Dog days are over

Wildwood

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/07/2023 (1103 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Wildewood Golf Club welcomed a full crowd of golfers — and their dogs — for a golf tournament fundraiser on July 6.

The team of David Quinton, Mackie Quinton, Brodie Quinton, Kelly Sveinson, and their labrador retriever, Sadie, brought home first place.

The event raised close to $18,000 in support of the Canadian Animal Blood Bank, a veterinary-led, not-for-profit, CRA registered charity dedicated to providing high quality, donated blood from canines to canines under care in veterinary clinics across five provinces.

Despite being in action for 26 years now, and saving approximately 7,000 dogs in 2022, however, the bank is still regarded as “Canada’s best-kept secret,” and is in need of as much help they can get.

“Just not many people know about us,” said Sarah Dalrymple, business manager at CABB. “And unless your dogs ever needed a transfusion before, or been in a case where, whether it’s cancer therapy support, or maybe it’s anemia, or they have a parvovirus infection … unless your dog’s been in that position where they needed a blood product, you don’t really think, ‘Where does that come from?’”

Dalrymple herself was in a similar situation once, when her own dog fell sick and was in need of a blood transfusion to save her life.

”I was like, ‘wow, I didn’t even know that this was a thing,’ and the blood that she’s getting was actually donated by another dog to help her out,” she said.

Similar to people, sometimes a blood transfusion doesn’t result in the happiest ending for those involved, she said. But, it gives families more time with their pets in order to say a proper goodbye.

“It makes such a profound impact and difference on the lives of so many dogs and their families,” Dalrymple said. “Giving them (that) time together, I think it’s kind of beautiful. It’s just dogs saving other dogs’ lives.”

Alongside collecting and processing the blood, CABB pushes education on the animal transfusion process, tools and aftermath to professionals and pet owners, as well as raises the benchmark standard to how animal blood practices are conducted through supplies, assistance and emergency depots.

Following the success of the golf tournament, there are wishes to make it an annual event alongside other fundraisers — including an upcoming Melee Gala, taking place at United Boxing Club on Sept. 8.

”I always like emphasizing that (donating is) not something that people have to do,” Dalrymple said. “But are very much appreciated when they do it. I’m just really grateful to see so many different people, from so many different groups and walks of life that were able just to come out and have a good day and support us helping other dogs (in) Canada.

“It’s with your support that we’re able to help keep tails wagging across the country.”

In the future, the charity is aiming to expand its reach and grow the annual number of canine lives saved.

For information on how to donate your own dog’s blood, locations, where to donate funds, or upcoming fundraisers, visit online at canadiananimalbloodbank.ca