DOG owners interested in having their pets become blood donors can do so at a collection session in Saffron Walden. The event is being held at Mercer and Hughes veterinary practice, Devon Lodge, 14 Radwinter Road between 2pm and 7pm on Saturday April 25.

DOG owners interested in having their pets become blood donors can do so at a collection session in Saffron Walden.

The event is being held at Mercer and Hughes veterinary practice, Devon Lodge, 14 Radwinter Road between 2pm and 7pm on Saturday April 25.

So far 14 dogs are booked in to donate at the session, although organisers PBBuk - the UK's canine blood donation charity - is hoping for more.

Head veterinary nurse at Mercer and Hughes, Lisa Sargeant, said: "We are hugely supportive of the work of the charity which is making an incredible difference to the lives of dogs all over the UK, most often meaning the difference between life and death.

"There are a number of criteria a dog must meet before it can donate - it should have a good temperament, be aged between one and eight years old, weigh more than 25kg, have not travelled abroad and be fit and healthy and up to date on all vaccinations."

PBBuk is the first national blood bank for dogs to collect, process and store blood products. These are used to save the lives of hundreds of dogs every year in transplants and operations.

The charity holds regular blood collection sessions across the UK, similar to the human blood donation service, collecting blood from volunteer canine donors to supply to vets across the UK to ensure there is blood available if they need to perform a lifesaving blood transfusion.

To date the charity has received donations from over 1300 dogs, many of whom are repeat donors.

Owners who would like to book their dogs to donate or who would like more information about registering their dog as a donor should contact PBBuk directly on 01509 232 222 or 0844 800 9925.