A FIVE-YEAR-OLD German shepherd bitch has given blood to save the life of a seriously ill springer spaniel.

Posters asking for volunteers to 'Give Blood' are quite common around the streets, but as she went on regular walkies, Gillie could hardly have thought they applied to her.

But when the call came to save a neighbouring dog's life the German shepherd was happy to put her best paw forward, said her owner, Yvonne Wood. Mrs Wood volunteered Gillie to answer the call to save five-year-old Charlie, a dog with a disease which left it with severe anaemia.

Vet Anne MacGregor told Charlie's owner, Pat Holmes, to expect the worst when she brought him to Ashlands Veterinary Centre earlier this month.

Mrs MacGregor said: "His owners thought he had been poisoned but we did some tests and found out he was suffering from life-threatening anaemia. His body is breaking up his own red blood cells."

I thought that the only way to save Charlie was to give him a transfusion of blood from another dog.

"One of the nurses offered her own dog to help in the life-saving procedure and since then he has not looked back."

Since getting the half-litre of blood the prognosis for Charlie has improved no end.

"Some dogs don't respond to treatment but Charlie is much better than he was," said Mrs MacGregor.

She explained that unlike humans, dogs have around 20 blood types but in an emergency, any dog's blood can be transfused before being tested for compatibility. She said it was only the third time she had carried out the procedure in her nine-year career.

"We would've have had to send a sample off to a laboratory for testing but by the time it came back, Charlie would have been dead," said Mrs MacGregor. Charlie has now been put on a potent regime of drug treatment to stop his immune system attacking his own blood cells and should not need another transfusion.

Mrs Holmes, of Mayfield Avenue, Ilkley, said she would always be grateful to Mrs Wood for volunteering her own pet to provide the life-saving half-litre of blood for Charlie.

"He would have died without the blood transfusion but the vet said that he has now turned the corner," said Mrs Wood.

She added: "He is back to pinching chocolate Smarties off cakes - he is such a character. He is still only capable of walking around the block yet, but he is still improving and taking his medicine."

Mrs Wood, who lives in the same avenue as Mrs Holmes, said: "I have five dogs but I chose Gillie because she is the biggest, strongest and fittest of all of them."

Gillie was sedated for the procedure so she would not get to frightened but then she was soon off home for a rest and feast of dog food before recovering completely.

"It did not affect her at all once she had the canine equivalent of a cup of tea and a biscuit."