The Red Cross is appealing for more people to register their dogs to donate blood, as the demand for canine blood grows.
Two year old Oscar donated for the first time a few weeks ago and has already helped save the lives of other dogs which desperately need transfusions.
"Oscar is a bit of a hero, he's done a noble thing" says Dr Lisa Chimes, an emergency and critical care veterinarian at the Small Animal Specialist Hospital (SASH) in Ryde.
The hospital is one of many in New South Wales that must source a blood supply itself, as there are no longer any commercial canine blood banks in Sydney. It is working with the Red Cross in a campaign to encourage people to giove blood, as well as their dogs.
"Dogs can donate every three months, it takes ten minutes and is very quick and easy. Afterwards they get given a free bag of food, a few treats, a blood bank collar and their name up on the wall of fame.
"The least we can do is give them some presents," says Dr Chimes.
Donations can be made by healthy dogs aged 2 to 7, weighing more than 15 kilograms and who are able to lie still for five to ten minutes.
Cat owners can also help by adding their feline's name to SASH's emergency register. Cat blood is not stored, but owners are called at the time of emergency for a donation.
The Red Cross is still desperate for human donors, especially with increasing cancellations due to cold and flu season. To book your human donation appointment visit http://www.donateblood.com.au/ and for dogs, http://www.sashvets.com/.
