For the fourth year, the community will have a chance to help out it’s furry friends through the Central Alabama Animal Shelter’s Paw Ball.

The ball, which will be held Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. at the Carl Morgan Convention Center, will feature a live and silent auction, live entertainment, music dinner and drinks.

The ball, board member Julie Lyons said, has already had a strong response from the community selling 24 of the 30 tables available. Tickets are $25 each and $200 for a table of eight.

The response, Lyons said, has board members optimistic about this year’s event.

“It’s exciting,” she said. “The first year it was difficult and then each year it has gotten easier because more and more people have gotten on board.”

Auction items include everything from a signed football by the Auburn University and University of Alabama football teams, a set of tires, rounds of golf and trips. One trip, Lyons said, is a $3,200 vacation to New Orleans that will be given away on a draw-down format.

All auctions have a number of items on the table, thanks to strong community support.

The goal for this year’s Paw Ball is $10,000, which Lyons said the board feels is achievable.

“We almost reached it last year and we are hoping people will come out this year,” she said. “This is our largest fundraiser of the year. We have different fundraisers all year long, but this is our biggie.”

It will take every penny, Lyons said, to keep up with the shelter’s needs and expand programs in the future. The city of Selma provides the building, utilities, animal control officers and a couple of employees for the shelter. It is up to the shelter to provide food, housing and medical care for the animals.

Through fundraising effort, Lyons said the board hopes to keep the price of adopting a pet lower and eventually open on weekends to increase the opportunities for people to view their animals. A no-kill shelter is also a future goal.

For more information on the Paw Ball, call Lyons at 872-9874.