Palou

"Palou is a free platform that helps dogs and cats get the blood they need in time. Like people, animals can depend on transfusions after a serious accident, during an operation, or as ongoing treatment for anaemia and other blood disorders. Finding a matching donor at short notice usually means phoning around clinics or posting appeals on social media while the clock runs. Palou turns that search into a guided process.

Owners sign up in a few minutes, add their pet's key details such as age and blood type, and decide whether their animal should also be available as a donor. When a request comes in, the matching system contacts suitable donors automatically, weighing distance, blood type compatibility, the donor's health, and how long it has been since their last donation. Both sides are notified as soon as there is a match and can coordinate the appointment directly in the app.

Veterinary clinics and practices use Palou to build a reliable local donor pool, connect with private donors nearby, and organise reserves instead of improvising during an emergency. A public donor map shows where coverage already exists.

Palou is run by Palou e.V., a recognised non-profit association based in Berlin, Germany, with the software developed and operated by Wheels & Wings Lab GmbH. Membership, donations and volunteers fund education, outreach and platform development. Palou was an award winner at Fressnapf in 2024 and has been covered by ZDF, BR, HundeWelt and Ein Herz für Tiere, and works with partners including the VDH and the LMU Munich veterinary clinic.

The app and the service are free for pet owners and veterinary teams alike. Registration takes minutes, and one registered pet can be the reason another animal survives."