Many of our four-legged friends depend on us, for food and shelter and other necessities of life.

The 91原创 animal shelter, run by the 91原创 Animal Protection Society, spends more than $60,000 a year on animal care, all of the money coming from donations.

On Oct. 29, LAPS will be hosting its fourth gala to not only raise money, but to celebrate the success stories that happen, thanks to the public鈥檚 generosity.

This year, LAPS hopes to raise $55,000 so that it can continue to provide care for 91原创鈥檚 stray, lost and unwanted dogs and cats 鈥� and there are plenty of them. Each year, LAPS cares for approximately 1,000 dogs, 300 cats and 200 livestock animals, said LAPS general manager, Sean Baker.

Part of the funds raised on gala nights are directed to the medical fund and part to current projects that benefit animal health and welfare, he said.

For example, in 2009 LAPS built sun and rain shelters in its exercise yards at the Patti Dale Animal Shelter at 26220 56 Ave., and last year renovated its cat cottage to provide heat, ventilation, insulation and an exercise area.

This project is almost complete, and a grand opening is planned for the week of Oct. 11.

鈥淔or 2011, we are raising funds to build a dog training and exercise facility on site (and) to make this dream a reality, we need to raise $100,000,鈥� Baker said.

The gala will be held at the Coast Hotel and Convention Centre, large enough to host the anticipated 400 guests. The night will have a masquerade theme and will include dinner, and live and silent auctions. Aaron Pritchett, the well-known country music artist, will perform and be the evening鈥檚 host.

Tickets are $75 each, the price rising to $100 after Oct. 17. They can be purchased by phone at 604-857-5055, or in person at the Patti Dale Animal Shelter.

Another LAPS money-raising initiative is the $5,000 Build Your Dream Vacation lottery. Offered for the first time, LAPS has printed only 2,000 tickets, 鈥渟o the odds are really good,鈥� Baker said.

Tickets are one for $20, three for $50 and 10 for $100. Tickets can be ordered by phone or in person at the Patti Dale Animal Shelter.

Baker stressed that the real focus of the event is the happy endings that LAPS staff have created. The 鈥淔urry Tail Endings鈥� focus on animals like a six-month-old Chihuahua which came to LAPS with a broken leg and broken jaw about at the beginning of September.

鈥淯nfortunately, the injuries were not recent and he had probably been suffering for three to four weeks,鈥� Baker said, adding that the pup鈥檚 face was infected and its foot had swollen to several times its normal size.

鈥淲ith the help of the Shewan Foundation, we were able to provide the two surgeries needed to repair the leg and the jaw. He isn鈥檛 out of the woods yet, but we are confident that he will be another 鈥楩urry Tail Ending,鈥� 鈥� he added.