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Dogs Best Friend? Other Dogs That Give Blood

scared-dog(AP) — Everyone knows about bloodmobiles for humans. But a bloodmobile for dogs?

The University of Pennsylvania’s veterinary school operates a mobile lab to make it easier for canines to make life-saving donations.

Dogs might need blood transfusions for the same reasons as people. They could get cancer or suffer trauma, like being hit by a car.

Penn Vet’s bloodmobile travels around the Philadelphia area. School officials say they don’t know of any other such vehicle operating in the U.S.

Dogs must have a certain blood type, weigh more than 55 pounds and be under 8 years old. The short procedure doesn’t require sedation and is similar what people do when they give blood.

And, just like human donors, the animals are rewarded with a snack and a sticker.

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