When Simon first discovered Pet Blood Bank, his immediate reaction was one shared by many people… ‘I’d never really thought about it before, but of course pets need blood too!’
So, in October 2019, Simon took his one year old labrador Blake to his first donation session.
Simon wasn't entirely convinced his excitable young dog would be able to sit still long enough to donate. Like many first-time owners, he arrived feeling nervous and unsure of what to expect.
But those worries quickly disappeared when they walked through the door of our host venue, Boundary Vets. Simon was struck by how welcoming and supportive everyone was as he watched Blake soak up the attention, treats, and fuss. Before long, the dog Simon had worried might be too excitable to donate was so relaxed he was nearly falling asleep on the donation table.
He said: ‘I could really tell that everyone at the session just had the sole desire to do well for pets and make sure they were feeling comfortable and not pushing or forcing anything. Honestly, Blake was having the time of his life! I remember walking away thinking I need to book the next session right now because this was amazing!’
Over the years, Blake became a regular donor, donating an incredible 16 times. He retired in 2025 after one of our pre-donation health checks identified some changes in Blake’s health. After further investigations with his local vet, Blake was diagnosed with asymptomatic Addison's disease, a serious condition where the body can’t make enough of certain essential hormones.
Thankfully, because it had been identified early (benefits of being a donor!), Blake was able to start treatment before becoming seriously unwell. Although Blake's diagnosis meant his donating days had to come to an end, Simon wasn't ready to walk away from our lifesaving community.
Instead, he decided to sign up to be a volunteer. Now, Simon can often be found welcoming donor dogs and their owners to sessions at Boundary Vets. Having once been the nervous first-time owner himself, he understands exactly how new donors are feeling and enjoys helping them feel at ease.
One of the things he loves most is seeing returning donors come back time and time again, but above all, he enjoys reminding people just how important their dogs are and the difference they are making to other families.
And his advice to anyone thinking about registering their dog is simple: ‘I’d say, just do it. There is absolutely no harm in signing up and coming along to a session. Come meet us, have a look around, see what it’s all about, and just try it out. If it’s not for you or your pet, that is absolutely fine, but you might find, like me, it’s the best thing you’ve ever done.’
What started with one donation appointment for Simon and Blake became years of making memories and giving back. If you’d like to begin your own lifesaving journey, please visit our dog blood donation pages.
