'Relaxed' Northampton dog sleeps through his 40th blood donation

A calm dog has drifted off to sleep and snored peacefully during his 40th and last appointment as a blood donor.

Sharwood is the very first dog to have completed an "amazing" 40 blood donations for Pet Blood UK, as reported by the organization.

Sue Mitchell, the owner, expressed her joy at the Gordon setter reaching a significant milestone during a donor session in Northampton.

The blood will be prepared and kept on hand to be delivered to veterinarians for important medical treatments.

Sharwood's blood has helped 160 dogs stay alive, as reported by the organization. The charity stops using donors once they turn eight years old.

The organization was established in 2007, after a new law allowed for the gathering and preservation of blood from animals.

Nicole Osborne, who is in charge of marketing, stated: "Since that time, we have witnessed thousands of dogs and contributors annually, and Sharwood is the first one to have accomplished 40 donations, which is truly amazing."

“He is generally a laid-back dog,” stated veterinary nurse Zoe Lord, who was in charge of collecting the sample.

Ms. Mitchell mentioned that he was a well-trained dog who was used to being groomed and handled. During the first session, he fell asleep and started snoring, just like he did during his last session.

Before donating blood, the dogs undergo a medical examination by a veterinarian to ensure they are in good health. If they pass the check-up, they are brought into the donation room where they give 450ml (equivalent to 15 fluid ounces) of blood.

Ms. Osborne mentioned that they receive a generous amount of encouragement throughout each phase.

She explained that when our repeat dog visitors arrive, they enter eagerly through the door knowing they will receive plenty of treats and affection.

Similar to people, dogs also have different blood types, both positive and negative. Negative blood donors are especially sought after because they can donate to any dog in need.

Donors need to be over 25kg (55lb), in good health, between one and eight years old, and have a bold personality.

The charity presented Sharwood with a special gold medal that was engraved to commemorate his last donation session.

Ms. Mitchell, whose other dogs have previously donated blood, stated that "it's all about aiding the community and other canine companions."

"If your dog is well-behaved and you can commit to attending the classes, it's definitely worth it," she mentioned.

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