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How a brave pooch saved another dog's life

A brave pooch has saved the life of another dog by donating his blood.

Dalmatian Hugo was on paw to help border collie Ralphie after he became sick.

Hugo began helping other dogs after he himself had to recover from a life-threatening condition.

Hugo’s owner, veterinary nurse Pamela Buckley, who works at Ian McConnell Vets in Mossley, heard about the pet blood donor scheme at work and she thought her beloved Dalmatian was the perfect candidate to take part.

Friendly Hugo hadn’t had the best start in life and Pamela wanted her now healthy dog to be able to help other canines who were once as poorly as he was.

Pamela, from Godley, Hyde, said: “Hugo is three years old and came to the practice when he was ten months old, extremely sick and underweight, weighing only 10kg.

“Sadly he had been starved and mistreated for some time.

“I was working over the weekend caring for him as at Ian McConnell’s vets we provide 24 hour round the clock care, seven days a week.

“I remember coming to work and peering through the kennel at him on a drip. He was just laying there so poorly, we didn’t think he would pull through. However he’s a strong boy and I fell in love with him, as did my husband and children after hearing so much about him over the weekend, so I took him home once he was strong enough. 

“He’s now 27.5kg, fit and healthy and a real character, but does like to steal any food left lying around, often eating things he shouldn’t such as a Christmas pudding on Boxing Day!”


BLOOD TRANSFUSION: Border collie Ralphie.

Pamela, who works at the surgery in the old library building facing the market ground in top Mossley, added: “When we joined up to the blood bank, to enable us to help pets in need of blood transfusions, I saw it as an opportunity for Hugo to help dogs in desperate need of life-saving blood. 

“It is his way of helping other dogs who are as sick as he once was. This is a life-saving opportunity for Hugo to help other dogs pull through. 

“On the day of the transfusion I was called into work at 22.35pm on Sunday for him to donate 500ml of blood to help save the life of dog in need.

“Hugo thought it was a very exciting trip out to the vets and couldn’t understand why we needed him to sit very still, so a little sedation was given. 

“The transfusion was carried out by our emergency out of hours team.  

“The blood was taken via one needle to the jugular vein and the sedation was reversed after ten minutes.

“He was up and about and wagging his tail and eating us out of treats within a few minutes as if nothing had happened. 

“He was very tired for 48 hours afterwards and slept a lot, but soon returned to his cheeky self.”

Ralphie’s owner Kimberley Bell, who lives in Alt, said: “We are extremely grateful to Hugo for giving blood and to Pamela as an owner for doing such an amazing thing. Thank you.

“Ralphie has auto-immune hemolytic anemia (he was killing his own red blood cells) and was at death’s door.

“We thought we were going to lose him. He is now looking and feeling much better, but is on a lot of medication to suppress his immune system.” 

Kimberley’s other dog, Bonnie (pictured below), also attended the surgery to give blood as Ralphie needed a second transfusion. 

Pamela said dogs are able to give blood twice a year. They have to weigh a minimum of 25kg in order to safely donate and be fit and healthy. A donor list is held at the practice for anyone wishing their pet to take part.

 

Main image:

LIFE-SAVERS: Pamela and her pet pooch Hugo.

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