Holiday festivities will start with a flourish at the Puttin' on the Ritz Top Hat and Tails Benefit Gala, a stylish evening benefiting the work of Animal Advocates of Moore County.

The group's major fundraiser, Top Hat and Tails features a glamorous parade of black and white dogs and cats, who will strut down the red carpet with their handlers.

The classy event that has drawn many pet fanciers and party-goers in past years takes place from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 3, at the Fair Barn in Pinehurst.

All of the animals in the parade are available for adoption. The Top Hat and Tails event showcases black and white animals, which are typically the hardest to place for adoption.

The stars and beneficiaries of the gala Top Hat and Tails event are the animals. In addition to the pet parade, Top Hat and Tails will feature heavy hors d'oeuvres, beer and wine, as well as a 50/50 raffle and silent auction.

Tickets for this year's event are $50 each and can be obtained by calling the AAMC office at (910) 944-5098 or Jan at (910) 673-2918. They may be picked up at Moore Equine, The Country Bookshop, Cared for Canine and Cat, The Faded Rose and Shutterbug Grafix.

For more information, visit www.aamc-nc.org.