SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A bill that would allow the commercial use of animal blood from community sourced donors is moving forward in the state Senate.

Lawmakers say there is a severe shortage of blood for animals in need of surgery or other treatments in California, and this legislation addresses that problem.

The legislation allows community animals, such as the pet you own, to donate blood in the same way that humans donate blood to blood banks. Lawmakers say there are currently only two animal blood banks in California, and veterinarians are running out of blood.

Currently, the state only allows what’s called “closed colony blood banks,” which are cages filled with dogs and cats for years whose lives for the sole purpose of producing blood. The legislation passed through the Senate unanimously this week.