The Pet Blood Bank is wanting to hire more donors to keep essential stocks topped up over the summer season.
The charity is especially eager to register pooches with the rarer negative blood type, which is brought by around 30% of the dog population.
Parkside Vets in Dundee belongs to a UK-wide network of donor areas, with around 20 dogs taking part in each session.
Greyhounds Titan and Claud have actually simply contributed around 450ml each of negative blood.
STV News“I think it’s a great idea,” said co-owner Michele Hall, “If I ever had a dog that had an accident, I’d want there to be blood available for them to help save their lives.”
The dogs are provided an extensive medical examination prior to contribution can consent. Appointments take around 45 minutes, with the real contribution taking simply 10.
“Each dog will save four dogs lives, so that’s incredible,” explained Chelsie Martin, of Pet Blood Bank.
“They really do enjoy their time here. They show and give us consent by just lying there and sleeping and obviously their neck is numb so they don’t feel anything so to them they’re just getting a cuddle on a table.”
STV NewsDogs have either positive or negative blood type. The negative type remains in high need as all dogs can receive it in an emergency situation when there’s no time at all to test for a match.
“There are some sessions that we need to fill more with negative donors depending on what we’ve got stock level wise,” included Ms Martin.
“Negative donors usually include greyhounds, German Shepherds and Dobermans.”
Nicola Jack, who co-owns Titan and Claud, is advising other dog owners to consider their animals for the service.
“When you hear that there’s a donation day near where you are go along and speak to the staff and get your dogs checked out to see if they’re able to give blood because it’s such a great thing to do,” she said.
“It’s not a long procedure and the dogs don’t actually mind it, and they get lots of treats.
“My greyhounds are quite happy to lie there until everything’s done. They’re a very placid breed of dog, they’re just brilliant.”
To end up being a blood donor, dogs should be in between one and 8 years of ages, healthy and fit and weigh more than 25kg.
To learn more go to: www.petbloodbankuk.org
