15/6/2026
The Agility Star with a Life-Saving Second Job
This World Blood Donor Day, we're celebrating the incredible dogs whose blood donations help save the lives of others. Among them is Salem, a Labrador with an impressive CV.
Despite being crowned the large height Novice Agility champion at Crufts earlier this year, Salem is far from a full-time athlete. At home, she's a self-confessed cuddle bug who is convinced that, despite weighing almost 25kg, she belongs on someone's lap. She loves spending time with her family, including her grandparents and feline brother, Sparta, and while she may be a little timid at times, she isn't afraid to make her presence known when strangers venture too close to the house or garden. In fact, she once scared away someone attempting to break into the family home on Christmas Day.
Salem's journey into agility began when she hit her teenage years and needed an outlet for her boundless energy. Coming from working Labrador lines, she needed plenty of mental stimulation as well as physical exercise.
"Salem turned into a typical teenager, boisterous and she needed a job," says owner Amy. "Finding agility gave her that outlet that she desperately needed." What started as something fun soon became much more. Three months on from winning at Crufts, Amy says the achievement still doesn't feel real.
As proud as Amy is of Salem's Crufts title, there's another achievement of hers that means just as much because alongside her agility career, Salem has another job - as a canine blood donor.
While her Crufts title celebrates an incredible achievement, it is her role as a blood donor that could have the greatest impact. Every donation has the potential to help up to four other dogs undergoing surgery, receiving emergency treatment or facing serious illnesses. It's a simple act that can make a life-saving difference to many families across the UK.
