Kris Rotonda’s Wichita County kennel sit-in fills seats for furry friends
Rotonda said he isn’t too bothered by the few days he spends in the kennel because he feels it’s nothing compared to the dogs who’ve been in the shelter for sometimes up to 100 days, like Rosie.
Kris Rotonda of Jordan’s Way said he travels the country visiting shelters to promote them and the vital role adoption plays in addressing the stray crisis in the U.S. He said he’s been to 1,700 shelters since he began his tail-filled travels. Now, he’s holding a kennel sit-in at the Humane Society of Wichita County to raise awareness and fill seats for the first ever Jordan’s Way Bowl.
The Jordan’s Way Bowl is an event that directly benefits shelter pets and is a great way for people who can’t adopt a pet to support animals in need of a home. Rotonda said the event will benefit 100 shelters, with the Humane Society of Wichita County being one of them. Best of all, tickets to the bowl are completely free.
The Jordan’s Way Bowl will take place at 5 pm on November 15, at the Kay Yeager Coliseum in Wichita Falls. Tickets for the event can be reserved online at jordanswaytour.com but are limited so tickets should be reserved soon.
“I’ve actually been dreaming of this since I started Jordan’s Way in 2019,” Rotonda shared.
For the sit-in, Rotonda is locked in a kennel for several days to bring awareness to what shelter animals must endure while they wait for their forever homes. He said he generally is accompanied by each shelter’s longest resident. In the case of the Humane Society of Wichita County, that’s Rosie.
Rotonda does fun activities as mile-markers for ticket sales to incentivize people getting involved in the event. To the benefit of his kennel-mate, these activities often include spoiling the dog, like cooking them a steak. Other times, he’s presented with dog-related challenges like squeezing through a doggy door. Regardless of the activity, his enthusiasm for the cause is contagious and has already resulted in over 200 tickets being reserved after just day one.
Rotonda’s sit-in will conclude Thursday. He said he isn’t too bothered by the few days he spends in the kennel because he feels it’s nothing compared to the dogs who’ve been in the shelter for sometimes up to 100 days, like Rosie. Despite having a sweet and well-behaved personality, Rosie has continually been looked over by guests visiting the shelter. Rotonda hopes his efforts will make a difference for her.
“I love to stay in the kennel with the shelter’s longest resident so I can bring awareness to that animal,” Rotonda explained.
Rotonda said supporting local shelters is a great way to positively impact the community, but it’s also a great way to directly address the stray crisis taking place across the country. Supporting shelters is more than just adopting pets there. Fostering, volunteering, and donating to local shelters are huge factors in keeping them afloat and allowing them to help more animals in need. Without these necessary resources, many shelters are forced to make difficult decisions such as turning animals away.
Various other dogs at the Wichita County Humane Society.
Considering some humane societies, such as the one in Comanche County Oklahoma, don’t have physical locations, fostering is what prevents some pets living on the street. Fostering is generally considered at least a two month commitment, often longer. While it requires opening one’s home and time to an animal, resources like food and vet care are usually provided by many rescues and shelters to lessen the load and make the opportunity more compelling to those with the capacity to provide a safe and loving space to animals that rely on their generosity.
As far as donations, contributing monetary donations is always helpful because it covers any needs that may arise, but it’s not the only option. Items such as unopened food, treats, toys, and beds are always welcomed by shelters as they lessen the financial burden of providing such resources for growing numbers of pets amidst the stray crisis.
To learn more about Jordan’s Way Bowl or to nominate a shelter for the bowl, visit the website. To support the Humane Society of Wichita County, visit the website at https://www.humanesocietyofwichitacounty.org/ or visit its location to deliver donations, volunteer, or meet one of the many phenomenal dogs and cats it has available to foster or adopt.
