 kittens survive, so that’s 12 cats in one year; 267 cats in two years; 376 cats in three years; 2,107 in four years; 11,801 in five years; and 66,088 in six years.

“That’s why we have given out 2,500 spay and neuter vouchers this year and have three different spay and neuter programs.”

“The key to saving animals is to work together,” Pennington said, adding that the ARF works with The Haven, the Baldwin Animal Rescue Center and the Fairhope Cat Coalition.

Last year’s race brought in $7,200 to help homeless animals. Age categories for runners range from under 9 to over 70, so people of all ages can help, Pennington said.

T-shirts will be given to all entrants and there will be raffles by local merchants.