CONCORD, N.C. – What started out as a fun idea to complete his school project and bring awareness to his mom’s non-profit pet food bank turned into a labor of love for 10-year-old Chase Carey of Concord and resulted in a Guinness World Record.

Carey, a fifth-grader at W.R. Odell Elementary School and a member of the school’s Academically and Intellectually Gifted program, had to complete a 50-hour community service project. The son of non-profit, Petey’s Promise, founder Liz Mellott, he thought using crayons would be a great way to get children and adults to look at the harder side of pet ownership and to support the Petey’s Promise, which offers assistance to struggling pet owners throughout the Greater Charlotte area.

The charity is close to both Mellott and Carey’s heart as they faced losing their lab-spaniel mix when as a single mom Mellott was forced to make hard choices to survive financially. Luckily, they were able to keep Petey and when she got back on her feet, the non-profit was born. Since its inception in 2008, Petey’s Promise has fed more than 4,000 animals.

“We were lucky to keep Petey, and it makes me sad to think there are kids who lose their pets because their parents can’t feed them. I am very proud of my Mom and Petey’s Promise,” Carey said. “So I thought it would be fun to combine my project with it.”

Gathering more than 80,000 crayons over the course of five months, Chase talked everyone he knew into helping with the project. The plan was to melt all the crayons and assemble the almost 10-foot crayon on Oct. 29 at The Village Church in Concord during the Coloring for Critters Fall Festival and to unveil it in the late afternoon.

Physics, however, had other ideas. The massive crayon, which would eventually stand 9 feet 9 ¾ inches tall and weigh an impressive 731 pounds, was going to take a little longer than a few hours to assemble. With the help of lots of friends, family and members of the community, Carey and his engineers (his father, Ben Carey, and other employees of Roush-Yates Engines) had assembled the base of the crayon by 3 p.m., but that is when things started to go wrong.

Even with six months of testing, no one really knew how much time it would take 700 pounds of hot crayon wax to solidify. There were also unforeseen complications when the group went to attach the cone as the hot wax seeped out of the mold. The decision was made to let the crayon solidify for at least 48 hours to ensure it would hold.

“The best laid plans, right? It became apparent early in the day that this was going to be more about forgoing the plans of Coloring for Critters and more about an all-out thrash to make sure Chase met his goal,” said Mellott. “We had people in the community jumping in to buy crayons and peel crayons on site – just helping out any way they could to make sure we made that crayon. There is always time for festivals, games and other fundraising activities, but you only get the chance to make the world’s largest crayon once. At least if I have anything to say about it.”

Despite the setbacks, Chase and Petey’s Promise would not be denied their record. It might have taken an extra couple days, but the World’s Largest Homemade Crayon, Petey’s Passion, was completed at approximately 7 p.m. on Halloween night while trick-or-treaters were out in full force and photos with the crayons were in high demand. It broke the previous record held by a group in Hinesville, Ga., whose crayon set the record at 9 feet 8 inches, 605 pounds.

“I love it, but I’m done with crayons for a while,” Carey laughed. “I think it is cool that we’re going to be in the Guinness Book of World Records with the world’s largest crayon. I really want to thank everyone that helped and donated, especially my Mom and Dad.”

Coloring for Critters presented by Crocktees benefits Petey’s Promise and the W.R. Odell Elementary’s AIG program. The group is still working to meet their fundraising goal.

“It was a really ambitious project, and I think Chase has learned the magnitude of what he has done, the attention it garnered and is proud of the six months of hard work he has put in,” Mellott said. “However, at that point, I think he was ready to put on his costume and just be a kid again.”

And we need YOUR help to do it!

PLEASE donate crayons – new or used – by emailing peteyspromise@gmail.com.

On Saturday, October 29th, come out to The Village Church Field for:

• Food
• Craft Booths
• Pet Booths
• Silent Auctions
• and More!

The Village Church Field is located at 9280 Davidson Highway, Concord, NC 28027 – beside Coddle Creek Animal Hospital (see map).

Event will be from 10am to 2pm – RAIN or SHINE

Interested in helping on a sponsorship level?

Pick your sponsorship:

Petey’s Passion Sponsor – $250
Primary sponsorship branding on all printed promotional materials including t-shirts and media releases; 10′ x 10′ premium booth location at event, 4 event t-shirts for sponsors/attendees

Razzmatazz Sponsor – $150
Associate sponsorship branding on all printed promotional materials including t-shirts and media releases; 10′ x 10′ premium booth location at event; 2 event t-shirts for sponsors/attendees

Aquamarine Sponsor – $75
Associate sponsorship branding on all printed promotional materials including t-shirts; 10′ x 10′ premium booth location at event

Electric Lime Booth Participant – $45
10′ x 10′ booth space

Sponsorship deadline (for shirts only) is OCTOBER 15. Booth space is available until OCTOBER 28. Please click here to access our online sponsorship form.

Current Sponsors:

• The Price Family
• The Village Church
• Roush-Yates
• Race City Steel
• Crock Tees
• Bizzy Bees

The event, Coloring for Critters, will take place Oct. 29 at The Village Church on Highway 73 in Concord. All proceeds will benefit Petey’s Promise and the AIG Program at W.R. Odell Elementary School.

Chase came up with the idea to make the world’s largest crayon for his AIG Community Service project after reading about a group of students in Georgia who set the current record at 9’8”. Getting Petey’s Promise involved was a no-brainer for the 5th grader since the organization is named for his family’s own rescued spaniel-lab mix. He understands exactly how scary it is to face giving up your pet because your family is struggling financially. It was why his mother founded Petey’s Promise.

“We almost had to give up Petey when I was little, and it was really scary for my mom and I,” Chase said. “I always want to help Mom feed more pets, and I am really excited about the chance to break the Guinness World Record for the crayon.”

Petey’s Promise is the only pet food bank in the region, serving greater Concord and Charlotte. The non-profit offers assistance to struggling pet owners so the pet owner can keep and maintain their beloved pets despite their financial situation.

“Chase and I know from personal experience how devastating it can be to face losing your pet. I was a single mom, and I wasn’t sure I would be able to support us and Petey. Luckily I did, but now that we are able, it is important to him and I that we make sure other families don’t have to face the same decisions,” Mellott said. “Petey’s Promise has fed more than 3,000 pets in just a little more than three years. I am so proud of Chase and his dedication to Petey’s Promise and the Coloring for Critters event. Now, we just need to break that crayon record.”

Carey and Petey’s Promise are currently collecting crayons, asking local businesses and the public to donate old, used or broken crayons to help make the 10’ crayon. Sponsorship opportunities and booth space for the Coloring for Critters event are also available.

If you would like to donate crayons or participate in the event, please visit www.peteyspromise.org or contact Mellott at peteyspromise@gmail.com.

You can still access the system using the following methods:

1. From the 04.18.10 section of the News Archives
2. From the footer of most pages on the Petey’s Promise website
3. By visiting the link at http://peteyspromise.clickbook.net

The user experience on ClickBook is much friendlier and easier than it was on GenBook, but please let us know if you have any questions or problems by emailing us at peteyspromise@gmail.com.

While in fact my computer did die this summer, our pups, dogs, cats and kittens are all alive and well.  I think the death of another computer or two might be beneficial in stopping some of the misinformation that has lately flown around via the internet and other Facebook pages.  Please be assured that we have not had any seriously ill pets since last spring, we do not adopt out dying animals,  and we actually were blessed with a relatively healthy summer. It’s been our best year for adoptions.

Sadly, there seems to be an excessive amount of rumors about valid rescue organizations, ourselves included, that could be stopped if the perpetrators simply picked up a phone and asked questions before hitting the send or forward keys. An example is the recent story of the Humane Society’s pregnant dogs who were reportedly on death row, and calls came in from all over the nation in response.  No apologies can retract poor judgment in circulating falsehoods. Those dogs were not headed to a gas chamber and we have not been shut down or contacted by the state.

Thank you for your support and your confidence in us.

Patsy Beeker, Program Director

Cabarrus CARES/Kitty City

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 …

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.

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.

Having a problem finding the perfect gift? Tired of meaningless gifts that just fill up boxes under the tree? Why not give them the gift that keeps on giving all year long? Make a donation in their name to Petey’s Promise, and we will send them a gift confirmation or an email holiday thank you card letting them know how much their gift means.

When making a gift donation feel free to determine where that money will be spent by placing “food, administrative, supplies, etc..” in the notes line.

Donations can be made via PayPal

or by mailing in a check or money order to:
Petey’s Promise | PO Box 91 | Harrisburg, NC 28075

◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊

Apparel Sale & Contest!

Want to wear what all the animal lovers are rocking on the fashion catwalk this year? Well, then check out our new T-shirt designs for your Christmas present needs!

As a bonus, we have decided to reward your charity awareness with an Apparel Sale and Contest on the Petey’s Promise store – every person that makes a purchase will be entered into a special December 24th drawing for a great prize package! On top of that, you receive a 10% discount on all purchases of $20 or more. Wait! Hold your applause!

Also, we are adding a little holiday spice to the contest by entering each person one time per item, not just once per purchase! There are no Grinches at Petey’s Promise.

USE CODE: HOL09
For 10% off your purchase of $20 or more enter the code HOL09 at checkout.