'Superhero' pets donate blood to help other animals

Hilary O’Hollaren and Rover, her 10-year-old yellow Labrador, who received a life-saving blood transfusion, at home in Portland, Oregon, the United States, on May 15, 2024. Photos: The New York Times Company

At first, it was hard to tell whether something was really wrong with Rover. The 10-year-old yellow Lab had always been a bit of a loafer, so when he refused to get up from the rug last February, it was not entirely out of character. But then he declined a treat.

“That was when we were like, ‘We have a very sick dog on our hands,’” said Hilary O’Hollaren of Portland, Oregon, the United States.