How cool is this?! Did you know if you have a pacemaker, you can put it in your Will to have your pacemaker donated to a dog in need after you pass?
Pacemakers cannot be donated to another human, but they can be donated to dogs with cardiac issues who would depend on it to stay alive.
You can have the pacemaker brought to a vet of your choice. So many of those get thrown away and dogs die because people don't know they can do this. It even saves the dog's owner the cost of the actual pacemaker which sometimes means the difference in being able to afford lifesaving treatment or not.
Donated pacemakers can help regulate a dog's heart rate and lower the cost of cardiac care. A pet pacemaker can cost between $3,000 and $3,500, while a new human pacemaker can cost over $8,000.
According to Service Dog Certifications, there are two common ways people transfer their pacemakers to a dog…
- have your will modified so that when you pass away, there are instructions to have it removed and sent to the clinic of your choice.
- request your doctor save the pacemaker for donation when yours is being replaced or upgraded.
Some programs and places you can donate your pacemaker to in order to save a dog’s life include:
- Your local veterinary hospital where they perform heart surgeries
- Local animal shelters can provide you with options if they have partnerships with medical facilities
- Colleges and universities with veterinary medicine programs
- Contact your local pet pharmacy to see if they have a list of dogs with heart problems and ask them to email the pet parents
Sources: Back The Blue K-9 Force and Service Dog Certifications
Cover Photo: Snopes