Not all heroes wear capes.
Some have fur.
‘Tis the season of giving, and there’s alwasy a need for blood — including dog and cat blood, which a Surrey veterinary hospital is encouraging pet guardians throughout the Lower Mainland to consider.
While many humans donate their own blood whenever possible, they might not realize that their pets may one day, need the same, noted Boundary Bay Veterinary Specialty Hospital veterinarian Dr. Sheila Hoe.
As a specialist hospital, they often have a lot of cases, or clients, who require blood during a surgery, Hoe said.
“Just like the human hospitals where if there are trauma patients, (BBVSH) gets trauma patients as well … like (if a pet is) hit by a car. If they do need surgery and there’s bleeding, then we perform the transfusion like in humans,” she said, adding the blood may be needed due to illness or routine surgery as well.
BBVSH started the pet blood bank/blood donation in 2018 because they noticed the need within the local community.
Dogs and cats — like humans — also have different blood types, so having a variety of furry blood donors really helps the veterinary hospital when they receive trauma clients who require blood.
These donors — affectionately known as Heroes with Fur — play a vital role in emergency care, said Hoe.
Her colleague, Dr. Tiffany Jagodich, agreed.
“Blood transfusions can mean the difference between life and death,” said Jagodich. “We’re deeply grateful to our donors and their families. Their generosity truly saves lives.”
BBVSH is encouraging all pet owners to see if their pets could qualify to join the Superhero team. Eligible dogs and cats who meet the criteria listed on
the hospital’s website — bbvsh.com — can submit an online application for a screening appointment.
As part of their screening, pets will receive a free, full physical examination, free blood typing, a special treat or toy, and, if accepted into the donor program, will be celebrated on BBVSH’s Wall of Heroes — a tribute to the hospital’s furry lifesavers and the families who love them.
The veterinary hospital welcomes all donor applicants, but is especially seeking feline donors this season, as far fewer cats donate compared to dogs.
Hoe said many pet guardians bring their fur babies in regularly to donate, as one donation can save a life, but regular donations make sure that lifesaving blood is already on the shelf when emergencies strike.
The specialty hospital helps pets in the most critical emergencies and traumas from all over the Lower Mainland and B.C.
Hoe noted that the donated blood provides the blood bank with all of the components of blood as well, such as plasma and packed red blood cells, which are used in blood transfusions.
Bonny MacRae, who used to live in the White Rock/South Surrey area but has since moved to Ladner, takes her rescue dog Tux to BBVSH regularly to donate, after her friend had to take some pets there on an emergency basis, and gave her a brochure.
She took Tux for his examination and as it turned out, he was a good candidate for the blood donation program. He donated three times before he actually helped another dog experiencing an emergency, MacRae recalled.
“Towards the end of October they called me right before Halloween … they said, ‘Bonny, we’ve got an emergency. Is there any way you could get Tux in here today?’ And I said, ‘Oh, absolutely.’ So I did,” MacRae said. “I just think it certainly doesn’t harm the dog. And they they examine them head to foot, so you know your dog’s in good health.”
MacRae said she encourages all dog — and cat — owners to bring their pets in to help build the emergency veterinary hospital’s blood bank.
“Because you never know when it’s going to be your pet in that position.”
Cat and dog donors of every type are welcome to come and see if they’re suitable candidates, Hoe said, and emphasized how much the donations are needed, and how thankful they are for them.
“We do appreciate it. Very much. We’re so thankful for every donor,” Hoe said. “We want the best for our clients and for our patients, no matter what.”
To apply, visit bbvsh.com/about/blood-donation/