KVAL (Eugene) has their top story this weekend spotlighting a very special blood donor!

Meet Ginger, an active Springfield blood donor. At only eight and a half years old, she has already donated 14 pints of blood over the past five years! Her family says she loves to donate, and her blood potentially has saved up to 28 lives. Quickly after donating, she is back to standing on all four legs and wagging her tail. Did I mention that Ginger is a lab mix?

Ginger has been an active donor at Banner’s Blood Bank in Springfield for several years, but with this latest donation has retired from donating. Unfortunate too, given that the demand for canine blood donations is larger than ever. Banner’s is the only canine blood bank in the Eugene/Mid-valley area, however KATU reports that two canine blood banks are also in the Portland area. The Critical Care Blood Bank at VCA Northwest Veterinary Specialists in Clackamas, and the DoveLewis emergency pet clinic in Portland.

Dogs are considered good candidates for blood donations if they have a friendly temperament, are 55 pounds or more and are from 1 to 8 years old.

Ginger has donated 14 pints of blood- if you are eligible, how about you? Eligible humans can donate a pint of blood ever 56 days. If you are O Negative, the need is even more important for the anticipated summer shortage.