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. 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. After Rusk’s death in active duty on Dec. 6, 2010, Eli refused to work or even move from Rusk’s cot at their base, so he was released to retire in Orange Grove with Rusk’s family. At that time, Eli was only the second dog in the United States history to be granted this honor, according to Texas A&M. The Texas Veterinary Medical Foundation has pledged to cover all of Eli’s veterinary care for the rest of his life. To give to Eli’s Fund, visit the Texas A&M Foundation webpage.
