Cornell spotlights donor behind $500,000 for canine cancer research
Bottom line
Cornell’s Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center is spotlighting longtime donor and fundraiser Tom Fiumarello, whose annual Clays for K9 Cancer benefit shoot has raised well over $500,000 for canine cancer research after the diagnosis and death of his Brittany hunting dog, Meg. The profile underscores how individual philanthropy is helping sustain Cornell’s canine oncology work and broader Riney Canine Health Center mission, which was launched in 2021 to support research, outreach, and engagement around canine health. Cornell has also tied donations from the Clays for K9 Cancer Research Benefit to recent oncology-related equipment investments at the Cornell University Hospital for Animals. (vet.cornell.edu)
Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the story is a reminder that donor-funded programs can directly shape oncology capacity, from research grants to clinical technology and client support. Cornell says the Riney Canine Health Center supports a network of more than 50 researchers across six academic departments, while recent hospital upgrades included a new linear accelerator and photon-counting CT scanner that Cornell says will strengthen cancer treatment, staging, training, and translational research. (vet.cornell.edu)
What to watch: Watch for whether Cornell links future Clays for K9 Cancer fundraising to specific canine oncology studies, clinical trials, or additional treatment-access initiatives. (vet.cornell.edu)
Cornell’s Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center has put a spotlight on donor Tom Fiumarello, whose grassroots fundraising for canine cancer research has now topped $500,000, according to the center’s profile. The recognition is more than a feel-good donor story: it highlights how philanthropy tied to a single pet’s cancer journey can become a meaningful source of support for veterinary oncology research and infrastructure. (vet.cornell.edu)
The background stretches back several years. In a 2022 Cornell CVM feature, Fiumarello described how repeated cancer diagnoses in his Brittany dog, Meg, pushed him to seek specialty care through Cornell and to start building support for canine cancer research. That earlier report said his Clays for K9 Cancer event had already raised tens of thousands of dollars and was motivated in part by what he saw as a gap between available human and canine cancer options. (vet.cornell.edu)
The newer Riney Canine Health Center spotlight suggests that effort has grown substantially, with total fundraising now well above the half-million-dollar mark. That matters in the context of Cornell’s canine health strategy. The Riney Canine Health Center says it was established with support from the Riney Family Foundation in 2021 and operates as a cross-college network focused on research, outreach, and engagement. Cornell says the center now connects more than 50 researchers across six academic departments, alongside the Baker Institute for Animal Health, two veterinary medical centers, and the Animal Health Diagnostic Center. (vet.cornell.edu)
There’s also evidence that this fundraising is feeding tangible clinical and research capacity. In May 2025, Cornell said donations from the Clays for K9 Cancer Research Benefit helped support major oncology-related equipment upgrades at the Cornell University Hospital for Animals, including a Varian Edge linear accelerator and a Siemens Naeotom Alpha photon-counting CT scanner. Cornell said the CT system is the first installed in veterinary medicine and that the equipment will support cancer diagnosis, staging, radiation planning, clinical care, teaching, and retrospective research. (vet.cornell.edu)
Cornell’s own oncology and imaging leaders have framed those investments as clinically important. In the 2025 equipment announcement, imaging specialist Dr. Ian Porter said CT is integral to case management for cancer patients, including surgical and radiation planning and staging for tumor spread, while associate research professor Parminder Basran said the new tools open more opportunities for research and collaboration. Riney Canine Health Center leaders also emphasized that fundraising helps support technology intended to improve dogs’ long-term health outcomes. (vet.cornell.edu)
Industry-wide, the story fits a broader pattern in academic veterinary medicine: philanthropy is increasingly being used not just for basic research, but also for treatment support and advanced oncology access. Cornell’s 2025 announcement of a new $100,000 Petco Love investment for cancer treatment assistance shows a parallel effort on the patient-support side, with funds designated to help pet parents afford chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. Together, those efforts suggest institutions are building layered funding models that combine donor storytelling, research support, and direct care assistance. (vet.cornell.edu)
Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this is a useful case study in how client and community philanthropy can shape oncology services well beyond a single memorial fund. Support can flow into comparative oncology research, equipment acquisition, resident training, and access-to-care programs, all of which affect referral pathways and treatment options available to pet parents. It also shows how academic centers are translating donor engagement into visible clinical assets that can strengthen both care delivery and research competitiveness. (vet.cornell.edu)
What to watch: The next signal will be whether Cornell publicly ties future Clays for K9 Cancer proceeds to named research projects, clinical trials, or expanded treatment-support programs, which would give a clearer read on how donor-driven oncology funding is being operationalized. (vet.cornell.edu)