Ellie's Legacy is a 501(c)(3)

Karen (Fieldhammer) Brehmer, a local Alexandria, MN business owner of LEA's Pet Products, has always had a love for animals. She has been a "go to person" in the community when there is an animal in need. Whenever someone found a stray cat or a puppy being given away for free, Karen was contacted to see if she would help. And she could never say no. For years, Karen has been helping local animals in need. Like any animal lover, Karen has had many pets of her own as well. It was after the passing of her beloved black lab/border collie, Ellie, that she knew she wanted to be something more. She  started her own foster based rescue, Ellie's Legacy Pet Rescue.  She took in dogs and cats from all over in need of a second chance. And did so in remembrance of her beautiful Ellie 

Bailey's HOPE was a dream of Board Member Jenny Barber. Bailey, a five month old puppy that needed extensive hernia repairs need .  The pup's  family loved her very much, however could not afford the life-saving surgery.  Bailey was surrendered to Ellie's Legacy to get the vetting care she needed.  Jenny Barber adopted Bailey with a dream in her heart that someday pet owners could get assistance rather than surrender their pet.  Soon Bailey's HOPE was created as a subsidiary of Ellie's Legacy.

2026

Fifteen years ago I had to put my sweet girl, Ellie, down unexpectedly.  That girl had gotten me through some tough times and I knew I wanted to do something to honor her memory… Karen Brehmer, Founder. Over the years, Ellie’s Legacy Pet Rescue helped so many cats and dogs from shelters and local communities into our rescue to find their forever homes.  I can safely put the number of bottle kittens we’ve saved into the hundreds as well. A few years ago, one of our board members, Jenny Barber, suggested a program that was dear to her heart called Bailey’s HOPE.  Bailey was a five-month-old puppy that needed extensive hernia repairs.  Her family loved her very much, however, could not afford the life-saving surgery. Bailey was surrendered to Ellie’s Legacy  to get the vetting care she needed.  This sparked an awareness of a great need for financial assistance programs to help people keep their pets.  Bailey’s HOPE was created as a subsidiary of Ellie’s Legacy Pet Rescue five years later to do just that. So often, a loving family has a pet that has an emergency (ie hit by a car, gets parvo, etc …) and the family cannot afford a large vet bill so either has to put their pet to sleep or is forced to surrender the pet.  Rescues are already overwhelmed so that makes no sense and it’s better to keep the pet with the family who loves it. While Bailey’s HOPE was flourishing and helping so many pets and their families, the rescue has been finding it harder and harder to find fosters.  The board has had many discussions about our future, and we are excited to announce that as of January 1, 2026 the primary focus of Ellie’s Legacy will be on Bailey’s HOPE funding as well as low cost alter clinics, bottle kittens/dogs instructions, referrals to rehome pets, rather then the in-home foster program. General MacArthur once said, “We are not retreating ~ we are advancing in another direction” and we believe this new direction is how Ellie’s Legacy will be able to best serve the communities that we care about. It is our hope that we can count on your continued support as we make this transition.  We have many exciting plans in the works and look forward with sharing them with you and the community.