|
MSPCA and MGH team up to help people
and pets in need
Humans and hounds giving blood at
a joint drive to benefit the MSPCA-Angell Animal Medical Center
and the Mass General Hospital Blood Donor Center
BOSTON - October 23, 2006 - - It should be no surprise that
patients undergoing emergency surgery or cancer treatments are often
in need of blood transfusions. But many people may not know the
need applies to all patients - including people and their canine
companions. In an effort to meet the ever-increasing demand for
safe blood supplies, the Massachusetts
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA)-Angell
Animal Medical Center in Boston and the Massachusetts General Hospital
(MGH) are hosting the Human and Hound community blood drive on November
4, 2006 from 8am until 2pm. The community drive is thought to be
the first of its kind in the area.
"Advances in veterinary medicine have resulted in many more
animals being given another chance at life," says Silvia Coviello,
MSPCA-Angell's Blood Bank Supervisor. "Many times, our doctor's
efforts to save an animal require one or more blood transfusions.
The veterinarians at Angell Animal Medical Center rely on the donations
from healthy, well-behaved pets for a consistent supply of life-saving
blood."
Owners must make an appointment for their dog and each pet must
meet strict requirements before being allowed to donate. Dog donors
must weigh 50 pounds or more, be between the ages of 1 and 6 years
old, and all vaccinations must be current. In addition, they must
have no history pregnancy or blood transfusions. While dogs will
be the only animals allowed to donate blood at this event, cats
and other pets can donate blood through the Angell
Blood Donor Program during regular hours.
Just as in dogs, blood is critically needed when people are injured
in car accidents, undergoing chemotherapy or surgical procedures.
It is a medicine that can only be given from one person to another
- and volunteers are needed on a daily basis. People weighing more
than 110 pounds and age 17 or older can visit the MGH bloodmobile
on site at the Angell Animal Medical Center on the day of the drive.
The state of the art, completely self-contained and self-supporting
bus contains two soundproof medical history booths, four blood donation
beds plus a refreshment area. A nurse and a phlebotomist will be
on hand to facilitate each donor's visit that usually takes only
30 minutes.
"In addition to boosting critically needed blood supplies,
we hope this drive raises awareness about the continued need for
blood donors of all types," says Kimberley Cronin, manager
of blood
donor services at Mass General.
About MSPCA-Angell
Protecting and caring for 250,000 animals per year - more than any
other humane society in the nation - the MSPCA-Angell owns and operates
three world-class Angell Animal Medical Centers and seven MSPCA
Animal Care and Adoption Centers statewide. Founded in 1868 by George
T. Angell, the organization has grown to more than 120,000 supporters
from all 50 states and 27 countries. The MSPCA-Angell is a private,
nonprofit organization and receives no government funding at all,
instead relying on the generosity of people who care deeply about
helping animals.
Massachusetts General Hospital, established in 1811, is the original
and largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. The MGH
conducts the largest hospital-based research program in the United
States, with an annual research budget of nearly $500 million and
major research centers in AIDS, cardiovascular research, cancer,
computational and integrative biology, cutaneous biology, human
genetics, medical imaging, neurodegenerative disorders, regenerative
medicine, transplantation biology and photomedicine. MGH and Brigham
and Women's Hospital are founding members of Partners HealthCare
HealthCare System, a Boston-based integrated health care delivery
system.
Media Contacts: Emily
Parker, MGH Public Affairs
Brian Adams, MSPCA Angell
Physician Referral Service: 1-800-388-4644
Information about Clinical Trials
|
|
|
