Karen Fieldhammer

Karen Fieldhammer, 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 on Craigslist, Karen was contacted to see if she would help. And she could never say no. For 8 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/shepherd mix, Ellie, that she knew she wanted to be something more. She wanted to start her own foster based rescue and take in dogs from all over in need of a second chance. And do so in remembrance of her beautiful Ellie.

Beginning

In the meantime, Karen had a drive to help other area rescues by volunteering on transports. On a transport for Lake Traverse Animal Rescue, she met another local animal lover, Lucy Lloyd. A board member of the Pope County Humane Society, Lucy has always had a love for dogs. Coincidentally, after the passing of Lucy's dog, Jack, she also wanted make a difference for animals deserving another chance. After talking while waiting for the first leg of the transport, they both shared their love and desire to rescue animals in need.

After some thinking, Lucy contacted Karen and expressed her desire to help with the idea of Ellie's Legacy Pet Rescue. Through her work with Pope County Humane Society, Lucy had developed contacts with Daviess County Animal Shelter in Owensboro, KY and the first official rescue dog for Ellie's Legacy Pet Rescue was pulled from DCAS. And fittingly enough, she is a white pit bull named Lilly, who Lucy eventually adopted.