In order to elevate the quality of veterinary care in Taiwan and establish a comprehensive pet blood donation system, the Veterinary Transfusion Medicine Center (VTMC) at National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST) has dedicated itself to establishing standard operating procedures for canine and feline blood donations and promoting knowledge in veterinary transfusion medicine since its founding in 2016. Now entering its 10th year, the center has successfully recruited 141 blood-doners, prepared 680 packs of blood products, and helped to save the lives of 571 dogs and cats. From May 19 to June 12, the VTMC is hosting the 10th Anniversary Exhibition at the NPUST Library and Exhibition Building, inviting people from all walks of life to witness this major milestone in Taiwan’s animal transfusion medicine.
Since its inception, the VTMC has established a rigorous screening system for animal blood-doners. Through health assessments, blood tests, and comprehensive animal welfare management, the center recruits and selects stable and safe blood sources from dogs and cats, allowing them to successfully save many precious lives. Dr. Yi-Lun Tsai, Director of the Veterinary Transfusion Medicine Center, noted: “The human blood donation and transfusion system took many years to gradually build a complete and rigorous standard. For animal blood donation and transfusion, we referenced international veterinary transfusion medicine regulations and introduced relevant techniques, hoping to establish a comprehensive, safe, and humane model as early as possible. Utilizing pets as blood donors not only helps owners and their pets reach a mutual understanding and feel secure, but it also prevents discomfort during the donation process. All of these efforts are practices built on the foundations of empathy and animal welfare.” Meanwhile, the center is dedicated to promoting accurate transfusion medicine knowledge and enhancing clinical veterinarians’ professional capabilities regarding transfusion safety and applications. Over the years, it has partnered with the National Veterinary Hospital (Taichung Headquarters) and the Jong-Shing Animal Hospital in Kaohsiung to establish blood donation stations, encouraging more pets to join the ranks and collectively become “Blood Donation Warriors” that safeguard lives.
NPUST President Chin-Lung Chang stated: “Director Yi-Lun Tsai and the VTMC executed the Safeguarding Blood Donation Warriors project, which won the Model Award in the Well-being and Coexistence category at the 2023 Global Views Magazine USR Awards. Now, across fields, the center has secured support from the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) for an integrated project addressing social needs. This allows the public welfare aspect of pet blood donation and transfusion to be promoted across more dimensions, serving as a vital indicator of our university’s participation in social development.”
In 2024, the center received recognition from the National Veterinary Group and launched the “Taichung Animal Blood Bank Center Project” to continuously expand the medical capacity of animal blood donation and transfusion services. Furthermore, the qualification review process for animal blood donation and the processing of blood products established by the center have been approved by the Ministry of Agriculture. Professor Yi-Lun Tsai has assisted in drafting Taiwan’s regulations regarding animal blood donation, continuously driving the development of veterinary transfusion medicine and the protection of animal welfare in Taiwan.
This 10th-anniversary special exhibition and press conference integrates professional knowledge with cute illustrations of pets to connect themes such as “The Journey of a Bag of Blood,” “Dog and Cat Transfusion Science,” “Understanding Dog and Cat Blood Types,” and “A Decade’s Journey and the Power of Cross-Disciplinary Cooperation”. It also shares several touching life stories of Blood Donation Warriors, showcasing the connection between donor and recipient animals alongside the heartwarming power behind veterinary medicine. Additionally, a blood type interactive zone has been set up for the public to learn about the distinct details of blood donation and transfusion between dogs and cats.
An educational picture book titled Brady, Get on the Bus!—the first in Taiwan to focus on the topic of pet blood donation and transfusion—was also launched at the event. The text was co-authored by VTMC Director Yi-Lun Tsai, Professor Yu-Chieh Chao from the Department of Business Administration, Researcher Chia-Chun Ku from the Center for General Research, and Teacher Hui-Min Hsu from the Love Reading Picture Book House, with illustrations contributed by Lin Li. Through the friendship of three furry companions, the book uses the simple, easy-to-understand premise of donating blood to save a friend to promote proper blood donation concepts. It helps the public understand that when a pet falls ill, they should not merely wait passively; instead, through timely medical care and intervention, a more friendly and sustainable lifelong relationship can be built between humans and animals. The book serves as an excellent educational text for promoting “human and pet” life education within the companion animal ecosystem.
