A push to establish a local emergency blood bank for dogs in the Northern Rivers is underway.
After losing her beloved family dog, an eight-year-old Kelpie named Boots, after a snake bite a few months ago, local dog lover, dog nutritionist and business owner, Donna Lorenz, got motivated ‘so others don’t find themselves in the same frustrating and heartbreaking life and death situation’.
She told The Echo that after Boots presented to the vet with apparent internal bleeding from an unknown cause, ‘We were told he needed a blood transfusion immediately – a significant cost – or we should euthanaise him’.
‘There was no guarantee he would make it through the proposed operation, but without it he would surely die.
‘We had pet insurance, and were willing to give it a try, but the problem was that there was no blood available to do it. Our only option was to drive him to the Gold Coast, and unfortunately he passed away in the car enroute’, says Lorenz.
‘Once we got through the initial shock and grief, I knew I had to do something to solve this issue. It’s unacceptable. We have to try.’
Legacy
She says with support from local vets and the leader of the dog blood bank on the Gold Coast, she is in the process of establishing a not-for-profit, and has named it the 4Boots Emergency Blood Bank for Dogs.
‘This will be his legacy. We want our grief to turn into something good. 4Boots will help dogs, dog lovers and vets who all suffer in these heartbreaking situations.
‘We will be engaging with local vets and dog lovers to ensure we serve all those impacted.’
‘There is still much to finalise in terms of logistics, however so far, we have an in principle agreement from the Gold Coast Blood Bank for advice and to process donated blood at their facility. This processing extends the life span of the blood from ten days to six weeks’.
To help with the initiative, visit www.gofundme.com/f/4-boots-emergency-blood-bank-for-dogs.
