Bring Charlie Back: Legal Fees Assistance

Charlie Chaplin

That's the name I chose when you came home to us. With your dapper little mustache, and you're gentle demeanor, it only seemed right.

We adopted Charlie last November, 2 weeks after I had put my dog Chloe down. Charlie was adopted to fill the hole in my heart after such a loss. It was agreed upon that he would spend part of his time with me, and part of the time with my ex - however, we decided to give him a month to decompress in one home after living life in the shelter for 5 months. During this month it was decided that I would just move in, and we would all live together as a family.

Most of you who know me well, already know what i went through during the length of the relationship.

It's been roughly 4 weeks since the breakup.

After one week of silence, and one week of begging for him to listen to me, to consider our family, to consider our life together, and to consider Charlie... He chose to walk away. He's not ready to settle down, and as much as I want him to, you can't force a horse to drink water.

About 2 weeks ago I went to go pick up my things, what was left at the house, what was left of our life, that was so kindly packed up in trash bags like I never existed... Like we never existed... And of course, Charlie was nowhere to be found. He wouldn't even let me see my dog.

I've asked him countless times for Charlie, we agreed that we would share him if we ever broke up, but he is now withholding him from me.

My friend reached out to him trying to come to some sort of agreement regarding Charlie, explaining to him that I'll have no choice but to retain a lawyer if he doesn't cooperate.

My ex refuses to allow me to see my dog.

In the last few weeks I've retained a lawyer, at the cost of $300 only to write a letter to him letting him know that he is to return my dog, (my property as it would be in Illinois), otherwise we are prepared to go to court.

He has not responded to my lawyers request.

I am now backed against a wall, yet again, and I'm going to need to go to court to get my dog back. My lawyer is charging minimum $200 per hour and I am unsure how long the case will take and what will be involved. I am very hopeful, that with all the documentation I have that Charlie is in my name, the judge will sign him over to me immediately.

It's bad enough to go through a breakup, one in which planning of marriage and Parenthood was involved. Let alone, having to go through that breakup during the holidays and without your dog, the dog that we bought to replace that same hole that was left after Chloe was euthanized last November.

I have faith that God is at work here. He has helped me get out of this abusive relationship, and I know he will help me during this process as well.

But I am embarrassingly asking my friends and family for help. I do not have the funds to pay the lawyer off the bat, this relationship drained me financially, and put me in a bad spot.

Even if we could raise $400 to $600, that would be a huge help in getting my dog back.

If you're unable to donate, which I completely understand- please share, share with friends, share with family, every little bit helps.

I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.