'Dogs give back to the community': Blood bank for animals has donation clinic near Calgary

LISTEN | How a dog blood donation clinic works:

Calgary Eyeopener7:50Dog blood clinics

A bunch of dogs are set to donate blood at a local clinic today. We hear why they're donating.

Blood transfusions aren't only for people sometimes animals need them, too.

It's why the Canadian Animal Blood Bank is ramping up its dog blood donation clinics in the Calgary area.

On Thursday, the organization is holdinga fully booked clinic on the Tsuut'inaNation.

Laurie Dyrgas, theCanadian Animal Blood Bank's Calgary regional unit manager, is anticipating a busy day.

"People are quite excited to have their dogs give back to the community," Dyrgas told CBC Radio's the Calgary Eyeopener on Thursday.

"[The dogs] are generally quite happy. We sometimes get a little wiggles going on the table because these are large, large breed dogs and they're not used to being up on tables."

She says Alberta has the second highest demand, right behind Ontario, for dog blood. These blood transfusions can be used for cancer therapy, to treattoxicity and viruses, and also might be needed for supporting certainsurgeries or trauma.

Doggie donors are rewarded with lots of belly rubs, chin scratches and treats.