This Blood Donor Month, Consider a Lifesaving Donation from Your Pet

BluePearl urges pet owners nationwide to enroll their pets as blood donors to help address the critical shortage of blood products in the veterinary industry

Tampa, Florida, Jan. 6, 2026 – January is National Blood Donor Month, and this year BluePearl Pet Hospital is encouraging pet owners across the country to enroll their pets as donors to alleviate the shortage of veterinary blood products. Pet owners can sign their pets up at more than 20 BluePearl Blood Banks – the specialty and emergency arm of Mars Veterinary Health – located nationwide.

Just as humans require blood transfusions for medical conditions or emergencies, the same is true for pets. BluePearl operates a robust community-based blood banking program in over 20 locations across the United States, with pet owners able to withdraw their pet from the donation process at any time. In 2025, BluePearl performed 7,000 blood transfusions, with almost 50% of blood products used being sourced from the BluePearl Pet Blood Bank.

BluePearl prioritizes safety throughout the donor process and has implemented industry-leading requirements for pet blood donations. Healthy cats and dogs between one and eight years old who meet additional eligibility criteria can donate through a short and painless process. Each blood donor is considered a hero. Donations are recommended at 8 to 12-week intervals, and each donation could save the lives of at least three other pets. BluePearl provides a complimentary physical exam before each donation and annual lab work for enrolled pets.

“The shortage of blood products in the veterinary industry is a critical issue that could lead to devastating outcomes for pets, especially in emergency situations,” said Richard Stone, DACVIM (SAIM), chief medical officer at BluePearl Pet Hospital. “We are committed to finding a sustainable solution to this critical issue facing the veterinary industry with the goal of fulfilling our purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. Pet owners have a chance to make a real difference in the lives of pets through a simple donation at one of our blood banks and we hope many will consider a donation.”

This National Blood Donor Month, BluePearl has also announced a partnership with KONG which will see all donors receive a free KONG dog or cat toy for enrolling in the BluePearl Blood Bank program throughout the month of January.

“We’re once again using National Blood Month to ask pet owners to consider a donation from their pets,” said Meghan Respess, DVM, DACVECC, director of blood banking at BluePearl. “If you have a pet that meets our eligibility requirements, you could make a real impact on the lives of pets across the country. All pets at the BluePearl Blood Bank are treated like heroes, and this year we’ve teamed up with our friends at KONG to provide a special thank you gift to donors."

To learn more about the BluePearl Pet Blood bank and where to donate, visit bluepearlvet.com/blood-bank.

BluePearl provides exceptional specialty and emergency care through shared passion, knowledge and talents, to achieve our Purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. To learn more about BluePearl Pet Hospital, visit bluepearlvet.com.

About BluePearl Pet Hospital.

Founded in 1996, BluePearl Pet Hospital is one of the largest providers of specialty and emergency veterinary care in the United States with over 100 hospitals in 30 states. As part of the Mars Veterinary Health family of practices — which includes nearly 70,000 Associates around the world who are united in delivering high-quality veterinary care when and where pets and their owners need it — BluePearl is dedicated to its Purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. Learn more at bluepearlvet.com.