SaveAFox rescue founder Mikayla Raines dies by suicide after online harassment, husband says
SaveAFox rescue founder Mikayla Raines dies by suicide after online harassment, husband says
Mikayla Raines, 30, founded SaveAFox in 2017 with the mission of saving domesticated foxes from fur farms and amassed millions of online followers through videos highlighting her work and the many furry friends that came through her rescue.
Text of the article at the time of posting:
Mikayla Raines, the founder of Faribault-based animal rescue SaveAFox, has died by suicide, according to her husband, Ethan Frankamp.
Raines, 30, founded SaveAFox in 2017 with the mission of saving domesticated foxes from fur farms and amassed millions of online followers through videos highlighting her work and the many furry friends that came through her rescue. One particular rescue fox, Finnegan, became a minor internet celebrity in his own right.
In a video statement, Frankamp credited Raines with saving hundreds of animals over the years. He also called Raines a “selfless” advocate and a “wonderful wife and a caring mother.”
“From a young age, she dedicated every waking hour of her life to helping them, whether it was helping a snapping turtle cross the road or saving 500 foxes from a terrible fur farm,” Frankamp said. “She was never in it for fame, money or personal gain. She was truly one of the most selfless people I have ever known. She put the animals’ well-being over her own time and time again.”
Frankamp said Raines dealt with mental health struggles, which were made worse by cyberbullying by people she knew.
“And it breaks my heart that someone who is selfless and devoted her life to animals could have so much negativity pointed at her. Why? That’s all I can ask is why? In a world that’s filled with darkness, she was just light,” Frankamp said.
Raines was on the autism spectrum, something Frankamp said was a mixed blessing.
“And she was so sensitive to everything, which is a double-edged sword because on the one hand, it allowed her endless empathy for those in her care, but it also means that she took everything negative to heart,” Frankamp said.
Raines’ husband urged people to think twice before posting negative comments online and to be aware of signs of depression in their loved ones.
“If you only have negative garbage to say, just shut up. And if you are feeling lost and hopeless, please reach out to someone, whether it’s friends and family or calling a hotline. And to everyone else, please, please keep an eye on those around you,” Frankamp said.___
What kind of asshole bullies a lady who rescues animals?
I might get downvoted for saying this, but they're the same kind of assholes that blanket-hate vegans. Whenever a person shows an ounce of concern for an animal, there's a psychopath out there ready to tear them down because of it. There's no logic to it, just a bizarre hatred driven by an inability to comprehend empathy.
Oh, there's logic: If you care, and I don't, and you're right to care, then I'm an asshole. Ergo, my self-worth demands I constantly reinforce you're in the wrong.
What kind of asshole
I have a name - u/KazeoLion on Shittit (Reddit).
I don’t know how I feel about this
I was interested in this beyond the headline and read about it for 20 minutes or so. I have never heard of anyone involved in this
From what I read this person you cited claims to have compiled some (somewhat dubious but lengthy) information that the deceased was at least neglectful of the many animals they were raising and then posted it. They claimed that was all they did
Reddit had a snark subreddit but it’s impossible to see if said user was very active on the sub bc it’s obviously private now
That said soyjack.party is dogpiling on the user you’ve mentioned. They’ve doxed him, they are creating pseudo bluesky accounts under his real name to slander him and make people think he is goading people, contacting workplace and parents, etc. it seems motivated partially because some of their users loved the fox lady but a number of users also seem to think the fox lady was “a degenerate” and the reddit users claims were valid, but happily join in simply because the reddit user is trans
https://www.soyjak.st/raid/thread/194610.html#195569 (a great deal of hate speech here fyi)
This whole thing stinks and appears to be co-opted by very hateful people who intend to cause someone else to commit suicide, basically
Be careful about this kind of accusation.
Remember when Reddit collectively "caught" the Boston bomber and accused an innocent missing man who tuned out to be dead?
Not only did they royally fuck up by accusing the wrong guy, but they brought public harassment onto a grieving family of a man who was found dead in a river a few days later.
The same assholes who feel a sense of pride from bullying teenagers who are struggling through their gender identities
If her husband is correct, other animal rescuers.
Humans fucking suck.
I think I'm rooting for climate change to just destroy our species now. 😞
Oh shit, I am one of the million+ followers on YouTube but I hadn't watched this video yet. This is really heartbreaking. She always seemed so sweet and excited, it was nice to relax and watch what was going on at the rescue. I had no idea about her struggles, and the fact that it was close friends and other sanctuaries that caused this is fucking infuriating. I hope these people pay for their actions.
I haven't seen her husband before, but his video made me cry. While I am sad about what has happened, I think he will be a fine face for the rescue - he seems just as dedicated and caring. I think if she could see what's happening, she'd be proud.
E: grammar fixes
Oh no :( poor girl
What could possibly be something to bully her about?
I have yet to see proof of it, but apparently the "snark" subreddit about her claimed insufficient living situations for the foxes as abuse, misuse of money when it's volunteer driven, preventable fox deaths, and some racy photos (I think OF promotion? It's hard to say for sure with so much being deleted).
Edit: to be clear on the wording, I'm saying I haven't seen any proof she is guilty of these accusations
this genuinely breaks my heart. I didn't follow them as much but had seen alot of thier stuff. They did amazing work. This is absolutely gut wrenching. Condolences to the bereaved, the world got a little dimmer.
Death by suicide