Hyundai Motor Company created a blood donation car to create dog blood donation culture and acquire infrastructure.
Have you heard of dog blood donation? Dogs can also give blood donation, just like people. Dog blood received through blood donation is used on sick dogs that require transfusion. When people get surgery, they get a transfusion depending on the situation; dogs also need a transfusion when they go through surgery. Recently, with more dogs around us, we also have more dogs that receive a transfusion due to accidents or diseases. There’s greater demand for dog blood donation, but the supply is desperately lacking. Hyundai Motor Company planned ‘I’M DOgNOR: the visiting dog blood donation car’ campaign to create dog blood donation culture and expand infrastructure.
1 blood donation saves 4 dogs.
With the ‘1 blood donation saves 4 dogs’ campaign slogan, a health, big dog’s blood donation is encouraged.
Hyundai Motor Company ‘I’M DOgNOR: the visiting dog blood donation car’ campaign began with the necessity of dog blood donation introduction and an improvement on awareness. DOgNOR is a combined word of ‘DOG’ and ‘DONOR’ which refers to a blood donation provider. The concept of dog blood donation is unfamiliar in Korea, and we are desperately lacking related infrastructure, but things are different abroad. In pet advanced countries like England and Poland, there are regular pet blood donation centers in operation.
Recently, with more dogs around us, we also have more dogs that receive a transfusion due to accidents or diseases.
At the moment, more than 90% of the domestic dog blood is supplied by blood donating dogs that are raised for the purpose of transfusion. We rely heavily on the blood donating dogs to meet the domestic demand. But we still lack the supply. That’s why the more dogs participate in blood donation, the more dogs we can help. Hyundai Motor Company began this campaign with Konkuk University annex animal hospital and Korean Canine Blood Donor Association to find big, healthy dogs that can give blood. Hyundai Motor Company’ Solati was reformed to make a blood donation car; inside the blood donation car, there is the latest equipment for drawing blood, analysis, etc. The experienced veterinarians from Konkuk University annex animal hospital will personally carry out the blood donation to secure safe blood donation for our dogs.
This campaign is also about raising awareness about dog blood donation to the public. Under the slogan ‘1 blood donation saves 4 dogs’, it promotes how dog blood donation helps other dogs. On the campaign homepage (www.iamdognor.com), the dogs who gave blood are announced on the ‘DOgNOR hall of fame’ to make them feel proud.
Hyundai Motor Company’s dog blood donation cars go all around the country.
With the ‘1 blood donation saves 4 dogs’ campaign slogan, a health, big dog’s blood donation is encouraged.
‘I’M DOgNOR: the visiting dog blood donation car’ will go around the country for 13 weeks from the 1st week of October to the last week of December. In October, the car will visit Sangam, Seoul, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Deokpyeong, Gyeonggi-do, and Ilsan, Gyeonggi-do. You can check the future schedule on the campaign homepage.
The basic condition of being ‘heavier than 25kg in weight and aged between 2~8’ needs to be met for dog blood donation.
Do you wish to know if your dog is eligible for blood donation? First, you have to check if the dog’s age and weight meets the blood donation condition. Dog blood donation can be done by healthy dogs that are heavier than 25kg and aged between 2~8. Also, only dogs that have had regular prevention for heart worms and worms inside and out as well as shots for general vaccination can donate blood. When the aforementioned conditions are met, the dog’s blood type is irrelevant. You can test a dog before the blood donation to find out about the blood type quickly, and as all types of blood are in need in Korea, the more dogs the better.
Dogs participating in this campaign get various gifts under the title ‘DogNor’. Dogs that donated blood will also get a high-priced check-up for free.
Unlike human blood donation, dog blood donation requires preparation from 2 weeks before the blood donation such as suspending medication and shots and fasting 8 hours before the blood donation, etc. So the blood donation car is operated with reservation. Dog blood donation takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes. Dogs that gave blood are given the DogNor license, eco bag, DogNor vest and scarf as well as free dog check-up. You can also check the reservation status online.
How to participate in the campaign even if you don’t have a dog
If your dog is lighter than 25kg, you can participate in the campaign as a dog blood donation promotion supporter.
If your dog is lighter than 25kg, the dog cannot give blood, but you can help the blood donating dog by promoting dog blood donation to attract public interest. It would also be a help if you take interest in ‘I’m DOgNOR campaign’ and tell people around you. Click on the campaign homepage ‘DOgNOR support’ category and leave a cheering message for DOgNOR. Those who leave messages are given DogNor emoticons in the order of posting, so hurry and leave a message there.
You can also apply for blood donation through the Korean Canine Blood Donor Association.
Korean Canine Blood Donor Association and Konkuk University annex animal hospital work on Hyundai Motor Company ‘I’m DOgNOR: the visiting dog blood donation car’ campaign together. Future DOgNORs who can’t participate in this blood donation car campaign can apply for blood donation through the Korean Canine Blood Donor Association. When enough blood can be supplied through dog blood donation, there will be no reason to raise blood donating dogs in Korea. We are waiting for brave dogs who can step up for friends. Until the day when all dogs can be healthy and safe, please participate in promoting dog blood donation culture with Hyundai Motor Company.