Gus has been diagnosed with an extremely aggressive form of cancer known as Hemangiosarcoma . 

It was first discovered about a month ago when Gus' spleen burst due to a malignant tumor. Gus underwent an emergency splenectomy that saved his life. He had lost a lot of blood and required a transfusion and, despite a 50/50 chance of survival, Gus pulled through and is still with us today!

Because Hemangiosarcoma is not a curable form of cancer, the best we can hope for now is to slow it down. Without chemotherapy, we've been told Gus is looking at 1-3 months. With chemotherapy, he could possibly survive up to a year. There are no guarantees, of course, but Gus has always been there for us and it's time to do everything within our power to do the same for him. For anyone who has spent any time with Gus and I together,  you probably have a pretty good sense of the incredibly strong bond we share. He has been my partner in both work and play. 

Gus' quality of life is first and foremost. Please know that. NOTHING is more important. Because of this, I was initially quite wary of putting Gus through chemo, but after many detailed discussions with oncologists and vets and doing intense research, both Emily and I have decided to move forward.

Chemotherapy for animals is not the same as it is for humans. The dosages are kept so low that most dogs show no signs of discomfort at all. Only about 15 percent react negatively. If Gus were to fall into that 15%, category, we would either lower the dosage or stop the chemo altogether. Again, Gus' quality of life comes first. 


At the moment, one would never know Gus was sick by his behavior. His tail is wagging and he's eating and smiling and, well... just being Gus. 

Luckily, the series of tests we did last week showed no signs of the cancer. We know it's there, but the fact that it hasn't become visible yet means that the chemo could extend Gus' life significantly. 

Ironically, we have pet-insurance for Gus, but there is a lifetime limit to what it will cover in the cancer portion of the policy. That amount has almost entirely been used up for the splenectomy and subsequent testing. That is why we have chosen to reach out to friends and family. Even when you plan ahead, it seems, it's not always enough. 

Below is a breakdown of the treatment plan for Gus. The prices listed are the high and low estimates for one-single treatment. It is recommended that Gus receive between 5 and 6 treatments. This is why we are asking for $6,000. 


There is also a new treatment for Hemangiosarcoma that has come out of UPenn. The results, so far, have been incredibly hopeful, but more tests are required before anyone can know for sure. Regardless, every vet and oncologist we've communicated with has been VERY excited about this new treatment's possibilities. Like chemo, it is also quite expensive, though it has no negative side effects. Here's a link to an article about this research and treatment: Compound Derived From a Mushroom Lengthens Survival Time in Dogs With Cancer, Penn Vet Study Finds . 

If the chemo proves too much for Gus, we will try the above treatment which comes in pill form. 

Please know that it is our commitment NOT to keep Gus around longer than is right and honorable. It will be extremely painful to say goodbye, but we are prepared to do so. That said, so long as he is happy and active and enjoying his life, we'd like to give him as much time to do that as possible. 

Thanks again for all your support and love surrounding this. It means so much to us all. 

Hal, Emily & Gus