DOGS, whose lifesaving blood donations are helping thousands of critically injured pets in need, are celebrated this week.
The Kennel Club and Kennel Club Charitable Trust celebrate dogs that donate blood in the hope of raising awareness of the importance of dog blood donation.
Now the organization is calling on dogs and their owners across Hampshire to sign up and donate.
As veterinary medicine advances and new treatments are discovered, the need for blood continues to grow.
Like humans, pets that are sick and injured need blood transfusions; These are just as important to veterinarians fighting to save pets as human donations are to doctors.
Donated blood is used in regular surgeries as well as emergency situations and in many cases can be lifesaving for dogs and cats across the UK.
Nine-year-old rescue greyhound Ringo is a retired dog blood donor who lives with owner Sarah Candy, the former Kennel Club Friends for Life finalist.
Ringo is a retired racing greyhound who used to be a regular blood donor at the Royal Veterinary College in Hertfordshire.
Ringo donated every eight weeks for many years and kept pace with donations throughout the pandemic before retiring last year when he reached the maximum age for donations.
Sarah, who adopted Ringo from the Greyhound Trust, said, “I think it’s very important that people learn more about dog blood donation and why it matters.
“Dogs get sick just like us humans and need transfusions. For many people, dogs are more than just pets, they are family members and deserve to be looked after and cared for just like humans. ”
The Kennel Club Charitable Trust supports dog health, welfare and rescue organizations and dog disease research projects with the aim of improving dog health for generations to come.
Many dogs taken into care by rescue organizations supported by the Kennel Club Charitable Trust often need urgent veterinary care and rely on blood transfusions for surgery.
The charity also supports veterinary organizations and has a history of supporting PDSA which provides urgent veterinary care for all pets in the UK.
“Dog blood donation is critical to saving the lives of beloved pets every day,” said Reverend Bill King, chairman of the Kennel Club Charitable Trust.
“We hope this World Donor Day will raise awareness about these hero dog donors and encourage owners to think about how their own dog can get involved and be a lifesaver.
“Stories like this show that dogs from all walks of life become regular blood donors and can save the lives of dozens of dogs and even cats.”
For more information about the trust and donation opportunities, visit: thekennelclub.org.uk/kcct