South Korea's Canine Blood Donation Network Grows with Volunteer Dogs

In Seoul, a golden retriever named Cappu has concluded an unusual four-year commitment, marking his tenth blood donation. The seven-year-old, 31kg dog made his final donation on July 31 at Konkuk University's KU I’m Dognor Blood Donation Center. His guardian, Jo Hang-deok, shared that he decided to participate after learning that companion dogs could contribute, believing Cappu could help other animals in need.

Cappu is part of a growing, yet still small, movement to improve canine blood supply in South Korea. Unlike the established system for human blood donation managed by organizations like the Korean Red Cross, the supply of canine blood is significantly more fragmented. Individual veterinary hospitals have varying capacities for collection and storage, and access to external suppliers is inconsistent. The short shelf life of donated blood also prevents hospitals from stockpiling large quantities.

Historically, South Korea's canine blood supply heavily depended on 'commercial donor dogs', animals kept primarily for blood collection. This practice has raised persistent animal welfare concerns due to the conditions and frequency of blood collection. Currently, voluntary donations constitute less than 10% of the nationwide canine blood supply, highlighting the limited reach of current voluntary programs.

Dedicated facilities like Konkuk University's center and a similar one at Kyungpook National University are linked to Hyundai Motor Group's "I’m Dognor" campaign. Launched in 2019, this initiative uses mobile donation vehicles to promote a culture of voluntary canine blood donation and enhance animal welfare. Guardians can also connect through veterinary hospitals affiliated with the Korea Canine Blood Donor Association, which maintains a national network.

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I knew that dogs can sometimes need blood transfusions, but I did not know much about the fact that companion dogs could actually participate in blood donation themselves. I happened to learn about canine blood donation and decided to participate because I thought Cappu could help other dogs.