The investigation looked into the broadly unregulated animal blood bank industry
A PETA investigation reportedly found that an animal blood bank in Indiana was grossly mistreating hundreds of animals while they were bled for pet hospitals across the country.
Nearly 500 cats and 365 dogs were kept in cramped spaces without beds and only given the “bare necessities” of food and water. They were allegedly subjected to blood withdraws every three weeks at The Veterinarian’s Blood Bank in Vallonia, Indiana , per the investigation’s findings.
The animal’s blood was sent to BluePearl Pet Hospital and VCA Animal Hospitals — which run over 1,000 animal hospitals nationwide — used for blood transfusions given to animals in need.
The investigation looked into the broadly unregulated animal blood bank industry, whose oversight is often left to various state agencies or local law enforcement officers.
There’s a lack of federal guidance about the “housing and treatment of animal blood donors,” according to the Association of Veterinary Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, and such animals are only protected under the federal Anti-cruelty Act . However, most of the animals at the VBB were bred at the facility, so minimal regulations protect them.