Oniska Blevins | The Selma Times-Journal

Wannabe Rescued is encouraging community members to “buy a ‘Butt’ (or a breast) and save a mutt.” The group is selling tickets for their fifth annual “Butts for Mutts” barbeque fundraiser, and this year’s goal is to sell all 500 of their tickets. The tickets for smoked Boston Butts are $35 and $40 for turkey breasts.

The last day to purchase tickets is April 25.

Margie Johnson, Wannabe Rescued volunteer said all proceeds will help benefit an animal in need.

“Every single penny we raise for Wannabe Rescued goes towards the animal’s bedding, food and their forever homes,” she said.

Wannabe Rescued is a non-profit organization committed to rescuing homeless and abandoned animals, primarily dogs from the local animal shelter and owners who can no longer care for their pets.

The idea to sell food seemed like a no brainer to the group.

“We tried to come up with something everybody needed or liked to do,” she said “We decided everybody likes to eat.”

The barbeque Boston Butts and turkey breasts will be prepared by Lannies BBQ located at 205 Medical Center Pwy. They will be available for pickup at the restaurant May 12 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

For the second year the organization has added turkey breast to their sales.

Johnson said adding the turkey breasts as an option has not only been health conscious, but beneficial to their sales as well. After the addition of the turkey breasts last year the organization sold almost 200 more tickets than the year before.

She said even her doctor was excited they were selling turkey breasts.

In efforts to increase ticket sales the group has reached out to different media outlets and placed signs and flyers throughout the city.

Fundraisers like this one along with the other fundraising efforts done throughout the year are the sole financial backing of the organization. Johnson said she gets emotional thinking about what would happen to the local dogs without their help and resources.

“It warms your heart so much,” she said. “ They can’t help themselves.”

She said the animals that are fortunate enough to receive help from organizations like theirs go from having no one to care for them to loving homes.

She said the community can join the efforts in two ways such as donating money and time to the organization and/or by contacting local vets about vetting.

Tickets can be purchased from any Wannabe Rescued volunteers, local vets or Karen Horton at the Downtowner restaurant.

For more information contact Margie Johnson at (334) 412-8041, Lorraine Alexander at (334) 412-1963 or Beverly Huffman at (334) 239-1039.