Brennen was attempting to keep Marley away from the park squirrels but got tangled up in the process. The blood banks ship blood and blood products to clinics around the country, often on a moment's notice, so doctors can perform emergency surgery when Spot's been hit by a car or Felix needs a kidney transplant. The Animal Blood Bank in Dixon, Calif., the country's largest animal blood supplier, ships between 1,600 and 2,000 units a month to 3,000 clinics throughout the United States and Canada. We just can't keep up. Only about five per cent of dogs meet donor criteria, Kaufman said, and animals must have vaccinations and be screened for diseases and blood disorders.
Large dogs make the best donors.
A German shepherd, for instance, can more easily part with a pint of blood than a poodle. Demand for blood has skyrocketed in the last year as clinics perform more and more procedures. They want to do whatever is best for their family member. Her clinic, like many others, calls on animal donors anytime there's an emergency need for blood. They have even performed bird and ferret transfusions.