To mark World Blood Donor Day yesterday (June 14), a pet owner appealed to other dog lovers to allow their animals to donate blood to help other pets in need.

Romeo, a Natures Menu sponsored Staffordshire Bull Terrier aged 5 from Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, has been giving his blood for the past three years to help dogs dealing with life-endangering illnesses or injuries.

Much like human blood donation, every three months, Romeo makes a visit to the Royal Veterinary College to donate a pint of his own blood and has helped to save 22 dogs in desperate need of a blood transfusion, over the past three years.

Not only does Romeo help fellow furry friends, he is also used a ‘pets as therapy’ dog, providing comfort and affection for patients in hospital, and dementia sufferers in care homes and has won a prestigious Blue Cross Medal for his amazing work. 

Steph Hartley, Romeo’s owner, said: “Romeo really is a super dog. He’s always been very in touch with his emotions and as part of this was a very picky eater as a puppy.

"However, since eating a raw diet on Natures Menu, he is always full of lots of energy, and is free of the skin allergies he kept on suffering from. He can’t get enough of the stuff! He now has a balanced and nutritional diet in order to lead a healthy lifestyle and so can help others out in the process.”

Romeo’s owner, Steph, has been a human blood donor for a number of years, but it wasn’t until a family member’s dog became ill with cancer, and required a blood transfusion, that she found out about pet blood donation.

 
“Pet blood donation is much like human donation, Romeo arrives at the Veterinary College and is given a check-up from the vet before a small bit of blood is taken from his back leg to check his iron levels. Once he’s given the go ahead, he jumps up onto the table ready to donate. Unlike most dogs, who lie down on their side, Romeo actually stays sat up whilst he donates and enjoys trying to give the vets a lick whilst he does so! Once it’s over he gets a big bowl of food and lots of attention. He loves his donations and gets more excited each time we go. 

“Ever since he was a puppy he has had a natural way with people and could become extremely calm around the ill or elderly. As a qualified ‘Pets as Therapy’ dog, he has made such a difference to the lives of so many humans, it just made sense for him to help out a few dogs too.

“I’d encourage anyone who is thinking about blood donation themselves this World Blood Donor Day to do the same for their dog too, it could really make such a massive difference.”

For dog owners wanting to find out more about their dog donating blood, visit the Royal Veterinary College website: www.rvc.ac.uk

For more information on Natures Menu visit www.naturesmenu.co.uk