Because of this, we wanted to call attention to the fact that it's not just humans who need blood transfusions. Every day someone's pet is in need of life-giving blood as well.
We here in the midwest USA are very proud of the University of Missouri's College of Veterinary Medicine for inaugurating a pet blood donor program called Pets Saving Pets.If you're interested to learn more about how they're helping save the lives of their fellow dogs and cats, you can follow them on their facebook page.
We learned about this through Squashies' blog when she fell critically ill. Because she had a rare blood type, her local vet in Baltimore was at a loss to help her.
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| hero kitty, Keeter |
Keeter's blood dramatically improved Squashies' condition and enabled her to begin medical treatment that allowed Squashies and her human to share several more precious weeks together.
And there's more good news: MU's College of Veterinary Medicine isn't the only blood bank in the US by a long shot. There are pet blood banks at several veterinary colleges throughout the US.
Animal blood banks can also be found worldwide, in nations such as Canada, Australia, South Africa and the UK as well.
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| Just some of the animal blood banks, worldwide |
There is even an Animal Blood Registry available for pet owners in the U.S. where you can register your own pet as a potential donor, and possibly give the gift of a life-saving transfusion for someone's beloved pet.
It's a way to help animals in need that's not often discussed - but it's something you might consider asking your local vet about if you think your pet might be a good candidate for donation. Who knows? Your pet's blood donation may be just what a veterinary surgeon needs to be able to perform that critical procedure that saves the life of a beloved family member.
