Picture Story: Blood Donor Dogs

One of the picture stories that I submitted to CPOY was about the dogs who donate blood for patients of MU's Veterinary Hospital. I interviewed Matt Haight, the coordinator for the program.


Blondie the greyhound peers out of her kennel at the University of Missouri's College of Veterinary Medicine on Nov. 12, 2009. Blondie and her four kennel mates provide blood for transfusions for the College hospital's patients.


Matt Haight, the coordinator for the blood donor dog program at the University of Missouri's College of Veterinary Medicine, takes some of the greyhounds out for a run and chasing the ball on Dec. 2, 2009. Besides times like this, the dogs are walked twice daily by volunteers.


After the fur has been shaved and the needle inserted, the collection process begins, on Dec. 2, 2009. The hands are there simply to keep Jack Smith from moving slightly while donating; he and the other 5 dogs typically lay still during the entire donation process. While a dog can safely give blood every 21 days, each of College's five greyhounds donates blood about 6 times a year for 2-3 years, and then are adopted out to loving homes.


Jack Smith accepts his reward for a job well done, on Dec. 2, 2009. Jack Smith and the other donor dogs are "universal donors;" unlike cats who have specific blood types, dogs without the antigens 1.1, 1.2, 5 and 7 are considered universal donors.


Jack Smith investigates what Matt Haight doing as Haight works at separating the donated blood into plasma and red blood cells. Stored in the refrigerator, the red blood cells are usually keep for 32-42 das and fresh plasma is kept up to a year.


Matt Haight checks a packet of donated blood after it has been separated in the centrifuge, on Dec. 2, 2009. The plasma floats on the top, while the red blood cells sink to the bottom. After the centrifuge, the plasma and red blood cells are separated and stored in a refrigerator.


Dora takes a moment to rest from playing with her female compatriots on Nov. 3, 2009. She has been at the College of Veterinary Medicine the longest and will be adopted out as soon as a suitable family is found. The donor program's coordinator, Matt Haight, is very particular about the families he chooses because he wants to ensure that his dogs will have the best lives possible after they leave his care.


Coordinator Matt Haight shares a hug with Madaline, one of his five blood donor dogs, on Nov. 4, 2009. Haight describes her as "a nut" and "a licker." Haight typically rescues his dogs from racing tracks and chooses to use greyhounds because of their temperament and because their greater likelihood to be a universal donor.