Support a local animal organization and take part in a unique opportunity to learn about a special breed of protectors at the Thomasville-Thomas County Humane Society Fall Benefit program, “The Dogs of War.”

The event, scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 6, at Willow Oak Plantation, will include 5:30 p.m. cocktails, 6:30 p.m. dinner and two presentations that will help highlight the history and current status of Working Military Dog Teams.

“This is going to be a fabulous event for the community and unlike anything we’ve had here before,” Joyce Patterson, shelter executive director, said. “These dogs are remarkable.”

Patterson said, in today’s economy, the humane society needs the community’s support to care for the increasing number of animals that continue to come into the shelter.

“We have more animals than we’ve ever had,” she said.

Speakers are trainers from K2 Solutions and retired Master Sgt. John C. Burnam, founder of the National War Dog Monument.

“K2 is a North Carolina company that trains dogs, primarily labs, in the detection of explosive devices and trains marines to handle the dogs,” humane society board member Carol Jones said. “They’ll talk about their training methods and how these are being successful in combat.

“The second speaker is from Maryland and was a dog handler in Vietnam. He’s going to give some historical perspective on military dogs and is spearheading a campaign to build a monument to the WMDT at Fort Belvoir, Va.”

Dinner will be catered by Vic’s Barbecue.

Tickets are $75 each and reservations must be made by Tuesday, Nov. 2.

“I think it is going to be a great patriotic program and will be interesting,” Jones said.