Like humans, pets often need blood transfusions to heal and recover, ensuring a long, happy life filled with wagging tails and starry, bright eyes. (And side eyes too—dog owners know the still-sitting dog with side eyes before they explode into a playful chase.)
However, blood resources in California are scarce, and the issue is far from simple. It is a complex challenge involving many stakeholders.
Canine and feline blood and blood products are typically supplied by licensed colony blood banks, where animals are kept in a controlled, closed colony environment. These facilities are highly regulated, adhering to strict standards to ensure donor animals’ health and welfare and the blood products’ safety.
However, significant changes have occurred in this field over the years. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) conducted two investigations into licensed colony blood banks following allegations made by animal rights groups in 2018 and 2019. News outlets widely covered these allegations, which were ultimately found to be totally baseless.
Hemopet, a canine blood bank in Garden Grove, California, was investigated in 2018 after allegations of poor treatment of greyhounds. Claims from animal rights groups prompted the investigation, but the CDFA and outside investigators determined the allegations were unfounded. Another investigation in 2019, against Animal Blood Bank, a blood bank in Dixon, California, involved allegations of improperly selling products from out of state. Again, the CDFA and external investigators found these claims to be without merit, according to the CDFA’s announcement
Following these investigations, Assembly Bill 1282 (AB 1282), also known as the California Pet Blood Bank Modernization Act
However, despite the legislation’s intentions, the implementation of AB 1282 has led to a significant reduction in the amount of animal blood products sold in the state of California. Since the law took effect on January 1, 2022, California has experienced a nearly one-third decrease in the volume of canine blood products sold to veterinarians.
The California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) initially opposed
To address these concerns, the legislation was amended still supply 97% of the veterinary blood
“Anyone who values the bond between pets and their owners understands the heartbreak it would cause to lose a pet simply due to a lack of blood during an emergency. California faces a critical shortage of blood and blood products for dogs and cats, said Scott Horner, CEO of Animal Blood Resources International (ABRI) when talking to the California Business Journal.
ABRI is a nationwide blood bank supplying safe
ABRI says its donors receive exceptional care, meeting or exceeding the Animal Welfare Act, CDFA, and USDA standards. “We maintain a strong, compliant relationship with these organizations and have never faced animal welfare violations. As the only blood bank globally with dual CDFA and USDA licensing, we are regularly inspected,” Horner added.
Dr. Todd Calsyn Pets’ blood works similarly to humans’ blood. Each animal species has its own specific blood type, which can only be used within that species, similar to humans with blood types like O, A, B, and AB. Dogs have DEA (Dog Erythrocyte Antigen) blood types, with several different types within the DEA system, and some dogs can be universal donors. In contrast, cats have either type A, type B, or even a rare type AB blood and, unlike dogs, cats have no universal donors.
“Blood compatibility is critical—giving mismatched blood can trigger dangerous reactions, so blood typing is essential. Blood banks are vital in ensuring the correct type is readily available, allowing veterinarians to match and transfuse quickly and safely when needed,” Dr. Todd Calsyn told the California Business Journal.
Calsyn is a veterinarian with over 23 years of experience. Growing up as the son of a vet, he was immersed in the profession from a young age, later joining his father’s practice. Now a medical director, Calsyn leads a skilled team of half a dozen doctors, offering everything from general practice to urgent care/surgery. Praised by his clients for his empathetic approach and professionalism, he is known as a trustworthy vet.
Blood banks provide blood products that veterinary practices can purchase and store on-site, typically in a fridge, until needed. The shelf life of stored blood varies, so critical care and emergency facilities usually keep a stock of universal donor blood for dogs and A and B blood types for cats. “General day practices, like ours, may not store blood routinely but can source it quickly by contacting blood banks when necessary.
While in-house donations from staff dogs or other sources are an option, this process is more time-consuming, making readily available blood from banks an invaluable resource,” Calsyn added.
His empirical evidence echoes blood shortage woes shared by other veterinary professionals. “Accessing blood has become somewhat more challenging, though it’s still obtainable. We often rely on borrowing from other clinics that maintain supplies. However, recent legislation has adversely affected availability,” Calsyn said.
The vet also confirmed the importance of animal blood banks. Calsyn underlined that animals that could be saved during a crisis might not survive without animal blood banks. The potential loss of this resource would be devastating. While some critics oppose housing donor animals, Calsyn believes that regulations and guidelines ensure their welfare.
“There have been times when the blood supply was low, and we couldn’t get the blood we needed. In those situations, we had to rely on donor pets, which isn’t ideal. It’s a tough choice because, as a clinic, we don’t want to refer patients away, especially when we have a limited supply. Recently, one of our technician’s dogs needed blood due to a bleeding tumor. We had some blood on hand, but the dog burned through it quickly, and we struggled to find more. It took time, and the dog was in critical condition, but we eventually sourced blood ourselves. While we did everything possible to save the dog, the situation felt like a last resort. It’s not the best medicine, but sometimes it’s what we must do to save a life. It’s not ideal, but when you’re desperate, you make it work,” Calsyn said.
As our societies evolve, veterinary medicine and care are becoming more important. Approximately 5.3 million pet dogs and 5.7 million pet cats reside in households in Los Angeles County alone, according to statistics from Dogster
Over the past decade, pet ownership in California has experienced notable shifts. The percentage of households owning pets has gradually increased, from 53% in 2014 to 57.2% in 2024. A rise in dog ownership primarily drives this growth, while cat ownership has remained relatively steady, according to Dogster. The COVID-19 pandemic also played a significant role, as lockdowns prompted many people to adopt pets for companionship, according to WorldAnimalFoundation.org
Considering these trends, veterinary medical professionals must have the tools and resources to tend to our beloved companions.
“Animal blood banks are essential in providing much-needed blood to sick and injured animals for dog families like mine,” small business owner Jesse Mariut told the California Business Journal. “Veterinary and animal clinic staff, like the one we go to rely on a steady, healthy blood supply to ensure pets’ health, safety, and survival in families and homes like ours. It is comforting to know it is available if our dog ever needs care or service that requires a blood transfusion.”
Living in Lincoln, in the eastern suburbs of Sacramento, Mariut has had dogs for almost two decades. His current dog, Ginger, is almost eight years old. “California state and local leaders need to do all they can to support the noble work of these animal blood banks to equip animal care professionals with this vital inventory that allows our pets to live another day.”
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