Konkuk University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital holds the pet blood donation campaign, ‘I’m DOgNOR’ with Hyundai Motor Company
Hyundai Motor Company Sponsors 1 billion won to create the culture of dog blood donation
Building the supply network of pet blood, Replacing the issue of unethical caged dogs and blood selling business
Great significance for future research and development of pet blood components
Konkuk University (President Young Jae Jeon) opens Asia’s first Pet Blood Bank joining with Hyundai Motor Company.Konkuk University and Hyundai Motor Company had an agreement ceremony at the Administration Building of Konkuk University on the 25th to cooperate on creating the culture of pet blood donation and building the Pet Blood Bank. In order to establish and manage Asia’s first Pet Blood Bank, which will be a turning point to spread the new culture of pet blood donation, Hyundai Motor Company will sponsor a total of 1 billion won to Konkuk University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital for five years.
Young Jae Jeon, President of Konkuk University, Wonha Yoo, General Manager of the domestic division at Hyndai Motor Company, Hunyeong Yoon, Dean of Konkuk University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital and Professor Hyunjung Han at Department of Emergency Medicine attended the agreement ceremony.The ‘KU I’m DOgNOR’, which is scheduled to open in the first half of this year, will be located on the second floor of KU Animal Cancer Center at Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. Throughout the agreement, Konkuk University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital will improve the environment for blood donating dogs and expand the supply network of pet blood while operating the blood bank. Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor Company will be in overall charge of the blood donation campaign and actively recruit blood donating dogs with the support of 1 billion won for the blood bank. Konkuk University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital has also presented an opportunity to lead the development of veterinary hematology through research and development of new blood components.Up to now Konkuk University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital has managed an in-house donation program. Under the consent of the guardians, large dogs that donated their blood have been given a title of ‘Blood Donation Hero’ along with various benefits including health checkups and discounts for medical expenses.In 2019, Hyundai Motor Company and the medical staffs at Konkuk University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital have cooperated on the meaningful campaign, ‘I’m DogNOR’, to create the culture of dog blood donation. Sharing a bond of sympathy on the issue of unethically caged dogs only for blood donation, the campaign successfully publicized the need of healthy blood donation culture, leading the establishment of Korea and Asia’s first Pet Blood Bank.President Jeon at Konkuk University said, “Although it has only been a few years since the blood donating dogs became a global issue, the campaign is socially significant in that Konkuk University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital and Hyundai Motor Company have settled the culture of pet blood donation taking the initiative,” and, “We will do our utmost to well operate the center living up to everyone’s expectations.”General Manager Yoo at Hyundai Motor Company stated, “The number of pets in Korea reached around 10 million and the importance of animal bioethics is becoming greater as with human bioethics. It is our pleasure to hold this social campaign with Asia’s first Pet Blood Bank.”Dean Yoon at Konkuk University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital announced, “We have long been in a dilemma with the dogs that are unethically raised for blood donation. In response to this issue, we will make the Pet Blood Bank a global role model with pride and responsibility.”