The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) is marking the 20th anniversary of its life-saving blood donation programme for pets.

Based at the RVC's North Mymms Hawkshead campus, the programme has helped thousands of dogs and cats over the years and is the only one of its kind in the UK.

The RVC's charity, The Animal Care Trust (ACT), is launching a special appeal to mark the milestone.

The charity is aiming to raise £150,000 towards new facilities and is urging residents to lend their support.

Dan Chan, RVC’s professor of emergency and critical care medicine, said: "I've seen first-hand how blood donations help pets every single day.

"Thanks to our special donors, blood transfusions have saved thousands of lives.

"Therefore, this appeal is essential in allowing us to expand and enhance our current facilities to ensure even more cats and dogs can be treated."

The blood donor programme was established in 2004, starting with just 19 dogs, and now receives regular donations from 150 dogs and 62 cats.

These donations are made to pets requiring treatment at the RVC’s Small Animal Referral Hospital.

The hospital also aids research into the welfare of donors and how to store cat blood.

Many animal lives have been saved by blood donations, such as six-month-old kitten Millie, who was suffering from acute anaemia and Feline Infectious Peritonitis.

Thanks to donors, including Neville, a ginger tabby, and Willow, a border collie, Millie made a full recovery.

Neville’s owner, Nicole, said: "The donor team were always fantastic with Neville.

"He always came home happy and full of treats.

"Knowing that his donation has helped save the lives of other cats makes me feel very proud."

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Given the increasing demand for cat and dog blood, the ACT hopes that their birthday appeal will raise the necessary funds to create new facilities.

This development will not only better the experience for donors but also set up separated areas for dogs and cats and a dedicated space for a laboratory to process and store donated blood products.

The RVC will announce the cat and dog ‘winners’ of its ‘Blood Donor of the Year’ awards next month as part of the appeal.