The National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST) Veterinary Transfusion Medicine Center is the first public animal blood bank in Taiwan. Since it began operating in 2016, it has been calling for pet owners across the country to join the public cause of “saving lives and creating happiness”. To date, it has received donations from 159 warm-blooded warriors and rescued more than 600 furry little friends in need of blood transfusions. Professor Yi-Lun Tsai is the director of the center, and together with her team, has been responsible for implementing the public welfare project. In recognition of the valuable work they are doing, Global Views Magazine presented them with the “Model Award” in the Welfare Symbiosis Group in 2023 University Social Responsibility Competition. Their public welfare mission also caught the attention of the National Animal Enterprise Group, who teamed up with them to establish the newly-opened NVH Taichung Blood Bank.
At the opening on March 12 (2024), a press conference was held at 9:00 a.m. in Taichung City at the National Animal Enterprise Group’s Asia-Pacific Operations Headquarters. Professor Yi-Yang Lien, Dean of the NPUST College of Veterinary Medicine, Professor Professor Yi-Lun Tsai, Dean of the NPUST Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Director of Veterinary Transfusion Medicine Center, and Tao Chieh Chen, CEO of the National Animal Enterprise Group jointly oversaw the opening event, with Chin-Sheng Shih, Chairman of the Taichung Veterinary Medical Association, and Zhen-zhen Chen, Secretary-General of the Asian Animal Welfare Association present to witness the occasion.
The precious blood donated by the warm-blooded furry friends is processed using the procedures formulated by the NPUST Veterinary Transfusion Medicine Center, and is then entrusted to the National Animal Hospital in Taichung for professional storage and use. NPUST has also launched relevant training courses on blood cross-matching technology so that partnering hospitals can better protect animal welfare when performing blood-related medical treatments.
Dean Yi-Yang Lien of the NPUST College of Veterinary Medicine said “saving lives and creating happiness is the mission of the Veterinary Transfusion Medicine Center. The two major purposes behind our mission are: 1. Working towards public welfare and ensuring the wellbeing of animals during blood donations and transfusions; 2. Creating assurances at every level prior to, during, and after the blood donations in order to provide high-quality and safe blood products.” Since its establishment, the center has always pursued these two purposes, which is why it has won recognition and support from all sectors working to protect the happiness of our furry family members.”
Tao Chieh Chen, CEO of the National Animal Enterprise Group, attaches great importance to the establishment of the NVH Taichung Blood Bank, and has been preparing for the project since 2018. At the press conference he said “as an alumnus of NPUST, and together with many outstanding veterinary medicine professionals at our hospital who also graduated from NPUST, we hope to join hands and appeal to the public about the importance of pet blood donation”. The 24-hour National Animal Hospital in Taichung established Taichung’s first blood donation station for pets in 2019, leading up to the construction of the NVH Taichung Blood Bank in 2023.
The two parties will continue to work with love to safeguard the welfare of animals in the future with hopes that through this joint non-for-profit mission, more people will become aware of and participate in animal blood donations and help contribute to the welfare of animals in Taiwan.
