You may not have known, but alongside the many fighters who operate during the "Iron Swords" war, there are also IDF and police assistance dogs that operate in the field alongside the security forces.
Naturally, even among these elite fighters there are wounded and killed in the fighting in the south of the country. The veterinary hospital in Ben Shemen called on healthy dog owners to come to the site to donate blood for the war dogs wounded in battle – and were flooded with masses of donors.
Under fire: Sting fighters and dogs rescue civilians from kibbutzim near the Gaza Strip // Photo: IDF Spokesperson
In the hospital's call, they noted that there are a number of conditions that dogs must meet in order to be able to donate blood: "The dogs need to be social, big enough and healthy enough to be able to withstand the procedure. Minimum weight – 22 kilograms. The dogs must be vaccinated, 7-1 years old, be free of blood diseases, be given healthy food by their owners, and receive regular parasite treatments."
A source close to what was happening at the hospital told Israel Hayom that "hundreds of people came with dogs suitable for the blood donations that were needed. People also flooded the veterinary hospital in Beit Dagan." The source also said that thanks to the number of dogs donating blood, all the immediate needs of hospitals – as well as all emergency hospital warehouses – were met.
A fighting dog alongside IDF soldiers, photo: IDF Spokesperson
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