A local nonprofit organization is working to raise money to improve the care of dogs and cats in Henry County and surrounding areas.

  Street Paws, Inc. will host its sixth annual Spayghetti Dinner fundraiser March 30 from 3-8 p.m. The event will be held at Flippen United Methodist Church, 3707 Jodeco Road in McDonough.

  Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 3-12, and free for children ages 2 and under. The fundraiser will also include door prizes, a silent auction, and live performances by the Dial Up band.

  Kristi Butler is the president of the nonprofit group, which was incorporated in December 2012 with the goal of helping the area’s animal population. They do this, she said, in several ways.

  “We help the public with their animals, and we work with Animal Control and pull feral dogs and puppies from death row,” said Butler. “We have pulled from Henry, Clayton and Gordon counties.”

  Butler said Street Paws spends an average of more than $40,000 a year in veterinary bills in the care of animals. The group has set a fundraising goal of $20,000 for the dinner, with an eye toward caring for more animals in the years to come.

  “We’re hoping to have a shelter or sanctuary in the future,” she said. “We’re hoping for donated land, but we’re trying to raise enough money to purchase land to eventually build a shelter/sanctuary.”

  Butler acknowledged that she is passionate about pet adoption. She added that her foster-based nonprofit is on the lookout for additional homes where dogs and cats can be placed.

  “We’re in desperate need of cat adoptions,” she said. “We only adopted out two cats all of last year.”

  Butler said the fundraiser has a twofold purpose, to help animals and to show gratitude for the efforts of public-safety workers and nonprofit groups locally.

  “People can donate meals for police, firefighters, Haven House and A Friend’s House,” she said. “Before the dinner starts, we go out and deliver the meals.”   For more information, visit www.streetpaws.org.