Fight for Ember's Future: Donate Now

Help Us Keep Ember Safe and Loved

As many of you know, we are currently in a legal battle to keep our beloved dog, Ember, who has been part of our family for nearly a year. This fight is not just about a pet—it’s about protecting an innocent soul from returning to an unstable and unsafe situation.

Ember’s Story

Ember came into our lives through an unfortunate situation. Her previous owner was caught shoplifting at Walmart in Elizabeth. Security alerted the police, who ran the plates of the vehicle she arrived in and discovered it was stolen. Instead of returning to her vehicle where Ember and her boyfriend were waiting, she abandoned them both and fled on foot. She was later arrested at Gold Creek and charged with grand theft auto and possession of paraphernalia, spending 28 days in Elbert County Jail.

The day she was incarcerated, her boyfriend walked into The Full Moon Saloon, where I was bartending to earn extra money while launching Mother Clucker’s Wings. He explained that they were struggling with addiction, that Ember wasn’t being cared for properly, and that she needed a home. I took her in, giving her the love, security, and care she deserved.

The day she was released from jail, this woman came to my door demanding Ember back. I told her to call the police, which she did. When officers arrived, they scanned Ember’s chip—it did not link to the woman but instead to her 28-year-old daughter, who is homeless and struggling with addiction in Denver. After assessing the situation, the police determined that Ember was better off staying with us. Over the next few months, law enforcement reaffirmed multiple times that this was a civil matter, and she was advised to handle it through the courts.

Nine months later, she finally filed a civil suit. Now, we are being forced into an expensive legal battle to fight for a dog who has become part of our family. The judge has decided the case must go to trial, scheduled for April 25, and despite the fact that Ember was never properly cared for before, the court still wants to hear her former owner’s side.

The Legal Battle

We have already spent $5,000 in legal fees to fight for Ember’s safety, and our attorneys, Todd Collins & Associates in Elizabeth, estimate it will cost another $10,000–$15,000 to take this to trial. We wouldn’t ask if we didn’t truly need it, but we cannot do this alone.

We are organizing an auction fundraiser to help cover legal costs. Some generous businesses and individuals have already stepped up to donate:

✅ A professional painting company has offered to paint two rooms as an auction prize.

✅ Mother Clucker’s Wings will auction off a catered party for 50 people to the highest bidder.

✅ Various Broncos memorabilia and other items will be included in the auction.

If you cannot contribute financially, please consider donating an auction item, bidding in the auction, or simply sharing this GoFundMe to help spread the word.

Ember is seven years old and a boxer—a breed that already has a short lifespan. She has finally found a loving, stable home with us, and we refuse to let her be taken back into an environment where she may not be properly cared for. We will not give her up.

Helping More Boxers in Need

If we raise more than what is needed to cover Ember’s legal costs, every extra dollar will be donated to Hobocare Boxer Rescue, an incredible organization we have been a part of for 20 years. We believe every animal deserves love, care, and a safe home, and this rescue works tirelessly to provide that for boxers in need.

If you love animals, if you believe that every pet deserves a safe and loving home, please help us in this fight. Any contribution, big or small, will go directly to covering Ember’s legal defense.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support.