Dennis Burns Needs the Community's Support

Hi, my name is Jen Dempsey and I offered to begin a fundraiser to support the medical recovery of Dennis Burns of Valley Isle Animal Rescue. If you, like me, have experienced Dennis' steadfast commitment to assisting the animals of Maui then you understand why it is critical for us to now assist him during these troubling times. Dennis has helped rescue, reunite, and place hundreds of animals on our island. He and his wife, Suzanne, are committed to the well-being of animals and have dedicated their lives to emergency animal rescue.

An abscess was discovered on Dennis' spinal column and in parts of his bone on his mid-back, requiring immediate surgery. During the surgery, the surgeons found a massive amount of infection wrapped around his actual spinal cord and his bone in his mid-back. They were able to get the infection that was in back of the spinal cord but they could not get the infection in front of the spinal cord (obviously as they can’t go through his chest). So they will be dosing him with a high level of IV antibiotics for a while to kill the rest of the infection. The infection has caused paralysis of his legs but it will be a long road until he can walk again. The neurosurgeon said that this infection causes the worst pain a person can go through.

AND … They found when they went in there that he had actually broken his back! So they put screws and plates in his back. Every time he moved, it would shift and cause him even more pain.

Let's come together as a community and support Dennis as he has done unwaveringly and selflessly for all of our island animals for the past several decades. Any little amount would be helpful. This money will be used for medical-related expenses and is not associated with the non-profit in any way.