"We got to be loved by Leo for five-and-a-half years… Unfortunately we discovered he had cancer of the liver which was detected only 10 days before he left us… He was admitted to the Tata Trusts’ Small Animals Hospital where he received two transfusions. The first donor was Ronny and the second Zazu, a Dadar Parsi Colony dog,” said Leo’s owner Benaifer Kerawalla.
Tanya D’Souza and Rony, the dog who donated blood
Four dogs were tested, and one, Rony, had blood that matched Leo’s. Rony is a stray "found during the lockdown and since then she has been taking shelter at the entrance of the Taj Hotel,” said her feeder Tanya D’Souza who feels that the Bombay Municipal Council (BMC) should create a blood bank for animals. "Animals too have the right to live,” she told mid-day on December 9, 2024.
"We were shocked to learn there are no blood banks for animals in Bombay,” said Dadar Parsi Colony residents Benaifer and Nawzer Kerawala, when they found Leo, a Beagle-Rottweiler mix who they had adopted as a pup from Baroda, was hemorrhaging from the gastrointestinal tract. "Around 15 days ago Leo swallowed a stone… which later started taking a toll on his body,” Benaifer told mid-day.
"Donating blood is an act of amazing kindness,” said Nawzer. "Rony is a god sent angel. The Hospital is, in my opinion, the safest and best equipped facility for blood transfusions for dogs. We are very grateful to Rony’s feeder for her support and guidance. We received numerous positive responses when we requested blood for Leo. This shows that many people are willing to help, but if a blood bank were set up in the city, it would be a boon for all pet parents and bring peace of mind to doctors,” he told mid-day.
Dr Rajiv Gaikwad, head of medicine at Mumbai Veterinary College and Mitesh Samrathmai Jain, honorary animal welfare representative of the Animal Welfare Board of India, both shared their experiences with mid-day. The former said that though the hospital has blood bank facilities, there is little awareness and few donors as a result of which the blood bank is not fully functional. Jain said, "Every day we receive eight to 10 calls from those seeking blood for dogs.” They appeal for donors and conduct blood tests but at times there is no match. "The BMC should set up a blood bank for animals,” he feels. S. V.