FAIRHOPE, Ala. — The economy is a mess, the Saints lost again and the problem of abandoned dogs and cats continues to grow. Each seems insurmountable by itself, but we can at least make some headway toward solving the latter by attending the 14th Annual Christmas by the Bay, an event benefitting the Baldwin County Humane Society.

The gala takes place Friday evening, Nov. 14, from 6 until 11, at the Fairhope Civic Center and will feature a live auction (including a 2009 Harley Davidson Sportster, art such as a Nall lithograph with a frame designed by the artist and condo vacation packages), a silent auction, live music by the Grand Band, dancing on an expanded dance floor and a taste of menu selections from Baldwin County’s finest restaurants.

Tickets are $50 per person, and they may be purchased by calling (251) 928-4585 (Ext. 101) or online at www.baldwinanimalrescue.com.

A pet adoption event will then be held on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., in front of the Civic Center.

The organization, also known as the Baldwin Animal Rescue Center because of its mission of rescuing abandoned, abused and neglected pets, needs the support the benefit will bring, and the animals to be featured the next day need good homes, said Jim Turner, BARC vice president and acting executive director.

“We’re kind of going back. Everything is new again,” said Turner, referring to the agency reverting in part back to its original Humane Society moniker. “We’re merging the two names together — Humane Society is now more prominent.”

That’s because some people were dropping off animals at their downtown Fairhope offices overnight, even though BARC is not a shelter per se, but rather a group that works to place pets in foster homes and kennels until permanent arrangements can be made. He hopes this will clear up the confusion.

Turner said, “We find homes for homeless pets throughout Baldwin County. We will pull animals out of the Magnolia Springs shelter and try to find homes for them.”

BARC works with similar groups, such as the Fairhope Cat Coalition and J & L Golden Retriever Rescue to find families to take in and love these animals, who, for whatever reason, could no longer be cared for by their owners.

“Our vision is to not have any homeless pets in the county,” Turner said. “We want to get to the point where we don’t have to euthanize at the (county) shelter.”

BARC tries to lower the unwanted pet population by offering low cost spay and neuter certificates. Using a certificate at a participating area veterinarian reduces the cost of spaying or neutering a cat to $30, and only $75 for a dog. Turner noted low income individuals can receive those services at an even lower cost to them.

Turner said the Fairhope Cat Coalition uses the spay/neuter certificates to help stabilize and reduce the county’s feral cat population.

Many of the old wive’s tales attributed to spaying and neutering have long since been debunked, he said, and doing so can in fact be beneficial. After neutering, male cats no longer spray, he said, and animals no longer go into heat.

“Our veterinarians donate their services at a discounted rate,” Turner said. “There are a log of areas that don’t have the enlightened vets we do. We wouldn’t be in business without them.”

Don’t think that BARC is just going to hand over a dog or cat to anyone who asks. The animals, which are listed on www.petfinder.com via a link from BARC’s Web site, are only placed in situations that have been screened by the agency. Potential adoptive families must submit a veterinarian reference, and will not be permitted to adopt an animal totally unsuited for their home or family.

Turner said that means someone in a small apartment will not be allowed to take home a 150-pound dog. The same applies to a family with very small children, or who are planning to have a baby in the next few years. He noted the group’s discretion protects the pet and the family.

“We want to make sure they’re adopting a dog that will be good to children,” Turner added.

Animals will be microchipped before adoption so they may be reunited with their humans if lost. He said some rescued animals are discovered to be dogs or cats that were placed by BARC or a similar group and later abandoned.

“With times being tough, we’re having more people needing to give up their animals and move,” Turner said.

BARC has touched as many as 5,000 animals so far this year, he said, through the spay/neuter program, medical care or adoption.

Turner said Christmas by the Bay is more important than ever to support BARC’s growing mission.