When two year old golden retriever Herbie trotted into his first blood donation session, nobody would have guessed what he'd been through. In the past year alone, he'd undergone two serious operations, the second resulting in the removal of his right eye. For his owner Carly, those experiences had left their mark, and the thought of bringing Herbie back into a clinical setting, even for something positive, felt very daunting.
‘I was really nervous about attending because Herbie has been through so much, already having lots of vet visits and treatments,’ Carly admits. ‘I didn't want him to feel overwhelmed or anxious.’
It's a feeling many owners will recognise. When your dog has had a difficult time, the last thing you want is to put them through anything that might bring those stressful memories back. For Carly, that worry almost stopped her from signing up Herbie to donate.
But she needn't have been concerned.
From the moment they arrived, the team made both Herbie and Carly feel completely at ease. Everything moved at Herbie's pace, with lots of patience, reassurance, and plenty of treats and fuss. And by the end of the session, he had donated the full amount!
‘I honestly shouldn't have worried at all,’ Carly said. ‘The team were absolutely amazing with him, reassuring me and Herbie from start to finish. They took everything completely at his pace.’
That single donation has the potential to save the lives of up to four other dogs in need, a remarkable thing for a dog who not long ago faced his own uncertain future.
‘I wanted to say a huge thank you to the whole team for making this first experience such a positive one,’ Carly adds. ‘We'll definitely be back for a second donation soon!’
Herbie's story is a reminder that donation sessions aren't just about the dogs who ultimately receive the blood, they are about creating an experience where every donor dog feels safe, celebrated, and cared for. Dogs are showered with attention and treats, every part of the visit is considered with their welfare in mind, and no dog is ever pushed beyond what they're comfortable with. It’s about making it a really positive and enjoyable experience for our donors that just happens to help save lives too!
So even if you're worried about how your dog might find it, it's worth coming along to see for yourself just how different it is from a typical vet visit.
Could your dog be the next Herbie? If they're aged between 1 and 8, weigh over 25kg, and are fit and healthy, they could become a lifesaver too.
