MONTAGUE — The Friends of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Regional Dog Shelter’s annual “Mutts in Need” fundraiser promises a tail-wagging good time on Saturday.

The fundraiser will hold its recurring silent auction and raffle along with a variety of activities such as dog agility and skill demonstrations, dog massages, a new cornhole tournament, ice cream and barbecue vendors, and a photo booth. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Millers Falls Rod & Gun Club, 210 Turners Falls Road.

Businesses donated raffle items ranging in value from $50 to $150 and silent auction items ranging from $250 to $800. This year, 42 raffle items will be presented alongside 18 auction items. In addition to proceeds from the raffle and silent auction, ticket sales also support the shelter.

Gabi Trudeau, office manager at the dog shelter in Turners Falls, said Mutts in Need has raised between $20,000 and $30,000 in previous years. These funds go toward shelter operating costs and care of the dogs.

“This [fundraiser] specifically covers the vet care for the dogs for the next 12 months,” Trudeau said. “It goes … directly into our operating account for dog care, day-to-day running of the shelter, medication and more.”

The shelter is owned by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, but it is maintained by a group of volunteers alongside Trudeau and Shelter Director Leslee Colucci. Trudeau said 30 to 40 volunteers currently work at the shelter, with others coming in to help when they’re available.

“The volunteers do basically all the kennel work. They keep the back running, and the director and I keep the front end running,” Trudeau said. “There’s a lot involved with just keeping the shelter running and the dogs happy.”

Each year, “alumni dogs” who previously stayed at the shelter come to Mutts in Need with their owners to visit with volunteers and attendees. Trudeau said dogs are welcome at the event as long as they are leashed and comfortable around people and other dogs.

Trudeau noted that although the dogs that are currently up for adoption will not be at the fundraiser, people who are interested in adopting a dog are encouraged to call or visit the shelter. She explained an in-person visit can also help the shelter pair a dog with the best potential owner.

Outside of the fundraising element, Mutts in Need acts as a method of community outreach for those who are looking to adopt, or for residents who are unfamiliar with the shelter and how it works.

“It’s good outreach for us to let people know sort of what we do at our shelter,” Trudeau said. “A lot of people know we’re here, but they think we’re just Animal Control and we just hold strays. There’s so much more to the shelter than that, so it’s also a way for people to see what we’re all about and become interested in volunteering with us.”

Tickets are available online at tinyurl.com/MuttsinNeed2024. Tickets are available for $30 in advance and $35 on the day of the event. Attendees who are interested in participating in the cornhole tournament can buy a $10 ticket to participate. Teams of two are required to play.

Erin-Leigh Hoffman can be reached at ehoffman@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.