Everyone wins when you gamble at the Fur Ball.

Almost Home Humane Society of North Central Iowa’s annual fundraiser helps support the many cats and dogs under its care.

“The Fur Ball is actually our largest fundraiser that we have every year,” Carolyn Kempf, Almost Home board member, said. “This will be our eighth year.”

The nonprofit hopes to raise $40,000 this year.

“All that money goes to keeping the doors open at the shelter,” Kempf said. “It supports the operating costs.”

Guests can expect an evening of casino-style card games.

“Depending on what table you sit at, you could be playing five card stud, blackjack, Texas hold ’em,” Kempf said. “We’re not a casino, so we’re not very strict on the rules. It’s about having fun and enjoying the evening.”

There will also be silent and live auctions, as well, and a traveling photo booth to provide guests with a memento for the evening.

According to Kempf, the evening is a pleasant one.

“There’s a lot of people enjoying themselves,” she said. “People don’t just sit around in one area. They move around, see what we have for auction items, socialize.”

Almost Home board members will greet the community, and photos will be available of the many pets who are benefiting from the contributions.

Without the generosity of the community, it would be hard for Almost Home to operate, Kempf said.

“It does take the support of not just Fort Dodge, but we also service the surrounding five counties. We need those surrounding areas to come together and support us as well,” she said. “We try to solicit within those counties just to get the word out there the best we can. For us, it is about that continual community support.”

She added, “It’s not just us, it’s everybody coming together.”

Almost Home offers many services, Kempf said. In addition to adopting out animals to a “forever home,” the nonprofit, no-kill shelter offers a community Dog Park.

“You can use our bathing facilities to give your animal a bath if they need one. We can do nail trimming. We’ve got the community room,” Kempf said. “We have a retail space. You can get things like collars and leashes, and dog beds and some toys.”

The nonprofit benefits not only from contributions, but time, as well.

“Volunteers are always appreciated,” Kempf said.

Fur Ball is Saturday at Fort Dodge Ford Lincoln Toyota, 2723 Fifth Ave. S., from 7 to 11 p.m.

Tickets are $20 per person or $35 per couple. They are available at Almost Home, 725 S. 32nd St.

For more information, call 955-8343.