[Consumerwide_Jinil Kang Reporter / Yohan Bok Reporter] The 2023 Megazoo Ilsan event was held at the Ilsan Kintex 2nd exhibition hall between 19th and 21st of May. Megazoo is a pet industry exhibition where you can meet overall pet industry trends in Korea. The Megazoo facilitated ESG special project hall. On the other way around, it can also mean that value consumption based on the will, wanting to purchase products with social values such as eco-friendliness, social return, sharing, is becoming one of the major trends in the pet industry.

Along with this consumption trend in the market, Consumerwide interviewed CEOs who participated in the ESG special project hall event.

Buseong Kang  CEO of Korean Canine Blood Donor Association 2017 says, "Did you know your dog could donate blood? Let's join the life-sharing consumption!"

Q. It seems to be that people do not know that dogs can donate blood, in general. When did the Korean Canine Blood Donor Association begin and what motivated you to begin this organization?

A. We started our action in the summer of 2017. After a year of activities, the association was built officially by October, 2018. By chance, I got to know that some dogs are purposely used for blood donors. So I thought it would be a good idea if large dog owners would gather and donate canine blood. As we actually begin, we are discovering that there are quite a number of owners who are willing to support canine blood donation. This is where we begin the Korean Canine Blood Donor Association officially.

Q. What are the 'dogs purposely used for blood donors'?

A. These dogs give away blood for the entirety of their lives behind a bar. We see this as a problem in the aspect of the life value of a dog. So we gathered to resolve this issue while continuing the system of donating canine blood to dogs in domestic areas.

Q. In order to donate canine blood, is there a physical condition for it, such as the size of a dog?

A. The dog needs to be over 25kg. Small dogs under 25kg (20~24kg) might do. Nevertheless, we require over 25kg of dogs and communicate with the dog owners. Specific conditions for canine blood donors are, at the age between 2 (18months) to 8 years (96months), being vaccinated monthly with heart worm and hookworms, and getting regular vaccinations. Additionally, they shouldn't have Babesia, heartworm, blood relevant disease, and virus relevant disease history. Besides, we require conditions for medicine, surgery, pregnancy, birth, period.

Q. What are the major activities of Korean Canine Blood Donor Association members?

A. They look for places where they need a canine blood donation. We support regular donations and emergency donations. For ordinary days, we take personal schedules, and only at the point of donation, we visit cooperative animal hospitals for canine blood donation. 

Q. For the case of man, we message people to find the particular type of blood supply urgently. Do owners of dogs also communicate through messages for canine blood donation?

A. When a dog patient enters the hospital, if there is not the same canine blood type, the cooperative hospitals contact us for dog owners with dogs of the same blood type. Because we have accumulated history, we almost know which owner has a dog with a particular blood type. Canine blood donation is always a voluntary activity, so it is up to dog owners. However, we see many cases where owners visit hospitals for donations even if it takes extra hours for them.

Q. Is there any benefit from participating in canine blood donation from the hospital? Are there benefits apart from the hospital?

A. The animal hospital offers free health check-ups for canine blood donor dogs. General checkups for dogs, including blood type check ups, kit checkups, are free for us, members. We also have sponsor companies. Thus, after the blood donation, the association gives out canine blood donor certificates and sponsor companies sponsor feed and nutritional supplements.

Q.  How many times can a dog donate blood during a year?

A. In the veterinary science aspect, they can do it once every three months. However, we recommend it once a year, since we do a canine blood campaign for dog owners. So that it won't be a burden for them, but a light duty along with health checkups.

Q. How much blood is taken each time a canine blood donation is?

A. It is about 1~1.6% of the dog's weight.

Q. What food or supplement would you recommend for dog owners after the blood donation?

A. In general, the owners cook special food for donor dogs, but providing a special meal can cause a stomachache the next day because of overeating. If your dogs have healthy conditions, you won't need to provide a special meal even after the canine blood donation activity.

Q. How many owner members do you have?

A. In a family unit we have 1 thousand family members. Among them, some members own several dogs, and some members own small dogs yet became members to support us.

Q. What are the stories that the Korean Canine Blood Donor Association want to pass onto the world?

A. We hope that more people will support our project which gives more rest to professional dog donors while sick dogs get new life. Additionally, we always welcome any citizens who want to get along with us. We went out to this Megazoo Illan ESG special project hall this week hoping that more people would be concerned about life-sharing value consumption and participate. Large dog owners can participate in life sharing value consumption, and small dog owners or customers without dogs can be value consumers by supporting us. Hope you are all with us in the future.