by Jon Osterholm

California Governor Gray Davis recently signed legislation requiring annual inspections to be conducted at animal blood banks and facilities in which donor animals are kept.

"Animal blood banks and similar establishments should be regulated to ensure the humane treatment of the animals involved," said Davis.

In order to provide funding for the inspections, the new law authorizes the California Department of Food and Agriculture to increase the fee for an animal blood bank license. The legislation originally had clauses permitting only veterinarians and veterinary technicians to draw blood and limiting the amount of time during which an animal could be used as a donor. However, concerns about increasing the cost of obtaining blood and the possible euthanization of animals no longer kept as donors prompted lawmakers to remove both clauses.

Former Butte Humane Society President Nancy Gebert and other animal welfare activists began lobbying for the law after becoming aware of animals used as donors being abused.

Animal Blood Bank owner Pat Kaufman stated that she thought the law might deter pet owners from bringing in their companion animals to donate because the owners would not want to be subject to annual inspections of their homes.

There are only four animal blood banks in the United States. Two of them are in California.

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Written by Jon Osterholm