Photo Provided Comedian Clay Foley puts on shows throughout the nation to benefit homeless pets with his “Comedy to the Rescue” tour and will help raise funds for Belmont County Hoof & Paw.

BELMONT — People can have fun and a few laughs all while supporting animals in need at Belmont County Hoof & Paw’s next fundraiser.

Comedy to the Rescue, an organization that partners with animal rescues across the nation, is coming at 8 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.) March 15 to Route 40 LumberJaxe in Belmont, 41761 National Road, to help raise funds for Hoof & Paw.

Hoof & Paw is raising money for dog food and vet care. The organization uses a lot of its funds for extra heat to keep its animals warm during winter. Hoof & Paw is also raising funds for 14 dogs who need to be spayed or neutered and is getting ready for flea season, so the organization will need the money for the dogs’ flea treatments.

Clay Foley, a nationally known comedian and former animal cruelty investigator, leads Comedy to the Rescue, which is an ongoing series of stand-up fundraisers that benefit homeless pets. Comedy to the Rescue partners with companion animal charities nationwide to have events and raise money in support of “their incredible vital work,” the website described.

Humane Agent Julie Larish said Foley noticed Hoof & Paw on Facebook and contacted her.

“It’s to get information out. I think it’s to bring some laughter to those of us who are in the animal kingdom,” Larish said. “And I think it’s also to raise enough funds so that our animals will have everything that they need, especially for some of the future animals we are bringing in.”

Foley will put on a comedic show where people can pay $20 to get in, and enjoy a 50/50 raffle and auction of gift baskets, such as wine and other goodies.

There will be some finger foods to eat as well as a food truck that LumberJaxe will have set up to serve food along with the bar.

Larish thinks having a nationally known comedian in this area is going to be a great asset to the program. She added this gives people the chance to hear about what’s going on around the nation and not just what’s just going on in the Ohio Valley.