Deb Haak won’t ever forget Raisin. Raisin, a Mammoth donkey, was just 36 hours old when she was brought to the University of Minnesota’s Veterinary Medical Center (VMC) by Save the Brays Donkey Rescue of Milaca, Minnesota, with an infection, kidney issues, and severely contracted tendons in her front legs.
“She was a very rare breed that was created by George Washington and is known to be intelligent and have a sweet disposition,” says Haak, patient/client advocate for the VMC. According to the Livestock Breeds Conservancy, only 2,000 are believed to exist.
As is the case with many animal rescue organizations, Save the Brays couldn’t afford the complex care needed to fix Raisin’s legs and other medical issues. But a grant from the VMC’s Shelter and Rescue Animal Fund gave Raisin a chance.
Raisin is just one of the animals that has been helped by the fund, which was established in 2012 after a group of donors approached the VMC about making sure that animals in rescues can get the specialized care they need.
“The need has become even greater in the last several years,” Haak says. “The number of animals being served by these rescues has increased to numbers we haven’t seen prior to the pandemic. We want animals that we could medically help have a chance to find a home.”
Most of the shelter fund clients have complicated cases—limb deformities, heart defects, and other congenital conditions. Surgery for patent ductus arteriosus, a congenital heart defect in puppies, for example, can cost $5,000 to $6,000. “A lot of rescues don’t have a lot of money to put into one pet,” Haak says. “The smaller the rescue you are, the smaller the budget you likely have for medical expenses.”
In 2023, the fund helped eight animals. Between January and September 2024, it helped six.
“The fun part of the shelter fund is following up with the rescue when the animal goes home,” she says. “I really appreciate the hard work they’re doing and of the donors who trust us to find patients who are good candidates for their money and passion.”
Make a gift to support animals like Raisin by donating to the VMC’s Shelter and Rescue Animal Fund.