Homeless fam kept stolen dog alive; needs camper

You may have heard of the viral doggie Reo who was recently returned after being stolen in a carjacking. While the world waited with baited breath for the return of the cute shitzu, a homeless family was using their meager resources to keep the dog cool during an unprecedented heat wave. The puppy was fed, watered, and given endless cuddles and love by four cute children and two parents waiting for a woman who foisted the dog into their arms promising to return, a woman they thought was the owner, but was actually the thief.

The family fell in love with Reo and cared for him as their own. They don’t have time to watch the news, and had no idea he had been stolen in such violent of ways. When a woman in a nearby trailer experienced a miscarriage, the four little kids, 6-8 years old, brought Reo to give solace and love to the grieving mother. A man named John saw the dog. When he returned back to his camp he saw a member of the owners' family putting up fliers for Reo, and led them back to the camp where he had just seen the dog, fed, hydrated, cared for, and loved by little hands who thought perhaps they’d gotten a puppy angel gifted, that soon maybe the owner would return.

John, an unsheltered man who saw the flier and led to the dog’s return was gifted the $2500 reward. And we are so happy someone who desperately needed the money was rewarded.

However, the Nomad Alliance, who has been caring for this family for months, refilling their waters, gifting them clothes and the children shoes, and dinners, and love, believes this family deserves a reward too. $2500 could have changed their life, as their most pressing need is to buy a newer trailer that would comply with KOA standards and move the family off the streets. You see, despite having a housing voucher and applying for hundreds of apartments, the family has been denied for all housing because of the father’s criminal record. He beat up a child molester climbing in through his daughter’s window years ago, and has aggravated assault charges. And yet the kids are happy, thriving, well fed, attending school, their clothes are clean, and they are some of the most well-mannered, well-adjusted, loving and kind little humans we’d ever met. And their parents love them so much, and dream of giving them a better life.

Please donate whatever you can so this family could buy a camper a KOA would allow. If you are a private landlord in Salt Lake City and open to taking a chance, and do what’s right, to house a family that so needs your help, please reach out to the Nomad Alliance, www.nomadalliance.org.

Thank you so much for changing six lives. ❤️

Mariah Mills, the mother of this family, has approved this GoFundMe request and is in close communication with our nonprofit about how to best use this money to provide housing and stability for her family of six.

[EDIT 2: OMG we can't believe the outpouring of generosity for this family who deserves your love and support so much! THANK YOU!!! We're increasing the fundraiser so we can do even more to get this family permanently off the streets. We've almost raised enough to buy them their very own mobile home! Wouldn't that be incredible?!? Please keep the shares and donations coming!!!]

[EDIT 1: We are so so grateful for everyone who has donated so we could exceed our goal of $2,500 to purchase a 15 years old or newer trailer a KOA would allow. However we can't seem to find any trailers that new available for just $2,500, and most are at least $10,000 used. We are increasing our goal to $10,000 for this purpose.

The Nomad Alliance is a 501(c)3 registered nonprofit with a Board of Directors who oversee every dime raised or spent. The Nomad Alliance will use your generous donations to purchase a newer trailer outright; we will not be giving the family cash directly, so you can rest assured that your donations will go directly to where they have been intended. Thank you so so much for changing the lives of six people who so desperately need your support.]