He might have been a rescue dog slated for euthanasia, but for Suman Kamath, her dog is like a son.

In July 2023, Kamath’s dog, Toby, a mixed mutt as she would describe him, was eating less than usual, a bit more sluggish, and he had lumps in his neck. After a veterinarian visit, Kamath’s worst nightmare came to fruition when the vet found that Toby had lymphoma, a blood cancer.

Now, a year after his diagnosis, Toby is in remission — this is when the cancer is undetectable — and, to give back, Kamath is creating the Toby’s Hope for Canine Cancer Care nonprofit so others can get the support she didn’t have when her beloved furry friend was diagnosed.

“I found when I was on this journey last year, it was really difficult to find people that were in a similar boat as me. I didn’t have any friends or family members that had a dog that had cancer, so I really didn’t know how to navigate the journey, and I didn’t have anyone to talk to about it,” she said. “So I’d love to be able to create an in-person support group for local people to join if they feel comfortable coming in person.”

Kamath said one of the most complex parts of the cancer journey is the cost of treatment, with chemotherapy starting at $10,000. But for her, she said, Toby had pet insurance, and the $2,000 deductible wasn’t an issue for her — but she knows that might not be the case for others.

That being said, Kamath said her nonprofit will include financial assistance, support groups, educational resources and community outreach.

“Together, we can make a difference in the lives of dogs and their owners,” Kamath said. “Every donation, volunteer hour, and shared story helps us move closer to a world where no dog has to face cancer alone.”

For this effort to help local dog owners, Kamath is the Mirror’s Hometown Hero for July 2024.

Kamath said many families might already be living month to month and don’t have dog insurance, so cancer treatment for their dogs might be out of the picture. She said it can be problematic if people need to rely on tapping into their savings accounts or using credit cards to pay for treatment. Kamath said there are some cheaper alternatives to chemotherapy, but they don’t work as well.

“I saw in Facebook groups that cover the country that they couldn’t afford the chemotherapy, and so they have to do other treatments that aren’t as successful and don’t give the dog as much time,” she said. “A lot of people I remember commenting saying that they felt guilty that they didn’t have the money to do what they wanted to do for the dog to ultimately give the dog the best odds. So I feel very fortunate that I was not in that position, but I think it’s more common than you think for people to be just not able to float a couple extra grand out of the blue.”

Kamath said the financial aspect of dog cancer care was a big motivator when she began her nonprofit. She said she’s trying to bridge the gap so the dogs can get the best care possible and so their humans don’t have to feel all the stress and anxiety related to bills.

Kamath said she moved to Federal Way in 2022, and she chose the location because there is a lot of good nature in the area, and she thought she and Toby could explore that together. Because she lives in King County, she said she is going to follow the model of other similar nonprofits, so support will be limited to people who are in King and Pierce counties. She hopes that in the future, her nonprofit can grow and have chapters in other cities and maybe even other states.

Kamath said Toby is like her kid. She said when she was getting out of a divorce, she was looking for a way to start a new chapter in her life, so she decided to get a dog. Kamath said she used to live in Colorado, and she got a Toby at a rescue shelter there. Before she had him, he ended up at a shelter in Missouri after living on the streets. She said when she met him, he was laid back and loving, and she connected with his story about how he was abandoned and living in a shelter stressed out. She believes she and Toby were meant to be.

Kamath said she’ll be looking for many ways to fund the nonprofit, such as grants, sponsorships and donations. She will also be looking for ways people can volunteer and help.

“So getting this organization up and running, it’s been sort of therapeutic in a way for me, and maybe having to go through this whole experience over the last year, I think it’s been worth it because now this is what’s coming out of it,” Kamath said. “Not a lot of pain or anxiety, but actually something really cool and helpful. And I hope it’s really special and successful.”

Those interested in connecting with Suman Kamath can email her at Toby.hope4caninecancercare@gmail.com or visit her Facebook.