You’ve just left on a trip and your dog is in the back of his dog crate. You stop in a parking lot and open the back hatch where your dog is. He gets out of his dog crate, jumps out of the car and gets hit by another car as he’s running across the street. You call your the nearest animal hospital who dispatches help immediately. Your dog is injured but is awake and seems to be alert. He is bleeding from his leg. At the animal hospital your vet says that your dog will be OK but he needs blood. Where does the new blood come from? Beth Davidow of the Animal Critical Care and Blood Bank in Seattle says that most of it comes from healthy pets whose owners get them involved as community blood donors. She says that many pet owners are committed to making sure that another animal in need has blood if they need it. To become a donor, a dog must be free of diseases, not on any medication and is willing to lie still for treats while it’s blood is drawn. Cats can donate to, but must be anesthetized. If you want your vet to extend a helping paw to another animal in need, you can ask your vet to help you find a program in your area.

Remember, your pets count!

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