Jordan’s Way returns to the PAW shelter on August 29 | Daily Democrat

But the shelter will have help. The nationally renowned Jordan’s Way organization will once again be at the shelter doing a Facebook Live feed from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, August 29.

Last year, Jordan’s Way made its first visit to the Fort Madison shelter and was instrumental in raising $38,000, which put PAW at the top of the Jordan’s Way shelter visit in Iowa and third among the 300 shelters in the United States visited by the organization.

“We knew they would be back because of the success we’ve had, we just didn’t know when,” PAW manager Sandy Brown said, adding that the 29-day challenge began on August 1 and ends at 2 p.m. on Monday, August 29. “We don’t want to be third in the country this time, we want to be top of the list this time.”

Readers may recall that Brown kept his promise to shave his head if $25,000 was raised last year. (So ​​far, she hasn’t said anything about this year.)

But, Brown says she thinks they can top $100,000, as $42,000 was raised for the 29-day challenge that began Aug. 1.

Since losing her dog, Jordan, in October 2018, Kris Rotonda has been on a mission to visit shelters in all 50 states to help with their fundraising efforts.

Jordan’s Way fundraisers are a quick circus experience. For example, last year there were “slap fights” where two people sat opposite each other – each holding a plate of whipped cream. Rotonda would refer to one as the “donating person” and the other as the “non-donating” person. He would then give his Facebook audience 1 minute and 20 seconds to donate. If they did, the person who wasn’t donating would slap the whipped cream in the other’s face. If they made a donation, the opposite happened.

Again, everything is broadcast live on the Facebook stream.

And then there was a Rotonda game called “Puppy Love”, which required PAW staff and volunteers to select their “most loving dog”.

This was followed by a brief discussion as each staff member and volunteer seemed to have their favourites.

Once selected by informal voting, one volunteer was asked to lie on the floor – after her face was covered in whipped cream. When the gifts arrived, the dog got to work enthusiastically lapping the cream from her face.

Brown says the Fort Madison Fire Department, Fort Madison Police Department and Lee County Sheriff‘s Office will also be part of the “show” on Monday.

She said firefighters, police and MPs will be “locked down” and will have to fundraise to be freed.

“Whoever raises the most money within the allotted time is the winner and will receive a trophy,” Brown said. “There will be a dunk tank, an ice bucket challenge, lots of whipped cream and who knows what else Kris has for us.”

The “$100,000 in 29 days” challenge is ongoing. Anyone who donates $50 or more will receive a Jordan’s Way Superhero t-shirt — and are encouraged to wear it on Monday, August 27, the day of the fundraiser.

“We’ve had people stop, drop a check and say, ‘no, just keep the shirt.’ We’re like, ‘no, take the shirt.’ You have to wear it on the day Jordan’s Way is there and hopefully stop at the shelter during it,” Brown said.

Due to last year’s success, Rotonda hired Fort Madison businessman Chris Swed to film the August 29 fundraiser.

“He wants to use it as a training tool for other shelters. That says it all,” Brown added.

Mayor Matt Mohrfeld even went so far as to declare August 29 Jordan’s Way Day in Fort Madison.

“That’s one of the fun things about being mayor, you can make statements like that,” Mohrfeld told the Daily Democrat on Monday.

He said the project to build a new multi-million dollar animal shelter is another example of the positives happening in the community.

“You look at the Madison expansion, the new school, the marina, the freeway reconstruction. This is just another example of the forward momentum we have.

The money raised next Monday will go towards the construction of the new PAW shelter which will house up to 150 dogs and 85 cats and will include isolation rooms, nurseries and meeting rooms for potential adopters, as well as many others amenities the current shelter lacks.

It should also be noted that the new shelter will allow all of its animals to be housed in enclosed, air-conditioned units rather than the outdoor enclosures currently used for some of the larger dogs.

The new shelter is expected to cost between $6 million and $8 million, and Brown says many may not realize what an asset and accomplishment it will be to the shelter and the community.

“It will be huge for little Fort Madison. If it ends up being $6 million, we’re already two-thirds of the way there. If it ends up being $8 million, we’re halfway there. This shelter is really going to be something.

Brown says there is a great need for this new shelter and adoption center in this area because PAW not only serves Lee County, but also five surrounding counties, and handles animal control for the county.

Councilor Donna Amandus, who is also a local pet groomer, agrees that PAW has become a vital asset to the community and a partner to law enforcement.

“I was the manager of PAW when I first moved here 17 years ago and I can see it now, not only the quality of the animals but the level of care shows that they need and deserve a new haven,” Amandus said. “The number of animals they care for and adopt exceeds some of the largest shelters in the country.”

The current shelter was built on property rented in 1990 and was built with the capacity to house 18 dogs and approximately 15 cats. Over the past 30 years, the need and shelter has grown to over 100 dogs and an average of 85 cats.

In 2018, PAW had the opportunity to purchase not only the land on which the current shelter sits, but also an additional six acres.

With the purchase of the property, the dream and the project to build a new friendly shelter began. Brown said construction of the new shelter is expected to be completed in the fall of 2023.

Donations can be made on the PAW Facebook page and website or dropped off at the shelter this week or at Jordan’s Way Live Fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, August 29.