ELI’S FUND
In an effort to help veterans and their animals, Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM) has created Eli’s Fund. Specifically, the fund aims to provide financial support for active service men and women, medically retired veterans’ service dogs and retired military dogs with veterinary bills at the college.
This memorial fund was established for Lance Corporal Colton Rusk of Orange Grove, TX. Eli, a bomb-sniffing military working dog was assigned to US Lance Cpl. Colton Rusk. In December, 2010, Lance Cpl. Rusk was killed by sniper fire in Afghanistan. Eli, ever faithful to his handler was left depressed and alone. He would not leave Lance Cpl. Rusk’s cot at the base for several weeks. In February 2011 Lance Cpl. Rusk’s family in South Texas was allowed to adopt Eli. The Texas Veterinary Medical Foundation (College of Veterinary Medicine, CVM) has pledged to cover all of Eli’s veterinary care for the rest of his life. The CVM established Eli’s Fund as a source of financial support for active duty service men and women, medically retired veterans’ service animals and retired military animals.
Eli’s Fund was spearheaded by Mike Moore, DVM, a CVM development council member. Dr. Moore’s original $5,000 gift to the Texas A&M Foundation to create Eli’s Fund honored Colton Rusk of Orange Grove, Texas, and his military working dog, Eli, whose family Moore knows well through his work on behalf of wounded warriors and their families.
How you can help
- Leave your donation in our fundraiser drop box provided in our lobby.
- Fundraise for Eli’s Fund by calling South side Animal Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas at 361-993-7388 and ask for a donation box to be placed in your business.
- Host fundraisers to include local bake sales, pup washes, and vaccine drive benefiting Eli’s Fund.
- Support events and fundraisers with your local 4H for the 2016 school year, many local schools are competing to see who can raise the most money for Eli’s Fund while earning money for their 4H program.
DaisyCares Pet Food Program
Babcock Hills now has a collection barrel in our lobby for unopened bags or cans of pet food. If you do have any open bags that are not expired and are safe to feed please hand those to the front desk versus placing in the barrel.
DaisyCares and the San Antonio Food Bank are partnering to create the DaisyCares Pet Food Program – a program designed to provide struggling families and individuals with pet food assistance for their pets. A recent New York Times article states that “animal shelters have reported a steep rise in the number of cats and dogs being surrendered as owners face unemployment, home foreclosures, evictions and other financial hardships.” As more families struggle with difficult choices like paying the rent or buying food, some have to choose between keeping their pet and putting food on the table.
The DaisyCares Pet Food Program will provide pet food to families through our established network of partner agencies already providing emergency food assistance to families and individuals in need. The San Antonio Food Bank will work with local veterinarians, retail stores, and with pet food manufactures to obtain donations of pet food and products for distribution. Pets provide comfort to families and individuals, and families struggling financially more than likely will also need food for their pets.