A special ‘KONG-tribution’

Thanks to a growing community initiative, the veterinary oncology team at the Western College of Medicine’s (WCVM) Veterinary Medical Centre (VMC) can offer that comfort.

Pet Planet Primrose, a pet store in Saskatoon, Sask., runs the “KONGs for Dogs Fighting Cancer” campaign every October in partnership with Kali’s Wish Cancer Foundation and KONG — manufacturers of the durable, hollow enrichment toy for pets.

Kali’s Wish is the only Canadian organization aimed at supporting pets and their owners after a pet cancer diagnosis and during treatment, providing resources and support to affected families.

For every $8 donated to Kali’s Wish throughout the campaign, Pet Planet contributes one KONG toy to dogs fighting cancer in the VMC’s veterinary oncology department.

“Everyone has been affected by cancer in some way, either in people or animals, so anything we can do to make that struggle just a little bit easier is something we strive for,” says Gillian Gratton, owner of Pet Planet Primrose.

To read the full issue of the Summer 2025 Vet Topics click here.

Thanks to the public’s generous support, Pet Planet Primrose donated more than 250 KONG toys to the WCVM’s veterinary oncology service this year — the store’s largest contribution since it began participating in the program three years ago.

Dogs receive their KONG toy after their first consultation visit with the WCVM oncology team. More than just a simple gift, these toys create a moment of connection in what’s often an overwhelming and emotional first visit.

“Putting ourselves into the owner's shoes when they're just receiving this terrible information about their pet — [we know] it’s really difficult for them,” says Dr. Liang Jun (LJ) Tseng, a resident in medical oncology at the WCVM. “This donation isn’t so much about the toy itself, but that sense that someone is thinking about them and they’re not alone.”

Melissa Underhill, a registered veterinary technologist (RVT) with the VMC’s oncology team, agrees: “It's probably the one time where you might see a smile on the owner's face during the appointment.”

Beyond the emotional impact, oncology team members have seen firsthand how these toys help ease a dog’s anxiety during hospital visits.

“It’s especially helpful for our more anxious patients who aren’t sure of their surroundings,” says Underhill. “It keeps them calm, distracted and helps them associate the clinic with something positive.”

Underhill emphasizes the campaign’s value in raising awareness about treatment options available for pets with cancer.

“At one point, a cancer diagnosis was very much a diagnosis of death,” says Underhill. “Now there are just so many more options out there, and cancer patients can still have a decent quality of life.”

Tseng says the KONG donations benefit the patients and their families as well as a boost for the oncology team.

“This profession can get a bit depressing at times,” says Tseng. “Knowing that there are people out there who are supportive of what we do reminds us that our work really makes a difference.”

Gratton says the campaign’s success is due to the generosity of pet owners in Saskatoon and area.

“We’ve had a great community response — people have been really supportive,” she says. “We’ve run this campaign a few times … so we’ve gained more recognition, and hopefully, that’s increased the awareness of our goal.”

 The WCVM veterinary oncology team and Gratton hope to see the number of donated KONG toys grow even more in future campaigns.

“We just want to give support in any way that we can,” says Gratton. “To bring a little brightness into everyone’s lives during a hard time.”

In memoriam: Gillian Gratton

The WCVM community was saddened by the news of Gillian Gratton’s tragic death on April 11, 2025. Gratton earned her Master of Science degree at the WCVM in 2012 and was a USask employee for over a decade.

Her passion for animals, her dedicated support of animal care and her kindness will never be forgotten.