R.A.D.A.R. began with a dog named Ammo—confiscated from a suspected fighting ring, returned to the shelter three times, and considered "too much dog" for most. But to our founder, Fontana Palmer, he was the beginning of everything.

Back in 2011, Fontana was a college student living in Denver during a 30-year pit bull ban. Owning Ammo meant carrying vet-certified documents everywhere, dodging legal threats, and fighting public perception just to take her dog for a walk. But Ammo, wild as he was, showed her the truth: these misunderstood dogs don’t need punishment—they need structure, compassion, and someone who won’t give up on them.

While serving in the U.S. Air Force, Fontana found herself drawn to every stray, injured, and neglected dog that crossed her path—especially the bully breeds no one else would take. After realizing she couldn’t save them all alone (or keep footing the bill solo), she made a choice: pivot careers, build a home-based rescue operation, and put her military precision to work for the underdogs.

In 2019, she left Active Duty to join the Air Force Reserves, choosing stability for the dogs over the nomadic military life. With eight pit bulls in tow and no chance of renting ever again, she built a permanent base of operations. Today, Fontana continues her work remotely, balancing her service to her country with her calling to save dogs who’ve been through hell and deserve heaven.

We're not running a high-volume rescue—we’re running a high-integrity one.

We take in fewer dogs by design, focusing primarily on bully breeds with behavioral or medical issues that need time, patience, and serious training. These dogs can be strong. Some have baggage. But we believe in rehabilitation, not rejection.

We don’t have a facility—we have foster homes, hand-selected and supported like teammates in the field. We provide everything our fosters need and never sugarcoat a dog’s needs. That transparency builds loyalty, and that loyalty saves lives.