By Oniska Blevins | The Selma Times-Journal

Some people say a dog is a man’s best friend, so making sure furry friends are loved and protected are two of the main missions of Wannabe Rescued.

The nonprofit dog rescue will host its third annual Doggie Draw Down raffle at the Sandbar, located at 1 Marina Drive on March 30 at 6:30 p.m.

Wannabe Rescued has been dedicated to saving animals in need for almost six years.  The nonprofit works to rescue homeless and abandoned animals that have no one else to rely on.

“We focus primarily on the shelter dogs that will never be seen by the public, which gives them very little chance of being adopted,” said Lorraine Alexander, vice president of Wannabe Rescued.

She said last year they saved over 800 dogs. Through partnering with local veterinarians and the local animal shelter they have been able to give the dogs a chance they wouldn’t have otherwise.

“We pull the dog from the shelter, we’ll have it vetted and then we’ll put it in a foster home,” Alexander said. She said that’s the best scenario. They also send dogs to adopting rescues where they have the resources to find forever homes for the animals.

The group is run solely on donations and fundraising events such as the Doggie Draw Down to help to offset the costs of the resources provided to the dogs.

“It takes at the minimum $150 per dog to get them vetted,” she said.

Pictures with Santa and Boston butt sales are two of the other fundraisers done throughout the year. Alexander said Doggie Draw Down gives the public an opportunity to win money while helping local animals.

The raffle tickets are $50 each and a maximum of 200 tickets will be sold. She said a member of the organization can deliver your ticket to you, and even if you are not present at the drawing, you are still eligible to win one of the three prizes.

“The last three tickets drawn will be the winners,” she said. “The last ticket drawn will win $3,500, the second to the last will win $1,000, and then the third to the last will win $500.”

Alexander said there are several ways to donate to Wannabe Rescue. She said time, money and food for the dogs are the main essentials needed to keep the organization running. She said anyone wanting to donate can visit any local vet offices and drop off food or monetary donations.

Tickets for the Doggie Draw Down can be purchased from local vet offices, the Wannabe Rescued Facebook page or members, or the Downtowner Restaurant. For more information or to buy a ticket, call (251) 610- 5758, (334) 412- 1963 or (334) 239-1039.