- J
Maverick was killed in my stolen car by the housesitter while I was deployed overseas with the Air Force. The sitter intentionally trapped Maverick inside my car in a private gated garage at an apartment off of Logan and Speer in Denver.
Maverick was my best buddy.
My name is Andrew, and for the last 11 years, my rescue Husky, Maverick, was my entire world. Today, I am asking for your help to lay him to rest, rebuild my destroyed home, and help me get back on my feet.
Maverick was not just a pet; he was my lifeline. I rescued him in Spain in 2015 while on active duty in the Air Force. Through multiple moves and every major life transition, he was by my side. When my girlfriend I planned to marry, suddenly passed away Dec 2024, Maverick was the only reason I kept going. He pulled me out of the darkest place in my life. He was my last rock, my running partner, and my best buddy.
In April, while I was deployed overseas with the Colorado Air National Guard, my life was completely shattered.
To ensure Maverick was safe and cared for while I was serving my country, I hired a sitter through TrustedHousesitters (THS) - a platform that promises thorough, secure background checks. Instead of a trusted professional, THS allowed a fugitive with an active warrant and a suspended driver's license into my home.
This individual completely abandoned his contractual duties. He wasn't walking Maverick, or giving him his medicine, and was purposefully feeding him other foods like dried ramen and cat food. Maverick has a special food that he needs for joint health and the sitter refused to do this. He intentionally trapped Maverick inside my Subaru Forester in a secure garage, without his arthritis medicine, food, or water. A car that Maverick and I have traveled in hundreds of times across the country. A car where Maverick was waiting for me to save him. The sitter blocked my number, refused to contact my emergency contacts or neighbors, and fled the state. The sitter's own emergency contacts refused to answer and help save Maverick, despite knowing the sitter had returned home to be with them again. I was stuck halfway across the world, completely powerless to save my best friend. Maverick suffered a horrific, agonizing end, trapped inside the very car we used to take on countless road trips.
The sitter is currently facing his punishment for prior crimes in Florida and is not due to be extradited to Colorado for some time now.
I was forced to end my deployment early to return to an absolute nightmare.
The Aftermath & Why I Need Your Help
I came home to a life that had been violated and destroyed. My house is currently a place of trauma and is difficult to sleep in, and I already deal with nightmares and now my home is one too. The sitter drilled makeshift locks into my doors in an attempt to barricade the house during a suspected drug-induced paranoia break, ruined the bedroom carpet where Maverick desperately tried to escape confinement, while the sitter took unauthorized/unexplained absences. I cannot even sleep in my own bedroom because of how bad Maverick was trying to get out of the room.
The trauma of what happened has also forced me to take FMLA from my military and civilian aviation jobs, as the mental toll has made it impossible to safely perform aircraft maintenance.
While my auto insurance declared my vehicle a total loss, the payout was substantially lower than what I paid for it. Furthermore, my homeowner’s insurance is currently not helping replace the carpet damage where the sitter locked Maverick in my room for days at a time prior to killing him. Maverick clawed the carpet completely up and scratched the floorboards and door, trying to get out of the room he got locked in, trying to dig under the door. The carpet is a traumatic source of pain for me and I cannot go into that room. I am going to replace the carpet with LVP and add some rugs to "reset" my house.
I am launching this campaign to cover the massive financial gaps insurance will not touch, and to rebuild my life. The funds raised will be strictly allocated to:
Maverick’s Final Rest: Covering the costs of his proper burial, and a memorial to give him the dignified resting place he deserves.
Property & Vehicle Recovery: Closing the gap on the vehicle replacement, carpet replacement, and structural repairs required to make my house livable again.
Trauma Recovery: Covering the out-of-pocket costs for specialized trauma therapy and living expenses while I navigate my FMLA status and the loss of my deployment income.
Any funds raised beyond what is necessary for these recovery efforts will be directed toward charities and other rescue organizations. And seeking a petition to change laws for pets in Colorado to protect against crimes. I'll include the names of these organizations once I make contact with them.
I gave the greatest sacrifice I could for my country, only to have my home destroyed, car stolen and my best friend violently taken from me because a corporation failed to do its job and prevent a criminal from being a sitter.
Thank you to the community, my military family, and everyone who has shared Maverick’s story. Your support gives me the strength to keep fighting.
Petition to change Colorado Law
Fundraiser for Maverick's Law
News articles and posts-
KDVR New Article and Video
https://kdvr.com/news/local/airman-pleads-for-help-finding-missing-dog-car-after-trusted-house-sitter-disappears/
https://kdvr.com/news/local/man-accused-of-taking-colorado-airmans-dog-that-was-found-dead-is-arrested-in-florida/
Original Post
https://nextdoor.com/p/7YDCB9nx3gcL?utm_source=share&extras=ODM3MDUyNDk%3D&utm_campaign=1775680439220&share_action_id=16420e79-0a6d-43e8-8cd2-263e4f9ceb0a
New Nextdoor post
https://nextdoor.com/p/35WPdTRWS4xX?utm_source=share&extras=ODM3MDUyNDk%3D&utm_campaign=1777206979952&share_action_id=a4593528-e885-4c63-baa1-f713a018450e
Reddit
Mav's Insta
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