A Brockton-area animal protection group hopes for a big turnout at its St. Patrick’s Day fund-raiser. The Animal Protection Center of Southeastern Massachusetts is holding its annual wine and chocolate tasting and silent auction from 7 to 11 p.m. March 17 at the Shaw’s Center, 1300 West Elm St. The third annual “Paws for Celebration” offers items ranging from a massage in Chatham to a ticket to the “Ellen DeGeneres Show” in Los Angeles. To buy tickets at $40 each and see auction items, visit www.apcsm.org. The center is an open-admission animal care and adoption facility that focuses on prevention of cruelty to animals. - Steve Hatch