Hello all, and thank you for being here! Our sweet boy Gusto has always been more than just a dog—he’s family. To pronounce his name, say "Mucho Gusto" in Spanish- and it is indeed nice to meet him! He fills our lives with joy through his goofy personality, unconditional love, and loyal companionship. Sadly, we recently received heartbreaking news: Gusto has been diagnosed with nasal cancer. The Oncology team at CSU has been so kind and professional as they guide us through this journey.

Gusto is a Shar Pei/Lab mix who was born in Prescott, Arizona and lived his first 8 years with my father Robert, and his sister Mariah (a German Shepherd/Lab mix). My dad passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack on June 13, 2021. At his bedside in the hospital, I promised I would make sure that Gusto and Mariah were taken care of and loved in his absence. Dad embraced being a "dog dad" once his kids were all grown and away from home. Gusto made his life better every day in the same ways Gusto now does for Joe and me since we adopted him here in Denver. It has been the honor of my life to be Gusto's second parent (and Mariah's- who succumbed quickly to metastatic cancer last year). Beyond my partner Joe and I, Gusto is beloved by my brother Travis and my mother Heidi, who had been planning to take him into her new home in Denver this Fall.

The best treatment option to give Gusto a fighting chance is radiation therapy, which will extend his life and allow him to enjoy many more happy, comfortable days with us. Unfortunately, nasal tumors are inoperable. Gusto's Oncology team at CSU has explained that he is a great candidate for radiation therapy- dogs with nasal tumors generally experience minimal discomfort and side effects as a result of treatment. Without radiation therapy, Gusto's quality of life will quickly decline as the cancer progresses. His prognosis without treatment is about 3 months, and radiation would extend his median survival time to 15-18 months.

Unfortunately, the cost of this treatment and required diagnostics (CT scan, possible MRI, and rhinoscopy) is overwhelming—estimated at $10,000 to $12,000. Between the diagnostics, anesthesia, radiation sessions, and follow-up care, it’s more than we can manage alone.

We are asking for help to give Gusto the chance he deserves. Every dollar goes directly toward his medical care. Even the smallest donation makes a difference, and if you’re not able to donate, simply sharing this page means the world to us.

Gusto still has so much love left to give, and we’re determined to fight for him. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for supporting us on this journey.

With gratitude,

Maggie, Joe, Travis, Heidi, and the-one-the-only Robert Max Lind