DOGS whose life-saving blood donations help thousands of seriously injured pets in need are being celebrated this week.

The Kennel Club and The Kennel Club Charitable Trust are celebrating dogs who donate blood and hope to raise awareness about the importance of canine blood donations.

Now, the organisation is calling on dogs and their owners across Hampshire to sign up and donate.

As veterinary medicine advances and new treatments are discovered, the demand for blood continues to grow.

Like people, sick and injured pets need blood transfusions; these are equally important for veterinary professionals fighting to save pets lives as human donations are for doctors.

Donated blood is used in regular surgeries as well as in emergency situations, and in many cases can be lifesaving for dogs and cats across the UK.

Nine-year-old rescue Greyhound Ringo is a retired dog blood donor living with his owner Sarah Candy, former finalist of The Kennel Club Friends for Life competition.

Ringo is an ex-racing Greyhound and used to be a regular blood donor at the Royal Veterinary College in Hertfordshire.

Ringo used to donate every eight weeks for many years, keeping up with his donations even through the pandemic, before he retired last year as he reached the maximum age for donating.

Sarah,who adopted Ringo from the Greyhound Trust, said: “I think it is very important people learn more about dog blood donations and why they matter.

"Dogs fall ill just like us humans do, and they need transfusions. For many people dogs are more than pets, they are members of the family, and they deserve to be looked after and cared for just like humans do.”

The Kennel Club Charitable Trust supports dog health, welfare and rescue organisations as well as research projects into canine diseases aiming to improve dog health for generations to come.

Many dogs taken into care by rescue organisations supported by The Kennel Club Charitable Trust are often in need of urgent veterinary care and rely on blood transfusions when undergoing surgery.

The charity also supports veterinary organisations and has in the past supported PDSA, which provides urgent veterinary care for all pets in the UK.

“Dog blood donations are crucial in saving the lives of much-loved pets every day,” said Reverend Bill King, Chairman of The Kennel Club Charitable Trust.

"We hope that this World Donor Day will raise awareness of these hero dog donors, and encourages owners to think about ways their own dog can get involved and be a life-saver.

“Stories like these show that dogs from all walks of life can become regular blood donors and save lives of dozens of dogs and even cats."

For more information about the trust and ways to donate, please visit: thekennelclub.org.uk/kcct