LUMBERTON — The crowd at Black Water Grille Friday night was the two-legged variety, but they came together to benefit their four-legged friends at the fourth Fur Ball, which raises money for the Lumberton Humane Society.

“Animals are my passion,” said p.m. terrell, a Lumberton novelist and active Humane Society volunteer. “Animal people are the most awesome people in the world.”

About 150 cycled through the four-hour event, which included New Orleans-style hors d’oeuvres — seasoned meats and bread — and a live jazz band from The University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

Organizers hoped to raise more than $15,000 for Humane Society operating costs, including feeding and caring for the animals; the spay and neuter program, which treats hundreds of animals each year; and the new leash on life program, where prison inmates train dogs.

“We’ll raise enough tonight to save and take care of 40 more animals,” said Marion Thompson, Humane Society treasurer. She owns three golden retrievers.

“We’re not selling animals, we’re finding them permanent homes,” she said.

Many Fur Ball attendees had been touched by a rescue animal.

Simone, terrell’s rescue dog, escaped captivity two days before she was to be euthanized. The dog was 20 pounds underweight.

“Literally starving to death — on her last legs,” terrell said.

Now Simone has a thick coat, and is beloved by terrell’s other animals, she said.

Gayle Bigelow has two dogs from the Humane Society and has attended several fund-raising events.

The Fur Ball is one of two fund-raisers the Humane Society holds annually to raise money for its operating costs. Tickets were $45, and a silent auction — with art, literary and adventure items up for grabs — was bringing in more money.

“I adopt critters that show up at my house,” Bigelow said. “I am a big lover of animals. They need us and we need them.”

terrell shared the sentiment: “I can tell you from experience that I get as much out of (volunteering at the Humane Society) as the animals do.”

For more information, visit the society’s Web site at www.robesonhumane.org.

— Features editor Johna Strickland contributed to this story.