Let's start this off on a high note.
Here's a baby picture, because nothing makes me happier:

Gus has been my right hand man since I got him in 2011. He's gone everywhere with me, and I've never really been without him other than a few hours here or there since his birth, or vacations he couldn't come on. He comes to work, practice, out with friends, road trips, the gym, everywhere. He was my only companion when I drove across the country, and my only friend out here for a long time. He is an extension of me, my baby boy. If you've ever hung out with me, you know the first question I ask is: "can I bring my dog". Because things are just much better when he's around. I mean, why waste time not being with him when I could be with him?

See? everywhere: 




Gus loves going out and spending time with friends. He's spread a lot of joy to my friends, family and many random strangers.  On multiple occasions I've had people come up to me, ask to pet Gus, and then go on about how they just broke up with their boyfriends or lost their jobs, and a little love from Gus helped them get through the day. Shy children laugh and crawl on the ground to acquiesce to his love and kisses. Burly, grown men squeal with delight and giggle with glee when they get to pet him. This is actual scientific proof that he is a magical unicorn being.

Photographic proof of his amazingness: 

As many of you know, I can go on and on about how much I love him, but for the sake of brevity and my sanity because: tears, let's just move to the point.

For the last year, Gus has been having some back issues. Mostly minor, with only one big flare up that we were able to manage with crate rest and medicine. But two weeks ago everything went dramatically downhill and last night I had to bring him in for emergency spinal surgery to alleviate the horrible pain he was in and try to preserve motor function. 

This is getting v. sad, need a grid of several pics of his face: 

Because Gus is so young at only 5, I thought it was worth the money and the potential risks to get him literally, back on his feet with surgery. 

Then I saw this tacked to the bottom of a 3 page itemized receipt and my head spun:

Good lord. At least there's no tax...? Thanks Obama.

Despite this being an INSANE amount of money, I went ahead with the surgery so Gus can hopefully still do awesome stuff like this:

and this:

and this:
and can continue to spread joy to people everywhere, while also keeping me sane because I'm obsessed with him in honestly probably an unhealthy way.
 
But I will need help paying off this insane medical bill. I feel strange asking for help, it's not easy for me. But many people have already asked what they can do to help support him and me through this. It's been amazing to realize I'm surrounded by loving generous people that truly care about him and me and our struggles, no matter how silly they may seem to people that don't know us. It's humbling to feel so much love coming at you from all sides, so thank everyone that has given me advice, support and offered to help. 

What I really need right now is some cash to financially get back on my feet to finish paying this bill off. And probably eventually some company since I'll likely have to be a bit trapped in my house this summer watching him in his crate.

So if you have any extra cash laying around just burning a hole in your pocket, I would greatly appreciate if you would donate some of it to help Gus recover to his old self. Cos right now he looks like this, and I can't take it (trust me, you don't want to see the incision): 

I know some people love Gus as much as I do, so if you include your address with your donation, I'll mail you a nice photo of Gus after some of this craziness dies down. 

Well... That was a bummer. In closing and as thank you, here's a bunch more way less depressing photos of Gus: 

I'm getting carried away, I know I'm sorry I can't help it...

Gus' birthdy is May 4th. Unfortunately we didn't get to celebrate it this year like we usually do (cookie and park with friends) because it's around when his injury started flaring up. This is from the previous year.

Lastly, this is my first instagram photo. I opened an account  entirely so I could post this picture because it's amazing. Hoping to have thousands more of these beautiful moments with him. 205 wks ago.
There are so many more good ones. I need to stop.

Anyway, thanks guys for looking at this, and if you're able please help me out. 

FINE ONE MORE.

... and an encore.