Natchez — The public is cordially invited to attend “An Animal Affair,” a cocktail party to benefit the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society. Festivities begin at 6 p.m., Saturday and will continue until 9 p.m. Dress casually and enjoy a relaxed evening with your family and friends.

The site of the party is the home of Mr. and Mrs. H. Lee Jones, 91 Providence Road in Natchez. Providence Road can be approached from Highland Boulevard (which becomes River Terminal Road) or from Government Fleet Road. Look for a prominent white fence and an amazing display of Christmas lights. The hosts are providing valet parking.

The entry fee is $25 per person, with a cash bar. A banquet of delectable cuisine is included in the price of admission. Chef Nan Garrison has created a spectacular menu, with many of the recipes coming from our cookbook that was published this fall.

There will be wide variety of desirable items up for bid in our silent auction – a great opportunity to do some Christmas shopping and help a worthy cause at the same time. We also have a limited number of NACHS cookbooks available at $20 each.

This party will be a singular opportunity to tour one of the finest examples of Craftsman style architecture in the Natchez area.

Built in the first quarter of the 20th century, the house served as a country lodge for the Adolph Jacobs family, one of the prominent Jewish families who were influential in Natchez commercial, civic, and social life from the 1870s through World War I.

Adolph Jacobs was president of the Natchez Cotton and Merchants’ Exchange and also served as a city alderman. He was building chairman for the Prentiss Club, erected in 1905 on the corner of North Pearl and Jefferson Street, as a men’s club for “social and literary purposes.” The Jacobs family home at 400 South Commerce is now known as the Bailey House, but is also fondly remembered as the Tot ‘n’ Teen ‘n’ Mom dress shop which Mrs. Freddie Bailey operated there for many years.

There are many wonderful pets available for adoption at the shelter at 392 Liberty Road. The shelter is open to the public 2-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. A modest adoption fee of $45 for canines and $35 for felines includes the cost of spay/neuter. All proceeds of the party will go toward caring for the hundreds of animals currently housed in our facility.

If you cannot attend our Animal Affair, but would like to support our organization, donations may be mailed to Post Office Box 549, Natchez, MS 39121. The Humane Society is also actively raising money for construction of a new shelter and would be most grateful for contributions designated for that fund.