Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González / Texas Border Business
Yaqui Animal Rescue, a nonprofit based in Sullivan City, Texas, is preparing for its annual fundraising gala on November 21, 2025, at the Mission Event Center. The event is expected to draw 400 to 500 attendees and will feature Dr. Jeff Young, known for his Animal Planet series, now streaming on HBO, as the keynote speaker. Dr. Young is recognized nationally for his commitment to spay and neuter programs and for educating communities on responsible pet ownership.
Photo of Dr. Jeff Young courtesy of Canyon Courier / Colorado Community Media, published January 15, 2025. Used here for editorial purposes.
Founded in 2013 by CEO Sonia Vanecia, Yaqui Animal Rescue has grown into a vital community resource. The organization operates on 80 acres of land, with approximately 10-15 acres dedicated to sanctuary infrastructure. According to Chief Operations Officer Becca Arizmendi-Chavez, the rescue currently cares for “about 250 animals there that we have rescued. We have about 80 dogs. We have about a hundred cats. We have horses, cows, pigs, Guinea hens, almost any animal you can imagine that we have rescued throughout the years.”
Arizmendi-Chavez emphasized that the mission extends beyond housing animals. “Our mission is to save as many animals as possible, to rehab them, to vet them, and then find forever homes for them,” she explained. “And the animals that we can’t find homes for, they are at the ranch sometimes, or they’re in forever foster homes.”
The scope of work has grown significantly over the years, with the organization receiving as many as 30 calls or messages a day from people seeking help with abandoned, injured, or neglected animals. “It’s gotten to the point where we are having to tell people, we can’t help you right now because the demand is just too much,” Arizmendi-Chavez said. “I wish we had, you know, a million, $2 million to help everyone. But we don’t. We have to fundraise continuously. We have to find space at our ranch. We have to ask for fosters. We have to really go through great lengths to try to help people.”
To address systemic issues, Yaqui Animal Rescue launched a spay and neuter initiative in April 2025 in partnership with Donna North High School’s Veterinary Animal Science program. The effort allows students to graduate with a veterinary assistant certification after 300 hours of supervised training. At the same time, the clinics have already sterilized 430 animals at low cost to the public, with more scheduled later this year. “We had to take initiative on our own because there are just millions of animals here, and we can’t help them all,” Arizmendi-Chavez said.
The upcoming gala is the organization’s largest annual fundraiser, helping sustain operations throughout the year. “Our gala is on November 21st. That’s our biggest fundraiser,” Arizmendi-Chavez explained. “So that kind of sustains us throughout the year. We also apply for numerous grants throughout the year, so that helps us as well.”
Highlighting the importance of community support, Arizmendi-Chavez invited local businesses and residents to sponsor both the gala and spay/neuter clinics. “If there are any businesses that are interested in being part of the solution to help with overpopulation, that would be amazing. We have sponsorship packages available,” she noted.
Reflecting on the ongoing mission, Arizmendi-Chavez acknowledged both the achievements and the challenges. “We are basically, our mission is to save as many animals as possible,” she said. “But what we have really realized over the years is that even though our mission is to help as many animals as possible, the demand far exceeds our ability to always help.”
Yaqui Animal Rescue continues to rely on the vision of its founder, Sonia Vanecia, and the dedication of its leadership team. With the annual gala on the horizon and Dr. Jeff Young set to speak, the organization hopes to rally further support for the work that has defined it since 2013—providing rescue, rehabilitation, and hope for animals across South Texas.
