'Mercy Tour’ coming to Catkins

A national tour on the topic of the goal of 100% shelter pet adoption is making a stop at Catkins Animal Rescue, Inc., N15262 Oak Road, Park Falls. The event will start at 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 5, as a three-hour live feed with Jordan’s Way founder Kris Rotonda on the Catkins Facebook page.

Rotunda will showcase the Catkins animals and there will be several challenges to drive in donations from the viewers, said Tanya Belanger, rescue manager at Catkins Animal Rescue. Join in the fun by participating in games, challenges and other activities by watching the live event at facebook.com/catkinsanimalrescue.

“This couldn’t come at a better time, as Catkins is gearing up for months of fundraising efforts to raise funds toward a much-needed expansion of our facility,” Belanger said. “This is an amazing opportunity, and we are very grateful to Jordan’s Way for making the trip to the Northwoods to give us this incredible exposure and opportunity!”

Kris Rotonda founded Jordan’s Way to remember Jordan, a Bull Mastiff, German Shepherd, and Samoyed mix, that had gone unadopted at a shelter for three-and-a-half years. He and Jordan had 11 happy years together until the dog died from cancer of the heart in 2018.

“After she passed, I made it my life’s mission to honor her legacy by helping overlooked shelter animals get the attention they deserve,” Rotonda said. “I am so excited to partner with Catkins Animal Rescue, Inc. on the next round of our tour!”

Rotunda’s “The Mercy Tour” has so far raised $9.8 million nationwide, according to the website. The nonprofit is based in Safety Harbor, Florida, with a mission to celebrate the work of compassionate animal lovers who save animals left to die in shelters by finding them proper homes.

Rotonda started the effort using his skills as a realtor and bodybuilder, and started the fund raising by exhibiting public fetes such as flipping a tractor-trailer tires, or spending 72-hours in a dog cage to raise awareness. The reaction and support led to the 50 state tour.

While at shelters like Catkins Animal Rescue, Rotonda shares inspirational stories to create a buzz around the compassionate community of pet parents who provide a permanent home to homeless animals, with the organizational goal of influencing the clearing of shelters through adoption.

For more information, call Catkins at 715-762-0122 or visit catkinsrescue.org and jordanswaytour.com.