EDMONTON- There’s a constant need for blood donation in Alberta, but it’s not just human blood that’s needed. There’s a chronic shortage of canine blood supplies in our province.
“Dogs have a lot more diseases that they’re likely going to need blood as a transfusion. It’s for multiple anemic kind of diseases, we use it for surgeries, cancer treatments, that sort of thing,” explained Shauna Lesick, an instructor in NAIT’s Animal Health Technology program.
Friday morning, NAIT’s Animal Blood Bank received donations from the Edmonton Police Service’s Canine Unit. Three police service dogs each donated one unit of blood.
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“It’s something that we can do to give back to the other dogs that may need blood and as well in turn, we might some day require blood to be donated for our dogs. So, it’s just something that we can do as a community,” said Constable Ryan Busby, of the EPS Canine Unit.
“Our goal is to show some leadership and raise awareness in the community, and hopefully other dog owners will step forward as well,” added Constable Murray Burke, of the EPS Canine Unit.
“We are grateful for the support of the Edmonton Police Service,” said Lesick, “Every donation we receive helps save the lives of two other dogs.”
NAIT is the only satellite collection site in Alberta for the Winnipeg-based Canadian Animal Blood Bank, which provides blood products for dogs in need of transfusions. The institute provides approximately 25 per cent of Canada’s canine blood supply.
In order to donate, dogs must be between the ages of one and eight, be healthy, weigh more than 23 kilograms and have their current vaccinations. Dogs accepted into the program are asked to donate every three months.
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