A veterinary hospital northwest of Edmonton is holding a blood donor clinic for dogs to raise awareness about pet blood donation.
The Tudor Glen Vet Hospital in in St. Albert, Alta., is holding the clinic Monday.
Dr. Tammy Wilde, a veterinarian at Tudor Glen, said blood is frequently used at the hospital.
"Actually, we use blood quite often, so there's a big need for it," she told CTV Edmonton.
Lyric, a five-year-old Rottweiler, is regularly called upon to donate blood.
Similar donation clinics are held throughout Manitoba, and the Roncy Village Veterinary Clinic in Toronto also takes blood donations.
In less urgent cases, veterinarians can turn to the Canadian Animal Blood Bank in Winnipeg.
Unknown donation system
Many Canadians are unaware that a blood bank for pets even exists, the bank's laboratory director Beth Knight told CTV Edmonton.
"They don't find out about us, until either their pet or a family pet requires blood, and everybody shakes their head and says 'I can't believe we didn't think pets would need blood too,'" she said.
The animal blood bank also has an office at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in Edmonton, which holds donation clinics three times a month. But, with the Edmonton clinic closed for the summer, the staff at Tudor Glen decided to help out.
Donation clinic organizer Lynn Fontaine said she's pleased to be helping to raise awareness for such an important cause.
"I'm so happy that this is happening, that awareness is getting out there, and that we've gotten such a huge response," she said.
Dogs eligible to donate must weigh at least 50 pounds, be between one to eight years old, have an even temperament and be up-to-date with their vaccinations.
Pet owners interested in having their dogs donate are being asked to call Tudor Glen first.
With a report from CTV Edmonton's Amanda Anderson
