Updates from Petey's Promise

You are Invited to Enter the 5th Annual AARF Photo Contest – all you need is a digital picture of your pet!

Email your entry to AARFCLT@yahoo.com

You can enter each pet you have, but only one entry per pet.

Entries are due by September 1, 2010.

Three Categories:

• Top Dog
• Cutest Cat
• Most Adorable Other

The 5 Finalists in each category will be displayed 
& voted on at the Expo on September 15th at 

Founders Hall, 11:30am to 1:30

pm

More Info:  Facebook – Aarf Charlotte

Anyone with a digital photo is eligible to enter.

Animal Adoption and Awareness Expo Photo Contest Rules:

1. Contest runs July 25 thru September 1. All photos must be received by end of day September 1, 2010.
2. The three photo categories are:  ”Top Dog”, “Cutest Cat” and “Most Adorable Other Pet”
3. Contest is open to anyone in the Charlotte and surrounding areas with a digital picture of a pet that can be e-mailed. Photos of multiple pets may be submitted by the same person, but only one picture of each pet may be entered.
4. Only photos without copyrights may be submitted. Studio photos that have copyrights are not eligible.
5. Until the Animal Expo, pictures may be viewed on Facebook – Aarf Charlotte.  Only the animal’s name will be listed on the website.
6. Three finalists in each category will be chosen by AARF prior to the Animal Expo.  The top five in each category (15 photos total) will be displayed in Founder’s Hall the day of the Animal Expo.
7. The general public will pick a winner in each category by voting at the Animal Expo. Votes will be cast by donations put in buckets below each photo. The most money raised for each category will determine the winner.
8. Winners do not have to be present to win.
9. All proceeds will be divided equally and be donated to the rescue groups and agencies that are represented at the Animal Expo.

To enter, pictures are to be emailed to:  AARFCLT@yahoo.com with “AARF Photo Contest” in the subject line.

Include the category, name of the pet, the name of the owner or caretaker, and a phone number.

We have received great comments regarding the addition to our online appointment booking service and we’re happy you are pleased! However we know some people are less web-savvy so we thought we’d prepare step-by-step instructions on how to set up an appointment.

Step 1: Accessing the online system.
This can be done one of three ways:

1. From the 04.18.10 section of the News Archives (figure A)
2. From the footer of most pages on the Petey’s Promise website (figure B)
3. By visiting the link at http://www.genbook.com/bookings/slot/reservation/30082226?bookingSourceId=1000 (for easy access in the future, save the link in your browser’s bookmarks)

Step 2: Selecting the service category and sub-category (if applicable)
For this example, we will be making an appointment for Current Applicant Pickup. (figure C)

Step 3: Selecting a Date and Time
Only available dates and times will be highlighted. (figure D)
*If there is absolutely no way you can take an available slot, feel free to contact Petey’s Promise but remember to allow 48hrs for a return call or email.

Step 4: Entering Your Details
Once you’ve selected your date and time, you will be prompted to enter your contact information. This is also the place to enter any special requests (food type, litter, flea/tick prevention, food bowls, leashes, etc.). If making a special request, please tell us what type of pet you have. (figure E)

Step 5: Confirm Your Appointment
Please review the information you have entered and click “confirm appointment” – your slot WILL NOT be recorded unless you click the button. (figure F)

Step 6: Save Your Receipt
This screen will have your confirmation. Please print and keep for your records. (figure G)

You buy the stamps. Halo buys the food for 1 million shelter pets.

On April 30, 2010, in North Hollywood, California, the Postal Service™ issued a 44–cent, Animal Rescue: Adopt a Shelter Pet special stamp in ten designs, designed by Derry Noyes of Washington, DC.  These stamps will help to buy food for shelter pets. So far, 600K meals have been donated!

Please visit the site here: www.stampstotherescue.com and spread the word!

The pets depicted on the stamps were photographed by Sally Andersen-Bruce near her home in New Milford, Connecticut. All had been homeless at one time; all but one had been adopted when they were photographed.

The following was found posted very low on a refrigerator door:

Dear Dogs and Cats:

The dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food.  The other dishes are mine and contain my food.  Placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack.  Racing me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn’t help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed.  I am very sorry about this.  Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort, however.  Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep.  It Is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other, stretched out to the fullest extent possible.  I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out on the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is no secret exit from the bathroom! If, by some miracle, I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge in an attempt to open the door.  I must exit through the same door I entered.  Also, I have been using the bathroom for years – canine/feline attendance is not required.

The proper order for kissing is:  Kiss me first, then go smell the other dog or cat’s butt.  I cannot stress this enough.

Finally, in fairness, dear pets, I have posted the following message on the front door:

TO ALL NON-PET OWNERS WHO VISIT AND LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR PETS:

(1)  They live here.  You don’t.

(2)  If you don’t want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture.  That’s why they call it ‘fur’-niture.

(3) I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.

(4)  To you, they are animals.  To me, they are adopted sons/daughters who are short, hairy, walk on all fours and don’t speak clearly.

Remember, dogs and cats are better than kids because they:

(1) eat less,

(2) don’t ask for money all the time,

(3) are easier to train,

(4) normally come when called,

(5) never ask to drive the car,

(6) don’t hang out with drug-using people;

(7) don’t smoke or drink,

(8) don’t want to wear your clothes,

(9) don’t have to buy the latest fashions,

(10) don’t need a gazillion dollars for college and

11) if they get pregnant, you can sell their children …

1.) Adopting in Haste – Adopting a new cat should be for keeps, so consider carefully before you make that decision.

2.) Failure to Spay or Neuter a New Cat – The overwhelming cat population problem society faces is reason alone to spay and neuter. Add the medical problems averted by S/N and there is no reason not to do so.

3.) Neglecting Needed Veterinary Treatment – Although cats may quickly recover from minor illnesses, they can just as quickly pass away if an emergency isn’t recognized.

4.) False Economy in Cat Food Choices – Money saved by buying cheap food will be spent hundreds of times over on veterinary care.

5.) Declawing without all the Facts- Some veterinarians consider declawing a “routine” surgery, while cat advocates consider it cruel, inhumane and unnecessary. Learn the facts so that you can make an informed decision.

6.) Allowing a Cat to Roam Free Outdoors -  While cats enjoy the sunshine and outdoors, cats who live totally indoors can be very happy and healthy. However, the outdoors offers dangers. Fortunately, there are a number of compromises that will give your cat the best of both worlds while keeping them happy and safe.

7.) Neglecting Litter Box Maintenance – Carefully maintaining your cat’s litter box will almost guarantee you that you will not be faced with litter box avoidance problems.

8.) Considering a Cat Property – You can no more “own” a cat than you can own another a human being. If you haven’t figured out the distinction, your new cal will let you know in quick order.

9.) Not allowing a Cat to be a Cat – A cat is not a child, and a cat is not a dog. Cat’s unique ways make them the endearing creatures they are. Our job is to accommodate those needs in acceptable ways.

Petey’s Promise announced today its first annual “Petey’s Promise Pet Awareness” Commercial Contest sponsored by Wiley X Eyewear®.

The contest is open to all University of North Carolina at Charlotte students, and will consist of one 30-second commercial promoting Petey’s Promise and responsible pet ownership and awareness.

“We are really excited about this opportunity to see what the creative and fresh minds of the UNC Charlotte students produce,” said Liz Mellott, president and founder of Petey’s Promise.

“Initially, we are opening this up to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte students. Hopefully we will encourage other Nationwide colleges to participate and promote the need for pet food banks across the Country in the future.”

The contest will be held on the Petey’s Promise page on the online social media site YouTube.com (www.youtube.com/peteyspromise). Voters of all ages will be encouraged to log onto the page and vote for their favorite submission.

Petey’s Promise will not limit the total number of entries. However, the starting top 50 commercials to be considered for voting will be selected solely by the Petey’s Promise team. Public voting will begin April 5th, 2010, with eliminations announced in the following order until the Grand Prize winner is announced. The top 50 will be posted April 5^th, the top 25 announced April 12^th, top 10 April 19^th, top five April 26^th, and the Grand Prize team will be announced Monday, May 3^rd.

Contest teams may consist of one to four people (not including pets), and entrants should be between 18-24 years of age. Send submissions to peteyspromise@gmail.com from March 8th-26^th via YouSendIt.com. Please, legitimate entries only!

The Grand Prize team will receive two men’s and two women’s pieces of Wiley X custom eyewear, along with other contributions from local vendors, such as Foster’s Grille of Concord, NC. Wiley X Eyewear®, a leading provider of protective eyewear systems, offers a full range of high-performance protective eyewear products which has lead to increased brand recognition and growing use among enthusiasts of a wide variety of demanding outdoor sports and activities, including boating, fishing, motorcycle riding, mountain biking, rock climbing and more. For further information about Wiley X or to view its product line, please log onto www.wileyx.com.

Petey’s Promise, Provisions for Pets in Need, is a 501c3 non-profit that provides pet food and supplies for pet owners in the Greater Carolina area who require assistance to care for their beloved animals, versus having to surrender them to a shelter or foster home. For further information regarding Petey’s Promise or the contest please log onto www.peteyspromise.org or email us at peteyspromise@gmail.com.

SWITCH to cage-free or free-range eggs.

REDUCE animal products in your diet by eating more fruits, vegetables, and legumes.

SAVE money (and animals!) by using an egg substitute. Once 16-ounce box of egg replacer costs about $6 and equals about 100 eggs.

ADOPT a “Meat-Free Sunday” or another tradition to incorporate humane eating at your dinner table.

KNOW your egg carton lables. Caged, cage-free, free-range, organic?

For more info check out http://www.humanesociety.org/egglabels!

We all know that February can be quite an eventful month, from Valentines Day to the beginning of the NASCAR season. With Valentine’s Day just passing it would be a great opportunity to do something loving for other pets that may not have been so fortunate on this special day. Donating to Petey’s Promise is a great way to “show some love.”

The 2010-year is moving quickly and we are working hard to plan some great events. We have had such success in the past year that our expectations remain high. Our team is currently in the works of planning another fundraiser to be held at the Kannapolis Intimidators game. More information will be provided soon.

Hopefully this month we will be holding a contest open to all UNCC students for the chance to create Petey’s Promise’s first commercial! For all you tech savvy students, get ready because this is your chance! An event will be sent out this week through Facebook with more details.

Stay tuned for more updates!

-Jen

With the help of two great volunteers (Suzy and Toby) Sara and I were able to hold an open food pick up at our office on Saturday, January 16th. We had no inkling of an idea going in that morning we would be able to help feed over 200 animals in the span of just a little over two hours. Which brings our total of animals helped to over 1,000! Isn’t that a great accomplishment?

I always get so emotional when I think of all the animals that have been helped since the one fateful day I dreamed up the idea of Petey’s Promise. Thinking I surely had lost my mind, I emailed my dear friend Corinne about the crazy idea of starting a pet food bank. When she said it was a great idea, I turned to my forever partner in crime, Sara, with my crazy idea. Surely, she would talk me out of it. No chance! She was just as excited as I was, and instantly offered to help. Little did she know I would drag her just as deep into the depths of this as I went, and luckily for me she went along willingly.

You see, without help and support of  friends and loved ones, like all of you, this would never have been possible. So, remember in these trying times to surround yourself with positive people who will not only encourage you to live your dream, but will hold your hand along the path just as my friends have.

For each person who joins iGive using this special link http://www.igive.com/welcome/warm_reg_promo.cfm?m=609144 and does just one qualified web search on our site between now and noon Thursday, we’ll give Petey’s Promise a dollar.

5,000 new members, $5,000.  No purchase necessary. That’s 5,000 new members for all causes, not just yours, so it’s a bit of race.

Of course, if these new members search more (or buy something at an iGive store) they’ll earn even more money for Petey’s Promise.  Right now, we’re donating a special $.02 per search and a bonus $5 for that first purchase plus the usual percentage.

Please share this link with friends, family and coworkers! http://www.igive.com/welcome/warm_reg_promo.cfm?m=609144

The details:
- Offer active between now and 11:59 a.m., January 21, 2010 (Chicago time).
- New members only (never have been an iGive member previously).  All the normal rules of membership, searching, and
purchasing apply, our site has the details.
- Once we’ve given away $5,000 in total, the offer ends.
- The special link is important.  No link, no qualified web search, no $1.