FAIRHOPE, Ala. — It will take only three hours of your life and a few bucks from your pocket, but the dividends your participation will pay in the long run are immeasurable.

The 15th annual Christmas by the Bay fundraiser to benefit the Baldwin County Humane Society (BARC) will take place Friday, Nov. 20, from 6 until 9 p.m., at the Fairhope Civic Center. Event co-chairs are Maria Gwynn and Nevin Yankie.

The festive party is one of BARC’s major funding sources each year, and it helps the group bring relief to homeless cats and dogs that might otherwise face euthanasia in city and county shelters due to limited space, injuries or health problems. Money raised also supports the many programs and services provided by BARC.

Tickets are $50 per person, and include two drink coupons as well as gourmet hors d’oeuvres from some of Baldwin County’s finest restaurants and delis, including Fairhope Inn. Tamara’s Bar and Grill, Tamara’s Downtown, Tamara’s Steamer, Mateer’s, HoneyBaked Ham Co., Cosmo’s Bar & Grill, Cobalt, Panini Pete’s Café, Lulu’s at Homeport Marina, Magnolia Court Restaurant, Terrace Grill at the Point Clear Tennis Club, Abner’s, Heavenly Creations, Papa’s Place and Publix.

Music will be performed by the Dr. Jazz Normand Combo.

Also part of the evening fun is a silent auction, which gives those attending an excellent opportunity to get unique Christmas or Hanukkah gifts. Items include works from local artists, unique trips and vacation packages, fine wines, Bose sound systems, fishing trips, road and reels, jewelry and golf outings.

BARC volunteers will sell gift items for animal lovers that make great stocking stuffers, and guests may also sponsor a homeless pet in honor of someone on their gift list.

“This will be our third year back at the Fairhope Civic Center,” said Jim Turner, BARC executive director. “This is our biggest fundraiser of the year. It goes to help all homeless animals in Baldwin County.”

Turner said the organization gets no cash from the government, so it must rely primarily on donations from individuals and businesses. Providing for the needs of the animals served by BARC can get expensive.

“We have to pay for their care,” Turner said. “Plus we have a low-cost spay and neuter program.”

One such program now being offered to low-income families was funded by a grant from PetSmart, and is being carried out through the generosity of local veterinarians, he pointed out. Qualifying pet owners pay just $20 to have a cat spayed or neutered, and $30 for a dog under this particular effort.

“Unfortunately, we find that people are very price-sensitive about it (spaying and neutering),” Turner said. “If vets didn’t give us a strong discount, we couldn’t do it.”

BARC issued around 2,500 low-cost spay and neuter certificates in 2008, according to Turner. The group also placed around 800 animals in adoptive homes. And volunteers worked with the Fairhope Cat Coalition to spay and neuter around 500 feral cats across Baldwin County.

Other BARC services include monthly adoption events, micro-chipping and rabies clinics, helping find lost pets, providing financial assistance for abandoned animals with injuries; training and grooming homeless pets to make them more adoptable; and, transport of homeless Baldwin County animals who have been adopted through out-of-state rescue groups and shelters.

“One of the things that separates us from other agencies, we take that animal in for life,” Turner said. That means if an adopted animal turns out to be not well-suited for a home, or the person simply can’t care for it, BARC will take the dog or cat back and begin the process anew.

“Christmas by the Bay is a fun event and a great way to kick off the holiday season for a very worthy cause in Baldwin County,” stated Gwynn, who is president and one of the founders of the organization. “We urge everyone to buy a ticket or make a donation. And, consider making Christmas by the Bay a holiday outing for your book club, supper club or other group.”

Yankie agreed, adding, “Never has the need been so urgent. The economy is forcing pet owners to surrender their pets. The calls from pet owners who have lost their jobs or facing foreclosure are heartbreaking. Some people are so desperate that they abandon their pets.”

Yankie is a BARC board member and chair of the organization’s development committee.

Christmas by the Bay Best of Show sponsors are Gulf Coast Newspapers, Lamar Advertising and Don Bekurs.

Best of Class sponsors are Budweiser Busch Distributing, Wendy and Sid Vogel, Ron and Sunny David, Jeanine “Dr. Jazz” Normand, Gary Powers and Development Inc.

Best of Group sponsors are BancorpSouth, Cosmos, Eastern Shore Toyota/Hyundai of Daphne, Gulf Packaging Inc, J & J Furniture, East Bay Electric LLC and Thompson Properties.

Supporters are John Robertson Insurance, Maria and Robbie Gwynn, South Alabama Vending — Pepsi Cola Bottling, Cox Family Foundation, Vision Bank, Ideacom of the Gulf Coast, Prima and Hester Plauché Jr., Buffalo Rock Beverages and Food Services, Bertolla Farm Supply, State Rep. Steve McMillan, O. Lany Simmons, Currier Antiques, Nevin and Alan Yankie, Duke Homes and WAFB 1220 AM/WCSN 105.7.

For more information, to purchase tickets or make a donation, call the volunteer desk at (251) 928-4585 ext 100; e-mail info@baldwinhumane.org; or visit www.baldwinhumane.org.

The Baldwin County Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1979. It is volunteer driven, and operates solely on grants and donations. The BARC office is located at 306 Magnolia Ave in Fairhope.