屏科大 建置寵物輸血庫 !!!

Taiwan Establishes Its First Animal Blood Bank By: Lindsay Patton June 22, 2016 Anyone who shares a life with an animal knows the kind of impact that pets can make. They're not just animals people own; they are 100 percent part of the family. This means that when pets need medical attention, their human companions will go out of the way to help — and often spend money that they may have been saving for something else. For our furry — or feathered or scaled — loved ones, that price tag could reach the thousands. In fact, it is estimated that first-year cost of owning a dog in America is $1,270, while a cat could cost $1,070. Seeing a demand for additional pet health services in its country, the Department of Veterinary Medicine at National Pingtung University of Science and Technology recently set up a blood bank in Taiwan. The new center was established at the university, located in southern Taiwan, and will provide blood to animals in need of a transfusion. The blood bank, the first of its kind in the country, officially launched on June 13. National Pingtung University looked to the University of California, Davis and Thailand's Kasetsart University – each operating animal blood banks – as models. Countries like the United States already have successful pet blood transfusion organizations up and running. In 2014 for instance, ACCES — an animal hospital in Seattle – supplied blood and plasma to 47 veterinary hospitals in Washington. As of now, the bank only accepts blood from dogs. There are, however, plans to expand donations to cats and livestock. Still in its start-up phase, the center is looking for even-tempered dogs as donors. The dogs must be one to eight years old, weigh more than 44 pounds and have up-to-date vaccinations. Like the National Pingtung University, another organization is making blood transfusions more accessible in Taiwan. Around the same time that Taiwan's first blood bank was announced, the National Veterinary Hospital released an app that leverages technology to help pet owners find a donor match. The app, which has been described as "Uber-like," serves as a database of blood donors in the country and helps pet owners find a match. It is currently in its trial stage and is aimed at both cats and dogs. Photo Credit: Petful