Saskatoon pet store teams up with charity to bring toys to dogs with cancer
A Saskatoon pet store has teamed up with a charity to provide 200 toys to dogs with cancer and in remission.
Pet Planet Primrose worked with Kali’s Wish Cancer Foundation, an organization aimed at supporting pets and their owners after a pet cancer diagnosis and during treatment.
“Animal health and happiness are so important,” said Pet Planet Primrose owner Gillian Gratton. “It was just a great opportunity to give back.”
People were able to donate through several Pet Planet locations. For every $8 donated to Kali's wish, the pet store donated one toy to a dog fighting cancer.
The donations were made at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) at the University of Saskatchewan. Its veterinary oncology team will distribute the toys to their canine cancer patients over the coming year.
“The KONG toys are fantastic for all animals,” said Gratton. “KONGs can be used as a great way to soothe a dog.”
Golden retriever Stella, who is 9-years-old, and whose life was saved by the oncology team, received a toy.
She had a 5-pound liver mass and was told the only opinion was to euthanize her. Her fate changed when she was brought to the WCVM.
“Three years ago, they essentially saved her life,” said Stella’s owner Alyssa Ogieglo. “They are treating her like she is not just a dog, and that’s how she is to me, right.”
The oncology team’s primary goal is maintaining a good quality of life for pets diagnosed with cancer. They hope this brings attention to owners who are struggling with their dog's diagnosis.
“We want the owners to know there are support groups out there, they don’t need to feel alone. Having a diagnosis of cancer doesn’t need to be scary,” said a resident of medical oncology Vivian Fan.
The Pet Planet Store that donated the toys has decided to make this an ongoing project.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Donald Trump indicted; 1st ex-president charged with crime
Donald Trump has been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury, prosecutors and defense lawyers said Thursday, making him the first former U.S. president to face a criminal charge and jolting his bid to retake the White House next year.

EXCLUSIVE | Security increased for prime minister's advisers after break-and-enter incidents
Ottawa Police are investigating an attempted break-in at the residence of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's national security adviser, the second such incident involving one of his top aides in recent months.
'Nova Scotians' sense of safety was rocked': RCMP failures dominate inquiry's final report into 2020 mass shooting
A long list of failures by Nova Scotia RCMP leadership and policing systems dominate the final report into Nova Scotia's April 2020 mass shooting.
Meet the Canadian astronauts up for a seat on the Artemis II mission to the moon
This Sunday, NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) will announce the four astronauts that will be blasting off to fly around the moon for the Artemis II mission, one of whom will be a Canadian astronaut.
Gwyneth Paltrow not at fault for ski collision, jury decides
Gwyneth Paltrow won her court battle over a 2016 ski collision at a posh Utah ski resort after a jury decided Thursday that the movie star wasn't at fault for the crash.
Memes, ski etiquette and that missing GoPro video: Highlights from the Gwyneth Paltrow trial
When two skiers collided on a beginner run at an upscale Utah ski resort in 2016, no one could foresee that seven years later, the crash would become the subject of a closely watched celebrity trial.
People may buy less alcohol when stores have non-alcoholic drinks on sale, study suggests
Researchers believe the availability of non-alcoholic drinks can help to combat drinking problems.
Research points to common infections as cause of liver disease outbreak in kids
Scientists think they may have pinpointed the cause of a mysterious outbreak of liver disease that affected children worldwide last year.
House abandoned by couple who 'disappeared' years ago nightmare for neighbour on upscale street
A Toronto man, whose neighbours vanished eight years ago and left their home completely abandoned, said he's fed up living next door to a property that is in complete disarray.