Animal lovers will get the chance to tee off and help their four-legged friends next month during the Bud Lofland Memorial Golf Tournament.

More than ever the Humane Society of Catawba County is counting on a good turnout at its eighth annual golf tournament fundraiser in a year when donations are sorely lacking, said Jane Earnest, executive director of the Humane Society of Catawba County.

 On Aug. 24, about 50 teams are expected to compete in the golf tournament at Rock Barn Golf & Spa in Conover, beginning at 12:30 p.m., she said.

Last year, 52 teams of four players raised $42,000 to help the no-kill animal shelter provide care for dogs and cats while they wait to be adopted, Earnest said. They hope to do the same or better this year.

“This is our largest fundraiser,” she said. “We’re very dependent on it being successful to fund operations for our no-kill shelter.”

Earnest said contributions from individuals and corporations and grants make up about half the Humane Society’s annual budget. She said donations and adoptions tend to drop off during the summer, but more so this year due to the poor economic conditions.

“It has been a significant downturn in donations and adoptions are flat,” Earnest said.

The shelter has already taken steps to save money by closing on Mondays and limiting staff hours, she said. Earnest said the Humane Society has tried to hold a few fundraisers already this year, but they didn’t generate the funds they were hoping to raise since the fundraisers had little support.

Meanwhile, requests to drop off a family pet for adoption increased 300 percent from January to May compared to last year, Earnest said. She said it’s typically due to home foreclosures and the loss of jobs. The animal shelter currently has 125 animals available for adoption and some of them have been there as long as a year.

“We’re hanging in there,” Earnest said.

She has high hopes for the golf tournament since it’s always been a popular and well-attended event in the past. Many celebrities are expected to attend the tournament, though not all will play. NASCAR driver Ned Jarrett has said he plans to attend, as well as John Carter and Delano Little, both from WBTV. Members of the Carolina Panthers cheerleading team, the TopCats will also be there, Earnest said. Attendees who give a donation will get a chance to fish with NASCAR driver Ryan Newman, a long-time supporter of the Humane Society at the tournament.

Both courses at Rock Barn — the Jones and Jackson — will be used for the golf tournament with a first, second and third-place winning team on each course. First place winners receive a green pull-over with a paw-print flag on the back of it along with a $75 gift certificate. Second place winners will get a $50 gift certificate and third place winners will get a $25 gift certificate. Gift certificates will be for a local restaurant, store or to Rock Barn.

Raffle tickets will also be on sale for the chance to win $5,000 if they make a hole-in-one from 50-feet away. She said four people will get a chance to make the put.

“It’s a fun tournament,” Earnest said. “Everyone seems to enjoy it.”

Earnest said the Humane Society has added a few new events this year. On Aug. 23, the shelter will host a basketball clinic with former NBA player Tommy Burleson and former ACC player David Thompson from 3 to 5 p.m. The clinic will be followed by a cookout. Both events require a nominal fee.

Anyone wishing to participate in the golf tournament can call the Humane Society of Catawba County at (828) 464-8878 or visit the Web site at www.catawbahumane.org/. The entry fee for a team of four is $600, which includes lunch and a goody bag. People who don’t wish to compete can still make a donation.