Welcome!

Gus and I met on May 19, 2012, when he was only 8 weeks old. He was instantly the love of my life and a snuggler from the get-go. He was a bundle of joy that weighed in at 3.2 pounds and melted my heart. His little hazel eyes and big brown feet helped my heart heal from losing my first dachshund, DJ (We will save that story, a very long one, for another time). 

 

Gus loved a good watering hole, but more importantly, he LOVED a large, thick stick! It was more like a branch that he preferred -- If you offered him a twig to go chase after into the water, he would stare at it and look back at me and ask, "Ma, can you do better?!" As soon as I threw a branch, he went manic and dragged it back to me happily showing his prize possession. We always looked forward to summer with swimming, long walks, camping and just being together in the outdoors. I loved being with him everyday, by my side. 

 

On July 2, 2024, Gus was diagnosed with Prostate cancer. The doctor explained to me the likely reason for his cancer was because he was neutered so young, at 6 months. This was gut-wrenching news for me, especially because I thought I was doing right by my boy by getting him fixed early and nipping any type of reproductive illness in the butt. 

 

I asked to speak to an oncologist and did so right away. He informed me that typical life-span after diagnosis was 7-9 months and that the only form of treatment was NSAIDs. He explained they can do chemotherapy for him, but that would have cost around $15,000 (money I did NOT have) and gave him POSSIBLY another year; or radiation, around $1500, but would only extend his life by about 6 months. Not to mention all of the doctor visits for either treatment. 

 

When you find this out, it really hurts the heart. NOTHING else can be done, according to a veterinarian, unless you want to fork out a lot of money. I went to Colorado State University (CSU), in Fort Collins, Colorado, for another opinion. I was very hopeful there were other options out there that could help my sweet boy. 

 

NOPE. Same thing -- Chemo or radiation for a LOT of money, only extending the life for a few months to a year, with numerous visits to the vet. How can this be? How can the only option be that you can fork over the money and only get a little time, mostly spent getting treatment at a vet hospital? There had to be another way. 

 

About a week after I visited CSU, I met Bronwyn Farley, a Canine Cancer Doula. While this is what she calls herself, she is a woman of MANY hats -- Therapist, friend, confidant, teacher... SO many! She taught me that food can be medicine as well. Changing the diet completely to raw can help reduce inflammation of the body and most importantly for me, fight against cancer cells in the body. That's all I needed to hear! 

 

I was very nervous to feed raw to my boy. Wouldn't it make him sick eating raw food? I was taught not to feed bones so why is this IN his food?? The idea of this terrified me, but cancer and losing time with Gus scared me more. I dove in head first and transitioned him as quickly and safely as I could. 

 

Once I knew the benefits of feeding raw, I knew I never wanted to see another dog suffer if I could help it. I wanted to be a person who someone could count on helping their dog live their best life. If I can help a dog itch less, feel less pain from arthritis and lessen chances of cancer, I was game. I asked Bronwyn where I could start learning all about becoming a Certified Professional Canine Nutritionist. She directed me to the Feed Real Institute, where I began taking courses for certification. I also got another certification from the Billinghurst Institute. 

 

I will continue to take courses in Herbalism and Homeopathy. To say I love dogs is an understatement. I will ALWAYS be their best advocate and do everything I can to make sure that God's best creation gets to live their life to the very fullest! 

 

With feeding Gus a fresh diet, plus some other holistic chinese medicines, he lived nearly 10 months post diagnosis HAPPILY, up until the last 2 days. There were no chemo treatments, no radiation. We simply got to enjoy each other's time until it was his time to go. He passed peacefully in his home, never visiting a vet again, on April 23, 2025. 

 

Gus is my why. I will always advocate feeding fresh because of him. He is the reason for my life completely changing. It's heart-breaking that I lost him, but he will ALWAYS live on in my heart because he changed me for the better. I will always be grateful for that little stinker bean.