For nearly 30 years, Kay Lynette Roca has been saving homeless animals from a life of suffering on the mean streets of Palm Beach County. As the chief executive officer of Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary and Hospital in Jupiter, Roca has seen lean times before, but this past year was among the toughest. Donations are down and homeless pets are up. Roca is hoping that Safe Harbor’s signature fund-raiser, the Celebrity Dog Wash which takes place Saturday in Carlin Park, will help balance the sanctuary’s budget.

For 25 years, local celebrities have stepped up to help. This year, Roca got some much needed — and appreciated — assistance from the organizers of the Honda Classic. “They’ve got tons of experience and they said they wanted to help,” Roca said by phone from home where she was nursing a cold.

“I’m home today because I can’t be sick on Saturday,” she said. “Luckily my two daughters are working at the shelter and they’re taking care of things.”

Safe Harbor provides low-cost spay and neuter services, which Roca says is the real answer to overpopulation and homeless pets. Euthanizing animals is not the answer, Roca says, and Safe Harbor is a committed no-kill facility. They also provide emergency medical care and adoption services. “We also have a moral and ethical responsibility to our animals and clients, and to teach humane education.”

The Dog Wash is Safe Harbor’s biggest fund-raiser of the year, and the event features dozens of vendors, food and drink, a kids’ entertainment pavilion, costume contests, dog demonstrations, Santa and Mrs. Claus, and even more entertainment than last year.

For Roca, this is not just a job. “It’s my life and the reason I get up in the morning.”