LYNCHBURG, Tenn. — In 2007, Kris Rotona decided to get a dog and headed to his local animal shelter. Once there, he noticed a Bull Mastiff, German Shepherd, and Samoyed mix sitting alone in the back of the aisle of cages. The dog immediately got his attention and pulled on his heartstrings. Moment later, the newly adopted Jordan rode shotgun heading to his forever home.
Jordan and Rotana enjoyed 11 long years together but in 2018, Jordan died from cancer. A heartbroken Rotona decided to launch a non-profit in his best friend’s honor. The realtor and bodybuilder started by doing physical challenges like pushing, pulling, and flipping a 250-pound tractor-trailer tire for 13 miles to raise money. Then, he spent 72 hours in a shelter dog cage to raise awareness. That night, he decided to take his show on the road. That show is a 50 State Shelter Tour that’s raised over $3.1 million for shelters nationwide so far and it will stop in Lynchburg on Saturday.
Jordan’s Way will host a live, four-hour fundraiser at the Moore County Friends of Animals on Saturday, June 11 from 6-10 p.m.
Moore County does not fund a public animal shelter or provide animal control services. So, Moore County Friends of Animals Rescue and Adoption Center steps in to care for lost, abandoned, or unwanted animals here in Lynchburg. They operate solely on donations from individuals and local businesses. Director Brandi Harrell Blankenship says they’ve set a goal of $20,000 for the event and received an anonymous donor match for another $10,000.
Harrell says that that kind of money could make a real difference at the shelter and pay for things like safer kennels, isolation kennels for sick animals, and spaces for more kittens.
“We always have a list of projects and the donations from this fundraiser will make a huge difference,” Blankenship says. “The demand for our help is growing and our intake number have already surpassed what they were this time last year. We need our community now more than ever.”
To learn more about the Jordan’s Way fundraiser for Moore County Friends of Animals, visit their Facebook events page by clicking here. You can donate now from that page or on the night of the event. One hundred percent of the proceed will benefit the local shelter.
As Karen Devison says, “Saving one dog will not change the world but for that one dog, the world will change forever.” •
{The Lynchburg Times is the only daily newspaper in Lynchburg. Covering Metro Moore County government, Jack Daniel’s Distillery, Nearest Green Distillery, Tims Ford State Park, Motlow State Community College, Moore County High School, Moore County Middle School, Lynchburg Elementary, Raider Sports, plus regional and state news.}