Shelter seemed a distant option for the litter of 14 puppies thrown out into the snow to freeze to death earlier this winter.

Three of the dalmatian/Border collie mix pups died in the cold. The others were rescued, thanks to the Taking Animals Into Loving Shelter Humane Society, a local shelter for DeKalb County’s homeless animals.

The organization will raise money for a state-of-the-art shelter on Saturday with the second annual Tropical TAILS Dance at NIU.

The benefit will feature auctions for prizes ranging from Cubs tickets, jewelry and power tools, as well as a chance to fly to Maryland with the NIU football team, TAILS President Kathy Stelford said.

Rhythm and blues band The Distractions will play at the event.

Proceeds from Saturday’s benefit will go toward the new shelter, which will be located at the corner of Barber Greene and Peace roads. The society currently operates from a house on loan in DeKalb.

TAILS was founded in 1999 as a compassionate and comprehensive alternative for homeless animals in DeKalb County and has taken in nearly 300 animals since last May, Stelford said. Aside from dogs and cats, the shelter takes in exotic pets, wildlife and farm animals.

Stelford said stray animals are a growing problem in DeKalb.

“No agency has chosen to address the stray feral cat and dog population,” Stelford said. Cats at TAILS likely outnumber dogs nearly 10 to one, she said.

“[There are] owners surrendering them or throwing them out or people finding a whole colony of cats living together,” Stelford said.

The new facility is expected to break ground in early April and will be patterned after the latest in innovative thinking in animal shelters, Stelford said.

“It’s not going to be a place where you’re going to feel bad because you see animals that aren’t healthy and happy,” Stelford said.

The depressing chain-link caging in most shelters will be gone, she added. Dogs will have furnished rooms, while cats will be housed in large community cat rooms.

A nursery for orphaned wildlife also will be included.

TAILS currently operates with more than 120 volunteers, Stelford said. She said she hopes the new shelter will double or triple those numbers.

Tropical TAILS will begin at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Holmes Student Center’s Duke Ellington Ballroom. Tickets will be available at the door for $25 a person. For more information, call 758-0950.