There are a few dogs and cats who have found a very special place in this world as resident blood donors. It’s a place they may not have chosen on their own, but considering their options, it’s the best place they could be. Resident donors regularly save the lives of the pets we so dearly love, and are quiet, anonymous heroes. They more than deserve a place in all our hearts and hopefully, a few of our homes.
There are only a handful of animal blood banks in the U.S., and they serve veterinary clinics all over the country. As with human blood, it’s always in short supply, and donors are often hard to come by. Dogs and cats can donate blood, and some do. But there isn’t much awareness of the need, and it’s something most pet owners may not even think about until the day their own pet needs a transfusion.
A few devoted and caring people have developed an on-going solution to the problem – blood banks with resident cats and/or dogs that give blood on a regular basis. The resident donors at these facilities are rescued from local animal shelters. They are healthy adult cats and dogs who have been abandoned, or have been relinquished by former owners for whatever reason. Sadly, they are unwanted, and would otherwise be put to sleep.
Continued: Resident Donors Get a Place to Live and People to Love Them