Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story stated that Kali’s Wish Foundation donated the KONG toys to the dogs. It has since been updated to say that KONG donated the toys to the foundation to be given to pet owners after clarification from the foundation.
Hundreds of bright red, rubber KONG toys were dropped off at a southwest Calgary vet clinic Wednesday for animals diagnosed with cancer.
The VCA Canada Western Veterinary Specialist & Emergency Centre accepted the popular pet toys for dogs fighting cancer from KONG as part of a donation drive for Kali’s Wish Cancer Foundation.
The not-for-profit foundation ran a campaign with partners throughout the month of October, asking customers and clients of Pet Planet stores, as well as the VCA Western and Montgomery Village vet clinics, to donate $8 (half the retail price of a standard KONG toy) for a toy for a dog fighting cancer.
The money raised went to Kali’s Wish Foundation, which supports families with pets with cancer, and KONG donated the 660 toys to be distributed to the foundation’s dog owners.
VCA veterinarian Dr. Alissa Gunderson said the toys help cheer the dogs up and provide a good quality of life for animals and their families going through a difficult time.
“I think because we have to make decisions for our patients where they can’t verbalize to us what their wishes would be, that’s a lot of emotional burden for people to have to make those decisions for their pets,” Gunderson said.
The foundation and its partners raised a total of $5,480 for the foundation’s programming.
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