On January 27, 10AM-2PM, Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG) in Newton will host a free blood bank screening drive for eligible pets at 165 Needham Street. Pets that meet the set criteria for screening will also receive a complimentary physical exam, some treats and toys, and a chance to enter a raffle for two $50 PetSmart gift cards.
The VEG Blood Bank program spans five hospitals across five states and aims to alleviate the severe shortage of canine blood our local pets often face in emergencies. Canine blood supplies are alarmingly low, and VEG is calling on local dog owners to become true heroes by donating blood to help save lives in their community.
The screening process to become a donor requires dogs to sit still for approximately 5- 10 minutes while blood is drawn. Once a dog is approved to donate to the VEG Blood Bank, they will be eligible to donate blood to help dogs in their local community. The entire donation process from when a pet parent walks into VEG Newton with their dog to the post-donation process will take an estimated 45 minutes.
VEG Blood Bank donations will treat injuries/traumas, surgeries, diseases/disorders (anemia), blood cell damage, internal bleeding, and immune-mediated diseases. Interested pet parents may email jessiebrown@veg.vet.
