Banning's ARE Animal Rescue, Jordan's Way Teaming Up For Pets

BANNING, CA — ARE Animal Rescue in Banning will have a special guest visitor Wednesday and the public is invited to join in the fun.

Nationally recognized nonprofit Jordan's Way will be at the shelter from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as part of a 50-state tour that is bringing attention to animals in need of loving homes.

Named by Kris Rotonda after his own rescue dog, Jordan, who spent most of her life in a shelter prior to her adoption, Jordan's Way visits two states every month, marking out stops with area animal shelters to offer fun challenges that bring new meaning to the saying "adopt, don't shop," according to event organizers.

The tour has visited 48 states, raising about $3 million since its inception in January of last year, Jordan's Way reported.

During Wednesday's visit at ARE Animal Rescue, 2050 Charles Street, Jordan's Way will hold a four-hour live Facebook fundraiser that features games, challenges, rescue animals, volunteers, and other festivities. To donate to the fundraiser, visit https://www.facebook.com/donat...

"No animal should have to spend their life in a shelter, and I’m passionate to highlight and support the many organizations across our country who work relentlessly to ensure these pets find loving homes, despite their age, breed, or health issues," Rotonda said. "Each stop on the Jordan’s Way tour offers the ability to bring awareness to the importance of the saying ‘adopt, don’t shop’ to an entirely new community."

Prominently featured on outlets like the Hallmark Channel and the Dodo, Jordan’s Way was born out of Rotonda’s love for his since-passed rescue German Shepherd, Jordan. The organization was formed with a goal to honor her life, long spent being overlooked inside a shelter, by helping as many other similar cats and dogs as possible, according to Rotonda.

As a longtime bodybuilder, Rotonda first started raising funds for the nonprofit by performing physical challenges, like pushing, pulling, and flipping a 250-pound tractor-trailer tire for 13 miles. Next, his challenges grew more eye-opening, like spending 72 hours inside a dog cage at a Florida animal shelter to better convey his message.

Rotonda's efforts — including training to pull a 3,400-pound car for 24 hours on National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day this upcoming April 30 — aim to help hundreds of rescue groups and raise millions of dollars to build awareness for these organizations.

It's all about creating a buzz around shelters to build "a compassionate community of pet parents willing to provide permanent homes to homeless animals," according to Rotonda.

For more information about Jordan’s Way, visit JordansWayTour.com. For more information about ARE Animal Rescue in Banning, visit arerescue.org/banning. See the shelter's adoptable pets here. Donate to ARE Animal Rescue here.