It was a very exciting day for Barry the Belgian Malanois and his master, Officer Dan Buckley of the Abington Police K-9 unit. Both were the stars of a press conference announcing the nation's first animal bloodmobile at the Veterinary School yesterday. Buckley beamed with pride as Barry became the first animal to give blood. The bloodmobile, which is equipped with a hydraulic-lift examining table, a blood bank, a scale and other equipment used for collecting blood, will travel to various locations within a 50 to 100 mile radius of the Philadelphia area to collect blood for animals. Most of the donors will be dogs, although cats will be able to give blood in the vehicle as well. "There are close to 600 donors [currently] in the program," said Vet School spokesperson Helma Weeks. The idea for the bloodmobile grew out of "a plan for pets to help pets," said Donna Oakley, VHUP head nurse and blood bank coordinator. The bloodmobile is expected to collect three to five units per day at organized blood drives and larger dog kennels. The collected blood will be used primarily in transfusions and operations. Donations will also be used to assist in accumulating research data, particularly in the field of blood typing. VHUP Associate Medicine Professor Urs Giger said there are currently three feline and 13 canine blood types known. He said the program should "definitely [be] a lifesaver for many pets." "Dogs will survive because of this blood," he said. "Without this program, many of them would not have made it." And after donating a pint of blood, Barry darted energetically out of the bloodmobile wearing a red heart sticker on his forehead.
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