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BURNSVILLE, N.C. — When the demands of running her own animal rescue organization became too much for Pam Abare, she turned to the only other thing she’s ever wanted to do: open a coffee shop. But the desire to help animals stuck with her, so she named the Burnsville shop Rescue Dog Cafe and decided to donate a portion of sales to animal organizations.

One day Doug Mellinger stopped by to introduce himself. He told Abare about his plans to start a doughnut food cart in Burnsville. Abare offered up the parking lot of her cafe as a permanent spot for Mellinger’s Burnsville Donut Company.

Rescue Dog Cafe opened this past June, and Burnsville Donut Company followed in July.

“Everyone who comes in comments on the sense of community they feel in here,” Abare says. “People talk to people they don’t know and join tables with them. It’s so wonderful to see.”

Rescue Dog Cafe serves coffee made with beans from Dynamite Roasting Co. in Black Mountain. The menu includes breakfast sandwiches, muffins, bagels and homemade dog treats.

Abare chooses a different animal-welfare organization each month and donates five percent of coffee sales. She also encourages customers to donate whatever money they would normally leave as a tip. Beneficiaries have included the humane societies in Yancey, Madison and Mitchell counties, Fifi’s Friends Rescue in Bakersville, May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Banner Elk and Appalachian Therapeutic Riding Center in Burnsville.

Next door at Burnsville Donut Company, Mellinger prepares fresh cake doughnuts. Three flavors are available each day; the best seller is old-fashioned sour cream. Thirty toppings and icings allow customers to personalize their orders. Many customers order doughnuts and then step inside Rescue Dog for coffee and a place to sit.

“I told Pam we could not have done what we’re doing without her,” Mellinger says.

Rescue Dog Cafe is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 7 a.m.-11 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Abare recently obtained an alcohol permit, so she expects to extend hours and begin serving beer and wine soon. Burnsville Donut Company is open Friday and Saturday, 7 a.m.-3 p.m., and Sunday and Monday, 7 a.m.-1 p.m.

For more info about Rescue Dog Cafe, call (828) 536-5173 or find the cafe on Facebook. To learn more about Burnsville Donut Company: (828) 536-9765 or www.Facebook.com/BurnsvilleDonutCompany.

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CONTACT:

Leah Hughes
leahchughes@gmail.com