From Grief to Giving: An Interview With Toby’s Hope for Canine Cancer Founder Suman Kamath

From Grief to Giving: An Interview With Toby’s Hope for Canine Cancer Founder Suman Kamath
By Michelle Nichols, MS, HonCAHP, CGRS | Animal Hospice Coach, Grief Educator, and AHELP Founder
- With - Suman Kamath | Founder and President of Toby’s Hope for Canine Cancer

When a pet parent hears the words “your dog has cancer,” the world tilts.

As an animal hospice coach and advocate for pet caregiver support, I’ve witnessed how the emotional, physical, and financial demands of caregiving can overwhelm even the most devoted families. For Suman Kamath, founder of Toby’s Hope for Canine Cancer, that journey began with her beloved hound mix, Toby.

In this exclusive Giving Tuesday 2025 interview, Suman shares how caring for Toby through canine lymphoma transformed her grief into a nationwide mission to ensure that no caregiver walks this road alone. She opens up about the power of community, the need for pet bereavement leave, and how acknowledging disenfranchised grief can bring healing to families who love—and lose—deeply.

Through Suman’s 501c(3) nonprofit organization, Toby’s Hope for Canine Cancer, she’s building the compassionate network she once wished for herself: one that offers emotional connection, financial assistance, and genuine understanding for families facing pet cancer.

Suman and I jumped on a video call to reconnect face-to-face for the first time since their last fundraiser at Old Stove Brewing Company—which was also the last time I saw Toby. 🐾💕👣🌈

Michelle:

It’s been a few weeks since you shared the heartbreaking news about Toby’s passing, both on LinkedIn and with your community. How have you truly been feeling, and has being so open with your grief helped or brought any comfort?

Suman: Honestly, it’s been a strange, surreal, and emotional time. Writing about Toby’s passing—almost like an obituary—felt like pouring my heart onto the page. Toby touched so many lives with his gentle spirit, and I felt a deep responsibility to make sure people knew what had happened, to honor him. When I posted on LinkedIn, it was in the thick of my grief, and balancing being Toby's caregiver and a full-time employee, all while managing life, was overwhelming.

Michelle:

I often encourage animal caregivers to reach out to trusted others in their community for support because you never know where they could show up. How has your work community supported you during this time?

Suman: Absolutely—I've been overwhelmed by how supportive colleagues at work have been. I put Toby’s story in our pets Slack channel, and the conversation that unfolded opened so many eyes, including my own, to how much our pets mean to us.

I had shared his life with others and then his death, so it followed that I also shared how I asked directly about bereavement policy changes. So many of my co-workers said, “I had no idea it wasn’t already a thing, and yes, it matters.” It’s sparked a new purpose in me, something good out of grief. I want to help ensure no one has to take a “vacation” to mourn the loss of a soul as close as any family member. That, to me, seems so small a thing for workplaces to do—and so healing for so many.

Michelle:

Where else have you found strength or support during this intense time?

Suman: I can’t overstate how much my friends and family have meant to me. Simple acts—dropping off a meal, sending a card, checking on me—left a huge impact. Even Toby’s longtime veterinarian reached out with a loving card, even though they hadn’t seen us since his diagnosis. It meant the world to feel, tangibly, how others cared. My faith has also been a lifeline. Getting involved in Bible study and prayer groups, connecting with people who could sit with me in my grief, made me feel less alone. It all taught me to accept help, to see that people want to show up for you—even when you’re at your lowest.

Michelle:

Can you share what Toby’s final weeks were like and how you made the most of your time together?

Suman: Those final weeks with Toby were deeply emotional but so precious. He stopped eating, had frequent bouts of illness, and I dropped everything to be with him—I turned down invitations, skipped events, and prioritized nothing but his comfort. Every day, I asked myself, “What would make Toby happiest?” And I really tried to give him that. Looking back, I am at peace with how we spent that time. I feel no regrets—just gratitude that I could be present and make sure Toby’s last days were filled with love, not clinics and needles. I wouldn’t trade that time for anything.

Michelle:

How did you approach treatment decisions toward the end?

Suman: It was tough, especially because you want to do everything possible for someone you love. We tried one final chemotherapy session, but it brought back the exhaustion of his earlier treatments, and I could see how much he hated the vet. I knew forcing him through more would not be for him—it would just be for me. So, I let go of the urge to prolong things at any cost and focused on keeping him comfortable and happy. I had to trust that love sometimes means letting go.

Michelle:

What was it like searching for resources and support as a pet caregiver facing something this difficult?

Suman: It was lonely and overwhelming. I turned to Google, desperate for answers, and got lost in a web of hard-to-understand, clinical information. There was nowhere to turn for simple, honest guidance on what to do next—just a flood of stories about loss or grief after the fact. Support groups, when I could find them, were focused on those who had just lost a pet, not anticipatory grief, which left me feeling isolated and unseen.

I came to wish so strongly for clear, accessible resources—compassionate communities for those still fighting, not just those left grieving.

Michelle:

When you wished for, but didn’t find caregiver support and resources, did that inspire you to build your own support group?

Suman: Yes, absolutely. I saw how badly that space was needed. I reached out to organizations in Seattle and got training as a facilitator, but in-person meetings were tough to fill. So, I started holding weekly Zoom support calls and invited people through a national canine lymphoma Facebook group. Now there’s a real community—people sharing, supporting, checking in from all over the country.

Michelle:

How can veterinary clinics better support families facing a pet cancer diagnosis?

Suman: I’ve seen just how much the level and clarity of support can vary at different clinics. Sometimes it’s a quick, technical explanation, other times it’s visual aids and a lot of compassion. What’s missing is a standard, accessible set of resources—a pamphlet written in plain language, translated for accessibility, that can go home with families.

Practical, written resources, plus clear pathways to pet hospice care, emotional support, and financial help would make all the difference.

Michelle:

What have been the biggest successes and challenges since founding Toby’s Hope?

Suman: One of the biggest successes is seeing how word about Toby’s Hope has spread, primarily through veterinary clinics. Most people find us because their vet recommended us, which means our message is reaching those who need it at the right moment.

We provide emotional support and financial assistance for pet cancer treatment—mainly here in Washington State, which makes it feel very community-oriented. As for challenges, funding is always hard. I’m learning on the job about grants, fundraising, and partnerships.

My dream is for every family who hears “your dog has cancer” to have clear information, pet hospice and comfort care options, and a community to lean on.

Michelle:

What makes Toby’s Hope unique?

Suman: There are wonderful national organizations, like Live Like Roo and Miranda’s People, doing critical work. What sets us apart is our focus on localized, tailored help—especially for Washington families dealing with canine lymphoma, which was Toby’s journey. We keep our grants manageable and our approach highly personal, so it feels like a neighbor helping a neighbor.

Michelle:

What would you say is at the heart of your mission—your “why”?

Suman: My mission is simple: no one should face the heartbreak of a pet’s cancer diagnosis alone or without support.

I want every family to have access to the resources, information, and compassion they need—practical support, empathy, and hope. If I can ease even a fraction of that pain for someone else, and honor Toby’s spirit by doing so, I know I’m on the right path.

Michelle:

How did your journey with Toby inspire broader advocacy for change?

Suman: I felt my grief journey was misunderstood and underappreciated at work. I realized then that many companies don’t have bereavement policies that cover pets. I had to use vacation days, which really didn’t feel right. The past two years, I’ve been a caregiver and an employee, juggling life’s responsibilities—it's been frustrating, so posting has become a new crusade for me to advocate for change.

Michelle:

How can people support Toby’s Hope or get involved?

Suman: We always welcome help—volunteers for social media and events or just spreading the word. If you’re a licensed mental health provider who offers therapy to help people process grief beyond what they can do on their own, I’d love to connect.

Your donations go directly toward keeping our nationwide canine cancer caregiver support group running strong and providing financial grants for families in Washington State whose dogs are fighting lymphoma. Every gift, no matter the size helps a family and gives a dog more good days.

Visit tobyshope.org, send us a message, or come to an event. It takes a village, and every act of support helps more families like mine find hope, comfort, and connection.

🧭 Advocating for Pet Loss Bereavement Leave

Suman’s leadership helps move the world toward improved grief and bereavement support in the workplace. What she’s brought to the forefront is how bereavement leave for pet loss remains largely unrecognized—even as the American Psychiatric Association now acknowledges Prolonged Grief Disorder in the latest Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision, DSM-5-TR).

But even with growing awareness, what she describes is disenfranchised grief—grief that isn’t openly acknowledged, socially mourned, or publicly supported.

We know that pet loss grief can be as intense—or even more so—than human loss, especially for those who live alone or rely on their pets for emotional support. Because pets are family, it’s time for our workplaces and our culture to reflect that truth.

✍️ A Note from Michelle

As I listened to Suman reflect on her journey with Toby, I was reminded of how vital social support is for every pet caregiver—especially when facing anticipatory grief, pet hospice care, and the realities of canine cancer. I was also saddened by how she was forced to deal with disenfranchised grief and was unsupported by her employer regarding pet bereavement leave–and impressed by how she became inspired for that cause.

Her story embodies what we strive for through the AHELP Project: connection, compassion, and the belief that healing begins when caregivers feel seen, supported, and understood. It also struck me how her journey embodied what we teach in AHELP about resilience and striving for purpose. Quite coincidentally, her story resonated in some ways as I experienced through my healing from the guilt following my dog Bunny’s death.

🩷 Giving Tuesday Call to Action

This Giving Tuesday (December 2nd, 2025), all of us at AHELP Project invite you to join us in supporting Toby’s Hope for Canine Cancer. Your donation helps families access lifesaving treatment grants for Washington residents and sustain nationwide caregiver support for dogs living with lymphoma—bringing real hope when it’s needed most.

🐾 Give hope today: Visit tobyshope.org to donate, volunteer, or share their mission. Every act of generosity—no matter the size—helps another dog parent feel less alone and another pooch live with comfort, dignity, and love.

Together, we can bring hope home. 💛

( Blog post banner: Photo courtesy of Toby's Hope, Suman and Toby celebrating Toby's birthday. )