Host venue winner Westway Vet Group
Vet Practices Recognised For Outstanding Support Of Charity Pet Blood Bank UK
2 years ago 
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Veterinary charity Pet Blood Bank UK has this month announced the winners in their Heart of Pet Blood Bank Award, with vet practices Westway Veterinary Group and Davies Veterinary Specialists being recognised for their outstanding support over 2020-2021.
The Heart of Pet Blood Bank Awards seek to recognise inspiring people, practices, and dogs who go the extra mile to support the charity in collecting and distributing lifesaving blood products.
The Host Venue Award celebrates the vet practices that provide Pet Blood Bank with space and facilities to run their donation sessions, but who also go above and beyond to support the charity and its work. Westway Veterinary Group, which is based in the north east, took the top prize as winner in the 2020-21 awards.
Westways began supporting Pet Blood Bank during the height of the pandemic when the charity’s usual host venue in Darlington became unavailable to them. Since then, they have provided exceptional support to facilitate the running of dog blood donation sessions in many of their practice branches across the north east. The blood that has been collected at donation sessions across branches of the Westway Group has gone on to help save the lives of hundreds of dogs across the UK.
Davies Veterinary Specialists were runners up in the Host Venue category for their dedication to supporting blood donation sessions. Davies has been supporting Pet Blood Bank since 2011, earning them a spot as one of the charity’s longest standing donation venues.
The two practices were presented with their awards at a virtual awards ceremony hosted by Pet Blood Bank on Thursday 26 May.
Mark Turnbull, Practice Manager at Westway, said, ‘When we heard Pet Blood Bank was struggling to find host venues in our area, we were really keen to help given the excellent and lifesaving service they provide. We have a long and close association with Pet Blood Bank as many of our colleagues work for the organisation alongside their roles with us. Allowing the charity to use our facilities was a very easy decision for us and we have since further strengthened our partnership. It is an absolute honour to receive this award and we are incredibly proud to be able to continue to offer our clinics as venues for donation sessions.’
Nicole Osborne from Pet Blood Bank UK said, ‘The support we receive from veterinary practices across the UK continues to blow us away. Westways and Davies have both made outstanding contributions to supporting our work, especially during the height of covid in 2020 when things were particularly challenging for us. As a charity, we are so lucky to have such wonderful, passionate, and dedicated people around us. It makes me so proud to be a part of this industry.’
Pet Blood Bank is the only charity offering a lifesaving blood service for all dogs across the UK. Just like the human blood service, dog owners kindly bring their much loved companions to give blood at one of the charity’s many donation sessions across the country. This blood is then processed and stored, ready to be sent out to vets when they need it for a patient. The blood is truly lifesaving with every donation having the potential to help save up to four other dogs.
Pet Blood Bank also offers a free advice service and on demand CPD webinars for veterinary professionals, alongside providing lifesaving blood products for patients.
For more information, please visit www.petbloodbankuk.org
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