Blood drives aim to improve pet and human health

A series of human-and-pet blood drives aims to boost the supply of blood products used to save and sustain lives. Three blood drives are being hosted by BluePearl Pet Hospitals across the US through a collaborative effort between the American Red Cross and Mars Veterinary Health.¹

In an effort to meet a growing need for canine and feline blood donors, Mars Veterinary Health previously announced a goal to source 50% of the blood products used in its BluePearl Blood Bank—part of the Mars Veterinary Health network—by the end of 2026.^2,3“Many hospitals have their own programs, but bringing in and expanding our own donor pools through the voluntary community also helps mitigate the pressure on commercial blood banks as well as other private veterinary hospitals that have donors of their own,” Meghan Respess, DVM, DACVECC, a veterinary criticalist and national director of blood banking for BluePearl Pet Hospital, said in a dvm360 interview.⁴ “The trend towards more pets being part of the family and the seeking of more specialized veterinary care, as well as the advances we've seen in veterinary medicine over the last decade plus has really highlighted the need for blood and blood products and utilizing them appropriately and responsibly.

Mars Veterinary Health and the American Red Cross first partnered on joint blood donation events in 2025. This year, BluePearl Pet Blood Bank will host the pet blood screening events, while the American Red Cross will host separate human blood drives at the same time in a separate space at each participating BluePearl Pet Hospital.¹

"We rely on pet blood donations to be able to provide lifesaving and lifegiving care in our hospitals when pets need us most," Richard Stone, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), chief medical officer at BluePearl, said in an earlier news release.² "Our goal is to ensure that the BluePearl Blood Bank is fully self-sufficient, allowing us to use blood products that are received from our volunteer donors to save the lives of others. I encourage all pet owners to learn more about our blood banking program and sign up to help other pets in need."

Community blood drives will be held at BluePearl Pet Hospital sites as follows¹:

• June 4, 2026: 11 AM to 5 PM CST; 1285 Grey Fox Rd Ste. 100, Arden Hills, MN 55112

• June 5, 2026: 10 AM to 3 PM PST; 1350 Reynolds Ave suite 119, Irvine, CA 92614
• June 15, 2026: 12 PM to 6 PM CST; 1569 Mallory Ln Bldg 200, Brentwood, TN 37027

Pet owners can visit bluepearlvet.com/bloodbank to enroll their pet as potential donors with the BluePearl Pet Blood Bank. Once the online registration form has been completed, pet owners will be contacted by one of the BluePearl Pet Blood Bank team to schedule an appointment,” the announcement from Mars Veterinary Health said.¹

“We are delighted to continue our partnership with the American Red Cross to address the critical need for blood products in veterinary and human medicine,” Lenore Bacek, DVM, MS, DACVECC, vice president of clinical affairs at BluePearl, said in a news release.¹ “We encourage local pet owners to sign up alongside their pets. Your involvement will positively impact the lives of people and pets in their backyards and beyond.”

In recognition of National Pet Preparedness Month in June, those who come to give blood at all 3 events will receive a pet emergency preparedness kit that includes a pet preparedness checklist and items from BluePearl, Banfield Pet Hospital and VCA Animals Hospitals, part of Mars Veterinary Health’s US network of practices.¹

According to Mars Veterinary Health, BluePearl prioritizes patient safety and wellbeing throughout the process. Healthy cats and dogs between ages 1 and 8 years that meet additional requirements are eligible to donate every 8 to 12 weeks through a short process during which they are comfortable and closely monitored. Additional BluePearl Blood Bank requirements and locations can be found at bluepearlvet.com/bloodbank.¹

"A safe and readily available blood supply is as essential for pets as it is for people, yet our profession continues to face a critical shortage,” Molly McAllister, DVM, MPH, Global Chief Medical Officer at Mars Veterinary Health, said in the release.¹ “We’re honored to be part of this continued partnership that enables generous donors to help save human lives while ensuring veterinary teams have the critical blood supply needed to provide life-saving care to pets when they need it most."

References

1. Mars Veterinary Health and the American Red Cross expand partnership to combat need for human and pet blood donations. News release. May 20, 2026. Accessed May 28, 2026. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/05/20/3298569/0/en/mars-veterinary-health-and-the-american-red-cross-expand-partnership-to-combat-need-for-human-and-pet-blood-donations.html
2. Crossley KC. Pet blood donation is needed to save patient lives. dvm360. January 23, 2026. Accessed May 28, 2026. https://www.dvm360.com/view/pet-blood-donation-is-needed-to-save-patient-lives
3. This National Blood Donor Month your pet could be a hero. News release. BluePearl Management LLC. January 7, 2024. Accessed May28, 2026. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/this-national-blood-donor-month-your-pet-could-be-a-hero-302343193.html?tc=eml_cleartime
4. Crossley KC, Respess M. The increasing demand for blood products. dvm360. February 10, 2026. Accessed May 28, 2026. https://www.dvm360.com/view/the-increasing-demand-for-blood-products