DAVIS, Calif. -- A new program at a veterinary school in California is designed to save the lives of pets around that are in need of blood, Sacramento station KCRA is reporting.

Every year, 200 to 300 dogs who are treated at the hospital need transfusions because of surgical complications, kidney failure and other conditions.

The new program unveiled by the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine will replace the old system. In the past, blood came from from a group of rescue dogs who were eventually placed in new homes. But there just wasn't enough blood.

Sean Owens with the blood bank said the facility will most likely need to screen 1,200 dogs to find 300 to 400 core dogs to donate two or three times a year to meet the needs of the hospital.

The program will be based at the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital -- the largest program west of the Mississippi.

Owens said as of now, only dogs can participate in the community blood collection because cat testing is just too expensive. The school will continue to maintain its colony of feline donors.

Donor dogs must be 1 to 8 years old, weigh 55 pounds or more and never have been pregnant.

Beyond the age and weight requirements, the dog must be easygoing enough to be comfortable with all the the needles and testing.

Dog owner Cara Benson said that she intends for her dog to save another dog's life.

Simon is just the kind of donor the vets need, and they need a lot of them.

If you have questions about the program, please call 530-752-1393, extension 421.