Help Protect Duchess and Avenge Duke

Dear Animal Lovers and Compassionate Supporters,

I am helping my mom with this GoFundMe to help ease the burden of an unspeakably cruel act.

On the morning of Tuesday, March 5th, 2024, an unknown arsonist attacked our family dogs (an 8 y/o Doberman named Duchess and a 16 y/o Pitbull-mastiff named Duke) while they were sleeping in our backyard pen. My mom was away working a night shift when she got the dreadful call at 5:30AM. The attacker poured gasoline over our fence onto the dogs and their mattress before lighting a fire and fleeing. Duchess was able to escape without any injuries but Duke could not. He fought until his last breath, and my mom made the agonizing decision to have him put down due to the extent of his burns.

 

 https://www.kfyrtv.com/video/2024/03/08/police-searching-suspect-who-set-dog-fire-phoenix/ 

My mom is an incredibly hardworking and compassionate person who cares about her family more than anything else. We consider our dogs to be family members, and no one should ever have to bury a family member this way.

Out of respect for Duke, we will not be posting the burn photos on this platform.

This is the second arson attack on our home. Thankfully, the first one did not result in a loss of life but it did destroy a large portion of the wooden fence surrounding our house. That being said, my family does not have the financial stability to move to a safer area. However, there is an ongoing police investigation. While justice may help us to heal, it will not account for the financial weight of this tragic event.

With the donations we receive, we will prioritize paying for:

1) An evening sitter for Duchess for the duration of the investigation (~$2,500). Your donations will allow my mom to continue to work night shifts to help cover her bills.

2) A replacement outdoor pen protected from the elements and fire (~$1600).

3) Installation of a security system around the house (~$1200).

4) Replacement of our damaged shed (~$2200 to $4300).

5) Lastly, we hope to replace the rest of our decrepit wooden fencing with either chain link or brick so the arsonist cannot cause more damage (~$4100 to $5200).

We have an early estimate that the cost of everything will be in the range of ~$11,600 to $15,800.

Remaining contributions will be donated to BluePearl Pet Hospital and Arizona Haven Humane Society so that they can continue to save lives.

I am currently serving in the military and am unable to visit back home for long periods of time. Two of my siblings are also in the military and the third is working out of state. None of us have the physical or financial ability to return home for an extended amount of time to watch Duchess, protect the house, or make the necessary home repairs. My mom needs the support of the community.

Duke was an incredible friend and family member. We will never forget his playful energy, youthful attitude, and his fighting spirit- even at the very end of his life. We know we will never be able to replace Duke, but we will always remember the life he lived and the memories he left behind.

Your donations will not be in vain.

Even small donations of $15, $20, and $30 will go a long way to help. My mom and Duchess deserve to feel safe in their home. I hope we can help them feel that way again soon.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Roscoe Gillum