Fur our pet friends

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s Student Government Association is hosting “Fur-Raiser Frenzy” to raise money for the Yaqui Animal Rescue Tuesday afternoon in Edinburg. 

The fundraiser will be from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. in the UTRGV Ballroom.

The goal of the fundraiser is to raise $500 to donate to the Yaqui Animal Rescue. Every $25 earns a challenge done by an SGA member.

 Some examples of the challenges in the event include eating a sardine, participating in the ice bucket challenge, and the biggest challenge, which occurs when they reach $500, is for Juan Espinoza, president of SGA to eat a Carolina Reaper. 

Espinoza said he has always wanted to host a big fundraiser and was guided by Ray Ruiz, program coordinator of SGA, to make the decision to work with Yaqui Animal Rescue. 

 “I was initially going to do a fundraiser for one of the bigger animal shelters,” he said. “He helped me point in a direction toward helping an organization that maybe wasn’t as big or well known.”

The Yaqui Animal Rescue is a non-profit organization that rescues and rehabilitates animals in need such as dogs, cats, cows  and turtles. 

Rebecca Chavez, chief operations officer of Yaqui Animal Rescue, said their main struggle at the rescue is trying to keep up with the demand and requests for help. 

“It’s difficult to tell people that we can’t help at the moment,” she said. “And people just don’t understand that because they want help.”

Espinoza said members of the SGA have spent a lot of time on campus informing departments and students about the fundraiser.

 Kyra Arguello, a UTRGV senior, said the event is very effective and a heartwarming way for the SGA to help out the community. 

“I also think it’s a good way overall, just to give back because humans have negatively impacted animals in the first place,” she said. “It’s a really good fundraiser to give back to that community.”

Arguello said she is excited to see how much money SGA can raise because it’s going to a good cause, which she finds ideal because students are coming together to give to the community. 

If you’re someone interested in fostering or adopting visit Yaqui Animal Rescue website for more information.