Save A Fox

Save a Fox Rescue, originally based in Minnesota, has recently been facing many financial and emotional struggles following the death of their founder, Mikayla Raines.

Save a Fox is a nonprofit organization that primarily rescues foxes from fur farms, where they live in horrible conditions, and are essentially sentenced to death. The organization also takes foxes from pet surrenders, where owners are unable to take care of their pet foxes. Sometimes they’ll get foxes from pet owners who live in an area where it is illegal to own a fox.

“I discovered the world of domestic foxes upon taking in a tame pet fox several years ago. Domestic foxes are unlike wild foxes in that they are born in captivity to sell as pets, as well as being bred in “fur farms” for the sale of their pelts. Foxes born in captivity are unable to be released into the wild due to legal and ethical reasons,” Raines explained.

But this family of animal lovers don’t just take in foxes. They also own several cats, canids, reptiles, minks, and horses. They even own a skunk named Jasmine. On their youtube channel, they give frequent tours and updates of both facilities, so that their supporters can always check up on all the animals.

“Save a Fox also tends to their care and socialization to prepare them to live happy lives in knowledgeable forever homes. My purpose is reflected in Save a Fox’s Mission Statement: ‘To rescue and provide forever homes for captive-born, non-releasable wildlife,’” Raines said.

The organization started off with only one facility in Lakeville, Minnesota, but eventually funded enough money to open another one in Lake Country, Florida. The diverse climates of these facilities are essential to keeping the different breeds of foxes happy and in their preferred environment.

The foxes cared for at Save a Fox are domestic, and unable to survive in the wild. Although they can never be released, the organization still wishes to find a home for every fox, and seeks those who are willing to adopt these special creatures. Not many are, though, and so Save a Fox begins to run out of room.

Building new enclosures costs a lot of money— money that they don’t always have. Many have participated in charity towards Save a Fox, trying to help them continue with their mission to save these animals from death or abandonment. You can support Save a Fox by sponsoring one of their animals, or donating to them. Both can be done on their website.

Apart from rescuing foxes, the organization has also been recently spreading awareness about cyberbullying and mental health after Raines tragically took her own life.

“Cyberbulling affects people’s mental health in terrible ways. It messes with their ways of thinking, how they see themselves, and the world. It’s really upsetting that people who are trying to make a difference like this take their own lives due to cyberbullying,” NHS freshman Nora Oberg said.

This loss has recently made things even harder for Save a Fox, but her husband, Ethan Frankamp, announced that he will take over the organization and continue pursuing her dream.

“She was not just a rescuer, but an advocate. Her legacy is Save a Fox. And despite her being the most important part of that, I am not going to let it stop here. I will do whatever I can to see Save a Fox keep moving forward to save as many lives as possible. I gave Mikayla all of my love and energy, and I will do the same with this rescue going forward. As long as you are all here to support us, we can do this,” Frankamp said.