Superhero pets: RVC names 'Pet Blood Donors of the Year'

The RVC’s registered charity, the RVC Animal Care Trust, has awarded the families of one canine and two feline blood donor a ‘Blood Donor of the Year’ award in recognition of their generosity and participation in its life saving programme.

Each year, those involved in the blood donor programme save and treat hundreds of other pets by donating their blood to be used in operations and procedures at the RVC Queen Mother Hospital for Animals. The RVC Animal Care Trust fund both vital equipment and research to support the RVC Blood Donor service.

The feline Blood Donor of the Year is awarded to Paul Downey from Hatfield in Hertfordshire and his two cats Gru and Mitzi. These seven-year-old domestic shorthairs have been donating since 2016. Since then, Gru has donated eight times and Mitzi six times, collectively helping as many as 28 cats receive treatment.

Both cats have Type B blood, a rare blood type only found in 20 per cent of cats. Due to the difficulty finding Type B donors, cats with this blood type who will need a transfusion during treatment are referred to the RVC. Having cats like Gru and Mitzi as participants in the blood donor programme is particularly useful as they remain on call to donate as needed.

Paul, owner and recipient of the Feline Donor of the Year award, said: “We had a cat a few years ago who came to the RVC for cancer treatment. Until then, we had no idea about pet blood donors and how vital they are for treating sick pets. Initially, our dog Gizmo became a donor – and then the staff were so friendly and fantastic with him that we started to bring our cats too! As well as doing something good, our cats get a healthcheck every time they donate so that’s very reassuring”

The canine Blood Donor of the Year is Oliver, an eight-year-old Lurcher who belongs to Jeffrey Kenyon from Chipping near Buntingford in Hertfordshire. Oliver has donated 18 units of blood since he joined in 2018, helping at least 36 dogs in addition to several cats.

Jeffrey Kenyon owner of Oliver and recipient of the Canine Donor of the Year award, said: “We had a seriously ill German Shepherd called Saffron who was admitted to RVC Queen Mother Hospital. We saw the request for new pet blood donors on the screen in reception area and decided there and then we would apply for our other dog – Oliver to donate.

Oliver is short for ‘Oliver Twist’ as we acquired him from a local vet. He was a rescue dog – found tied up and abandoned and was severely malnourished. He had an insatiable appetite and always ‘asked for more’ hence his name. Oliver went in for an eligibility and health assessment and was so good with the nurses that they decided to take a blood donation there and then. We are delighted he has been given this award”.

Since its conception in 2005, thanks to the brave feline and canine donors, the RVC’s blood donor programme has helped save hundreds of critically ill animals, with 684 transfusions in the last year. Feline blood product transfusions hit an annual record number with 135 feline transfusions in the last 12 months and the team have also conducted 549 canine blood product transfusions and 55 xenotransfusions (canine blood being given to cats in emergencies).

The generosity of all blood donor families allows the RVC’s animal hospitals to continue accessing the essential blood needed to perform a wide range of complex and life-saving operations and treatments that take place at the RVC every day.

Charlotte Russo, Head of Transfusion Medicine Nurse at the RVC, explained: “Our voluntary donation programme is totally reliant on the goodwill of local pet owners who bring their pets to donate blood. All donors are given health checks prior to donating and receive a full blood screening annually free of charge. All donors are also gifted a special blood donor tag in recognition of their support and receive a special gift when they retire”

The RVC blood transfusion team is always looking for more dogs and cats to begin donating and saving lives through the programme. If you think your pet could be an RVC superhero, please contact the RVC Blood Donor team for further information: https://www.rvc.ac.uk/pet-blood-donations