Lakeville, Minnesota – The rescue world is reeling over the loss of a woman who ran a non-profit Minnesota fox rescue. According to Ethan Raines, his 29-year-old wife, Mikayla Raines, committed suicide.
In an emotional YouTube statement, Raines said Mikayla chose to end her life because of online bullying, and her struggles with mental health issues, saying:
“She couldn’t bear what she was feeling any longer, and she ended her life. And it breaks my heart that someone who is selfless and devoted her life to animals could have so much negativity pointed at her.”
Adding:
“And to those of you that pushed her to this, every one of you that had been responsible for making her feel this way, I wish you had to feel what she felt. I wish you had to feel what I feel.”
Ethan Raines has vowed to continue what Mikayla started in 2017 – the Save A Fox Rescue, dedicated to saving foxes from fur farms, has saved 150 foxes from “certain death” according to the organization’s website.
Rest in peace Mikayla.
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8 Comments
Bullying is a Crime no matter where it happens. God Rest her Beautiful Soul. This World was Better with her in it. RIP MIKAYLA
THERE IS NOW A PETITION TO SHUT DOWN THE BULLY PAGES RESPONSIBLE FOR MIKAYLA RAINES (SAVEAFOX) SUICIDE – PLEASE SIGN AND SHARE:
HERE IS THE LINK: https://chng.it/MbWc6yjQrH
The founder of the Fox Sanctuary SaveAFox has recently committed suicide, due in large part to horrendous cyberbullying by the subreddit SaveAFoxSnark and many other wildlife subs. This tragedy could have been prevented so easily. In the year of 2025 we should know by now how devastating and cruel cyberbullying is. It’s even a crime in many civilized countries.
And SaveAFoxSnark is not the only Snark Subreddit. There are many like it who will brainlessly rant and rave and say horrific things about people and groups they have NO understanding of. Snark subreddits about REAL people should not be allowed period, because words have meaning. Words have impact.
So let’s show these monsters that impact. Just like their voices silenced someone who just wanted to do right in the world, let’s let them hear ours. We need to tell Reddit and any other social media platform that this is NOT okay. Sign this petition so we can tell the world that bullying is wrong, even in cyberspace.
Do it for Mikayla, and for everyone who feels alone and weak. Let us be their strength!
How very sad & heartbreaking for her family & friends, what a disgusting thing for disgusting humans to do to someone!! I hope karma comes around big time for each of them responsible!!!
I am so sorry for ur loss my heart hurts for you 💔
MAY THE GOOD LORD JESUS CHRIST BLESS YOU IN HIS ARMS MYKALA 🙏 ✝️ 🛐
TO THE EVIL SATANTIST MONSTERS MAY YOU BURN 🔥 IN HELL ! ! !
OMG, may she rest in peace….free of all the misery in this evil cruel world…..
We lost an angel. I’m so sorry for your loss and hope those that were bullying her few what they sow. Please continue the rescue xo
People need to get off social media. Or at least stop listening to the negative feedback. U were doing God’s work. Only listen to God. Now we lost another compassionate rescuer to meanness. To those who made crappy comments to this woman go punch yourself in the face right now. U deserve it.
This is absolutely heartbreaking and beyond reprehensible!
A beautiful young lady who was doing so much good for all those defenseless foxes, felt she had no other choice but to end her life, because despicable, twisted, trash people took pleasure in bullying and tormenting her with hateful comments. They need to be held accountable for their actions, and I take great comfort in knowing there’s a very hot hell waiting for all of them!
My heart goes out to her devoted husband Ethan. This is a loss he will never get over, and his life will never be the same.