The Animal Blood Bank fills a need: to help save the lives of dogs and cats in critical health conditions. This ambitious project takes its first steps in 2009, and arises as a response to gaps that existed until then in the animal blood transfusion process. Even with the full commitment of the Veterinarians, the absence of blood units in a systematic way, with scientific specificity and quality criteria, limited the chance of survival of many animals.

The creation of a veterinary blood bank has filled an urgent need to ensure that Veterinary Centers have units available for transfusions in emergency situations. The initial challenge was to structure and embody an efficient system, bringing together compatible donors, implementing rigorous tests and ensuring full traceability in the process.

The initiative was based on the principles of the One Health concept, which recognizes the interconnection between animal and human health. To this end, detailed studies were carried out inspired by the best practices of human medicine and the protocols adopted by traditional blood banks. At the same time, we invested in the acquisition of equipment, the creation of adequate spaces for donations, and an independent laboratory for the processing of blood components, ensuring a safe and efficient process.

The impact was immediate: veterinarians began to turn to the blood bank to attend to urgent cases. Clinics and Hospitals believed in the process and products, sales grew rapidly throughout the country, and with it a new challenge: with the increase in demand, it became essential to attract new donors to help save more and more lives and ensure that no animal was left without the transfusion it needed. Attracting volunteer donors was and will always be the biggest challenge of the BSA.

Equipped with a bespoke computer platform created to allow the full monitoring and traceability, both of blood units and donors, and capable of ensuring an efficient distribution of the different components, the Animal Blood Bank quickly distinguished itself outside the national territory for its innovative component and for the consequent publication of several scientific articles.

The approach to the academic world quickly had an effect: In 2015, at the invitation of the Autonomous University of Barcelona, the Animal Blood Bank developed its first international partnership that culminated in the creation of the Banco de Sangre Animal, in Spain. Later, in 2022, the partnership with the University of Liège was born, resulting in the Animal Blood Bank Benelux, based in Belgium. Strategic and essential collaborations to the fulfillment of the greater purpose of the Animal Blood Bank: to help save the lives of dogs and cats around the world.

In 2025, we have a cohesive and experienced team, fully focused on our original purpose. We remain highly motivated and committed to the mission of driving success in veterinary care. We continue to strengthen partnerships with Universities, Clinics and Hospitals, collaborating on innovative projects that help shape the future of Veterinary Medicine. That is our mission. And we are fulfilling it!


ANIMAL WELFARE

The Animal Blood Bank is only possible thanks to generous owners and courageous donors. They are what make it feasible to carry out blood transfusions essential to the survival and recovery of many animals.

Therefore, the well-being of our donors is our top priority, and we adopt a set of good practices from the first contact to ensure a safe, smooth and positive experience.

🔹 Specialized team – Our teams are trained to apply animal-friendly techniques, reducing stress and promoting an empathetic connection with each donor.

🔹 Welcoming atmosphere – From the moment they enter our facilities, donors find a carefully prepared space, with waiting rooms free of negative stimuli, strong odors and excessive noise.

🔹 Exclusive and comfortable spaces – We guarantee independent rooms for the donation of blood from dogs and cats, with soothing colors, ambient music and pheromone diffusers to promote relaxation.

🔹 Post-donation follow-up – We actively monitor each donor to understand their response to the process, adjusting protocols to ensure comfort in future donations. In addition, we provide a 24-hour assistance line for owners and carry out follow-up questionnaires.

🔹 Positive and stress-free experience – We are committed to making donation a safe and enjoyable process, encouraging donors to repeat the experience in the future. Every detail has been designed so that both the animals and their owners feel accompanied and confident.

🔹 Health first – Before each donation, we carry out clinical examinations and blood tests to ensure the well-being of our donors. The Animal Blood Bank is periodically subject to extensive inspections and audits promoted by external entities such as the EMA, GMP, DGAV, VMD and was the first blood bank to screen each unit for infectious diseases in all donations.

The Animal Blood Bank facilities are accredited as CAT FRIENDLY by the International Society of Feline Medicine, being the only Veterinary Blood Bank with this distinction. With dedication and respect for our donors, we intend to continue to help save lives!