By KARAN MINNIS, Guardian Lifestyles Reporter

If you love your dog, cat, gerbil, rabbit, turtle, spider, snake, hamster — even those who own an ant farm, then this one's for you.

Animal lovers, the Bahamas Humane Society, is hosting their 50th Annual Thanksgiving Ball and you are all invited to attend — that is if you can find a seat.

Under the theme "Animals Annual Thanksgiving Ball", this event is set to be held on Saturday, Nov. 15 at the British Colonial Hilton Hotel, Bay St. with two live bands rocking the room for your entertainment and dancing pleasure to benefit the animals.

There's also something in it for you too, because the human attendees will have the opportunity to win airfare to fabulous Las Vegas, and a five-night hotel stay at the Hilton during the in-house raffle.

There's also jewelry, which no female — no matter the age can resist, and Saskia D'Aguilar, the event's organizer says John Bull has given them a collection of beautiful pieces to be auctioned off. Handbags, along with a number of other luxury items will also be on the auction block.

"Each year we hold the ball solely to help fund the expenses of The Bahamas Humane Society, and at the end of it we donate every last dollar that we make from the event to the Humane Society. Last year we raised about $60,000 for them and we were their single largest fundraiser," says Saskia D'Aguilar, the ball's organizer. "We raised the funds by combining the ticket sales for the evening, with two additional fundraisers during the ball — an in-house raffle and a silent auction.

Adding that fundraisers such as these are vital to the society's existence, D'Aguilar says this event the ball is the most important fundraiser and she encourages all animal lovers to show their support by being a part of it. With a few seats left, she encourages you to call right away, if you want to grab one, because most of the seats are gone.

"People understand how important the Humane Society is to The Bahamas," she says. "It was established in 1924, and since then the Society addresses head-on, the problem of stray animals and many other concerns. It is also affiliated with numerous international animal welfare agencies, including Humane Society International, and it is the only organization in the Caribbean to hold membership in the Standards of Excellence Program sponsored by the American Humane Association, which it has belonged to since 1981. Additionally, although it is based in Nassau the Society also works with sister organizations on other islands and is considered to be the oldest charity in The Bahamas.

"However, in order to do the work that it does such as running the clinic, which performs sterilizations for approximately 550 animals each year, in addition to running that busy hospital, shelter and adoption center and its educational campaigns, the society requires funding and therefore we have the annual Thanksgiving Ball."

With a view to saving animals, D'Aguilar says that the ball is the fun side of things, and allows dedicated volunteers, individual donors and the community at large, on evening of coming together to have fun in support of the animals. They are expecting more than 200 persons to attend this year's event..

"We do have tremendous support and that's why each year our numbers either remain steady or they grow," she says. "We expect this event to be a grand success. I think the thing about [this] occasion is that we make it fun and have as few speeches as possible."

Tickets for this black tie event are $250 per person. Cocktails are 7 p.m., with dinner at 8:30 p.m. The ball is being held under the patronage of Governor General Arthur D. Hanna.

Humane Society's Animals Annual Thanksgiving

Ball

Where: British Colonial Hilton Hotel

When: Saturday, November 15

Donation: $250

Dress-code: Black Tie

Time: Cocktails 7:00 p.m., dinner 8:30 p.m.

Ticket outlet: Ruth Cleare at 324-1366/Betty Sands at 393-1797