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.

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 …

Speaking of Christmas gifts, have you checked out our new t-shirts on our store yet? We have three new Petey’s Promise designs, and also will be featuring some shirts from the Guardians of Animals non-profit as well. Guardians of Animals is a leader in promoting “Puppy Mill Free America”, and we are excited about being able to work with them on not only their apparel, but their raffle as well. For just $20 you can purchase a raffle ticket to win a 2008 Ford F-150 XL truck. They are only selling 2,000 tickets, so your chances of winning are excellent. Soon you can purchase your tickets on the Petey’s Promise store. The drawing will be held December 15th, 2009. What a great Christmas surprise that would be for a loved one!

We have one more fundraiser to go this month. This Saturday, October 24th, is Dog’s Day Out at Les Meyer’s Park in Concord, NC. The day will include a Doggie Fun Zone, Contests (Obedience Contest at 11:45; Talent Contest at 12:15; Costume Contest at 1:15), Pet Photos, Information Booths, Vendor Booths, Veterinarian Village, Food, K9 Demos & MORE! Be sure you come out and stop by to tell us hello! We will be doing “Paw Readings” at our booth by the famous and amazing “Pet Whisperer”.

Also, don’t forget that anyone needing a dog house for this Winter can contact Petey’s Promise or Kitty City to sign up. They will be built this weekend at the Dog’s Day Out by Concord youth volunteers. This is a great project and we are so happy to see our youth taking a step to help their neighbors.

Okay, that’s it for now, but we will be back next week with photos from our October adventures.

Peace, Love & Paws,
Liz, Petey and the Petey’s Promise Staff

We’re not sure if Mecklenburg County residency is required. Please contact them to make sure you are eligible.

Click here for the form, which can be mailed, faxed or emailed to:

HSC Spay/Neuter Clinic
2646 Toomey Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28203

Fax:  704-333-6678

Email:  spayneuter@humanesocietyofcharlotte.org

Want to add your pet to our website? Send a photo and your pet’s info to peteyspromise@gmail.com.

Have an email of pets in costumes that we don’t have? Forward that to us too!

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

Want to add your pet to our website? Send a photo and your pet’s info to peteyspromise@gmail.com.

Have an email of pets in costumes that we don’t have? Forward that to us too!

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

Want to add your pet to our website? Send a photo and your pet’s info to peteyspromise@gmail.com!

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

Published: June 29, 2009

CONCORD — Sharon Carmichael was not sure if the trip from her home in Kannapolis to Foster’s Grille in Concord on Saturday would be worth it to receive free pet food.

“Because of the gas (prices) and (being) unemployed, I am on limited funds,” Carmichael said. “But it was well worth it.”

At the first mobile pet food drive for Petey’s Promise at Foster’s Grille, Carmichael received four three-pound bags of dog food, one bag of treatment for her dog’s dry skin and three bags of treats.

Carmichael is just the type of person Petey’s Promise was hoping to serve. The group started last July as a way to provide temporary food and pet-care items for pet owners who are having difficulty doing so.

“They don’t have to be unemployed,” said Liz Mellott, founder of Petey’s Promise. “All costs are going up, and if you need help to stretch your budget, that’s all we need (to know).”

Mellott started the group after reading about pets being abandoned by their owners. When she tried to donate to a pet food bank, she found there were not any and decided to create her own. She named the group after her rescued dog, Petey.

Since July 15, 2008, Petey’s Promise has fed 684 pets. At the first mobile food drive on Saturday, it fed 44 pets.

“We are tickled to death because that’s a lot of animals we fed,” Mellott said.

The group also benefited from having the drive at Foster’s Grille. The restaurant said it would donate 10 percent of the business proceeds on Saturday between 1 and 4 p.m.

Outside of the restaurant, Petey’s Promise had free pet toys, treats, cat litter, training spray, collars and other items it has received from donors.

Those who attended the mobile food drive were not only surprised by the items Petey’s Promise had available but also the amount of food they received.

“I was thinking we’d get a bag of dog food,” said Holly Mills, of Charlotte, who owns six rescued pets. “The amount (of food) and the generosity are awesome.”

Mills picked up cat food, litter, toys and treats. At a time when she and her husband are out of work, receiving these items for free helped.

“The last thing you think about when you lose your job is feeding your animals,” Mills said.

Mills said one of her dogs has an ear infection, and she has been unable to take the dog to the vet. Now, Mills thinks she will be able to do so with the money she saved.

Carmichael said she spent months putting off her dog, Zip’s, haircut and finally had to spend the $45 for it. Saving at least $70 on pet food made up for that expense, she said.

Those who received the food said they were grateful and expressed a desire to either donate what they could on Saturday to Petey’s Promise or promised to help in the future.

“I’ve never heard of anybody giving away food for pets,” said Bernetta Wright, of Kannapolis. “As soon as I’m able, I’m going to give back to these people.”