A local dog with a big heart is making a life-saving difference in Colorado Springs. Chunk, a friendly American bulldog-pitbull mix, was recently approved as a blood donor through the North Springs Veterinary Emergency and Specialty animal blood bank program. His contribution comes at a critical time, following an incident in fall 2023 when K-9 Roam, a Colorado Springs Police Department dog, was seriously injured in a stabbing and survived thanks to emergency blood transfusions.

Chunk’s owner, Aly Evans, said she was moved to get involved after learning how animal blood donations had helped save the life of the police K-9. “I just wanted to do something to help,” Evans explained, reflecting a growing awareness among pet owners about the impact their animals can have.

The animal blood bank at North Springs Veterinary has seen an increased demand for blood donations, not only for emergency cases like Roam’s, but also for pets dealing with chronic illnesses. Dr. Mark Sutton, a veterinarian at the facility, emphasized that blood products are essential for treating a wide range of conditions, from trauma to long-term diseases.

“Just like in human medicine, we rely on a steady supply of blood to treat our patients,” Sutton said. “It’s not only for emergencies—it’s for ongoing care as well.”

Blood bank manager Sarah Masias is now urging more pet owners to consider enrolling their dogs in the donor program. “We need more donors,” she said. “There are so many pets out there who could benefit, and the process is safe and rewarding.”

To qualify, canine donors must be between the ages of 2 and 8, weigh at least 50 pounds, and be in good health. As an incentive, donors receive up to $600 worth of free blood work each year and a $75 credit that can be used toward veterinary services or pet food.

The blood bank’s efforts are part of a broader initiative to expand life-saving care for animals in the region. The facility itself is located in a $475 million manufacturing and medical complex that supports advanced veterinary medicine.

Thanks to dogs like Chunk and the commitment of their owners, animals in Colorado Springs have a better chance of surviving medical emergencies and chronic health issues. As the need for animal blood donations continues, North Springs Veterinary hopes more community members will step forward with their eligible pets.

For now, K-9 Roam is back on his feet, and Chunk is proudly doing his part—one pint at a time.