This 104-Pound Shelter Dog Saved a Dying Kitten With His Blood—Now He’s the One Who Needs a Hero
They say not all heroes wear capes, and we couldn’t agree more. Some heroes come rocking four cute paws along with a wagging tail, and a good example is Goro, a 104-pound Mastiff mix. (Watch Video Below)
A few days ago, Goro was on the front line saving the life of a fragile kitten, Margaux, brought to the San Diego Humane Society in a critical state. Margaux urgently needed a blood transfusion to survive, and just when the shelter thought they wouldn’t find a suitable blood donor, tests confirmed Goro was a compatible match.
@sdhumanesociety The photos of them together 😭 In case you’re wondering what a hero looks like, we’d like you to meet Goro: the 104-pound pooch with a heart even bigger than his head. Not only is he a tall drink of water — this gentle giant is also a lifesaver. Recently, Goro rolled up his (figurative) sleeves to donate blood to a critically ill cat in need of a transfusion at our Pilar & Chuck Bahde Center for Shelter Medicine. Thanks to this brave boy, a kitty named Margaux got a second chance… and possibly a sudden craving for giant chew toys. We can’t confirm it, but Margaux may now identify as part mastiff. And while the feline is now in a home, Goro 947207 is still waiting for his day to come when he’ll be given the hero’s welcome he deserves. #shelterdog ##blood#kitten #kittentiktok #shelterkitten ♬ nhạc nền – MUSIC DJ DANCE 88
What followed next was an unforgettable life-saving procedure that left the shelter’s medical team fighting tears. A heartwarming video posted on the shelter’s TikTok account @sdhumanesociety captures Goro and Margaux — who both seem barely conscious — lying close to each other as the transfusion is underway. What surprised everyone was that from the moment Goro stepped into the medical room, he made no fuss, as if he sensed that Margaux was in trouble. Throughout the procedure, Goro remained calm as his strength was being channeled into the frail feline soul, one drop of blood at a time.
Thankfully, the blood transfusion was a success, and the medical team managed to stabilize Margaux.
Goro may not be aware that he selflessly gave the gift of life to a kitten who was a few steps away from the grave. But to staff members and volunteers at the shelter, he will forever be their four-legged hero who deserves all the respect, admiration, and unlimited belly rubs that the world has to offer.
The touching video has elicited different heartfelt reactions from hundreds of TikTok users, with others expressing their surprise regarding dogs donating blood to cats.
“I’m definitely overthinking it, but now I’m wondering if blood can be transfused across different species like such,” one comment reads.
“That’s interesting! I did not know cats and dogs could share blood like that,” a second person added.
“Ooh! He’s the bestest boy for saving the kitty. Give him lots of treats,” another wrote.
Can Dogs Donate Blood to Cats?
In the veterinary world, the transfusion of blood between two different species is referred to as xenotransfusion. “Xeno” stands for “foreign.”
According to Dr. Kerry Bozicevic of the University of Melbourne U-Vet Hospital, dog-to-cat blood transfusion happens in rare emergency cases where a feline donor is not immediately available. Simply put, this type of transfusion is often considered a last resort if a cat urgently needs a transfusion, but there’s no compatible cat blood readily available. So, in order to save the cat’s life, a compatible dog donor may be used. The dog’s blood type has to match the cat’s blood type to prevent severe reactions.
While this type of transfusion may help stabilize the cat in need for some time, they will eventually still need a feline donor.
“The cat’s immune system will destroy the dog’s blood over just a few days,” explains Dr.Bozicevic. “So the cat patient will still need a feline blood donation as soon as possible.”
