Petey’s Promise
By Jonathan E. Coleman
jcoleman@independenttribune.com

Standing in the lobby of National Speed Sport News on Hudspeth Road, Liz Mellott can’t help but smile as her dog Petey nestles at her side.

Mellott loves Petey, and considers him a part of her family.

In October 2004, when her son’s gymnastics team was returning from a competition, a driver noticed five dogs on the side of Interstate 85. The driver loaded the dogs into the van and continued home, where he asked parents if they would be willing to foster the dogs until permanent homes could be found.

“I got down on my knees and he came and laid right across my lap,” Mellott recalled. “Of course I took him home. He’s actually a foster dog that I’ve never given back.”

Mellott, who admits to involving herself in a number of different charities, recently started pondering the idea of creating her own nonprofit to help animals.

“I was reading some articles about food pantries having to stock pet food because of the housing shortage,” she said.

Always one to help, especially where animals are involved, Mellott began researching local pet food banks, only to find that the nearest such facility was in Winston Salem.

From that dilemma, Petey’s Promise was born.

“It really came out of need for the community,” Mellott said. “I want to serve Charlotte and Concord, and eventually take it statewide.”

She said in a struggling economy, many families are having to make sacrifices and sometimes feel they have to give up their pets to make ends meet.

“Everybody loves animals,” she said. “We’re at the point where people are having to give them up and that’s not fair.”

The idea behind Petey’s Promise is to collect pet food and supplies and distribute them to families in need.

The group has set up a Web site, https://www.peteyspromise.org, that will eventually include an application process for those in need of a little extra help with food and supplies.

Mellott said she hopes to be able to help those in need provide the necessary food and supplies for up to six months at a time.

Sara Barkman, a Petey’s Promise board member, said the group is planning a kickoff event in mid-August.

“Lunch has gone to the dogs” is an event where Petey’s Promise volunteers will encourage people to bring a brown bag lunch to work on Aug. 20 and donate the money saved to Petey’s Promise.

Instead of monetary donations, Barkman said, some may choose to purchase food or other treats to donate.

“We’ll take whatever somebody wants to offer,” she said.

Mellott and Barkman are planning an official kickoff event for Petey’s Promise sometime in September.

While it’s still early in the process, the two admit to already having learned a great deal about running a nonprofit.

“I felt for sure I could just come in one day and give away food,” Mellott said with a laugh.

“It’s a learning experience for us,” Barkman added. “We’re learning as we go.”

• Contact Jonathan E. Coleman at 704-789-9105.