Testing lab remains silent, but voices demanding beagles’ release grow louder
By Kitty Block and Sara Amundson
At the laboratory owned by Inotiv, a Humane Society of the United States investigator found 80 beagle puppies used in toxicity tests commissioned by Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, along with two adult beagles who’d been used for years to practice invasive procedures. The HSUS
We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support for the 82 beagles languishing at Inotiv’s Mount Vernon, Indiana, laboratory that was the site of our recent undercover investigation. A Humane Society of the United States investigator found 80 beagle puppies being force-fed potentially toxic drugs in tests commissioned by Crinetics, a pharmaceutical company in San Diego, along with two adult beagles who’d been being used for years to practice invasive procedures.
Contrary to what Inotiv and Crinetics have claimed, there is no blanket legal requirement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for dogs to be used as test subjects or to be killed after a test is over. But, despite hundreds of thousands of advocates calling for their release, Inotiv and Crinetics have so far refused to communicate with us—and so the fate of the 82 beagles remains uncertain.
We have made many attempts to reach out to Inotiv and Crinetics to engage the companies directly. Their silence has made it impossible to determine whether 32 of the puppies were euthanized, as scheduled, but we’re holding out hope that our appeal moved the two companies to release them.
Here are some of the actions we and others have taken on behalf of these dogs and other animals in Inotiv’s laboratory:
- More than 275,000 people signed our petition and/or sent emails urging the dogs’ release.
- Tens of thousands of animal lovers helped spread the word on social media.
- Actress Kim Basinger posted about her concern for the dogs on Instagram and wrote a letter to Crinetics.
- Advocates gathered at events outside Crinetics headquarters in San Diego, at two Inotiv facilities in Indiana and at one site in Maryland where Inotiv hopes to expand its East Coast presence with the help of taxpayer funding.
- Advocates outside the Mount Vernon, Indiana, facility tried to speak with Inotiv representatives and leave behind collars and leashes as a hopeful symbol of the dogs’ potential release. Unfortunately, they were turned away by police after Inotiv officials refused to meet with them.
- At the Maryland event, state Sen. Ben Kramer of Montgomery County and a representative of UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO, a labor union based in the county, made heartfelt appeals to Inotiv to release the dogs.
- Nearly 170 legislators in 32 states sent a joint letter to Inotiv and Crinetics, calling for the dogs’ release. Many of them have expressed their intention to pursue legislation that would address the issue of dog testing and encourage the adoption of dogs and cats after their time in the laboratory.
- More than a dozen states have already passed legislation to enable the adoption of dogs and cats in laboratories, most recently in Iowa, where Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law after it secured nearly unanimous support at every stage of the legislative process.
- We released a video about our investigation and a second, heartbreaking video highlighting the investigator’s experience with two macaques at Inotiv.
As we continue our drive to see these dogs spared, it is gratifying to know that you stand with us and with these animals, and we’re so grateful for all you’ve done. We’re not giving up on these dogs—or any dogs in laboratories. That’s why we’re asking every supporter, including those who took action for the beagles at Inotiv, to take another step to protect dogs and other animals in laboratories by pressing the FDA to end animal testing and prioritize more accurate and effective non-animal methods. We recently met with FDA officials who shared their intentions to do so, but we must all do our part to make sure tangible changes occur. You can help us to forge a future in which animals no longer suffer in laboratories by urging the FDA to commit to transition from animal testing to the use of non-animal methods. It’s a simple action that you can take today, and it could make a world of difference for animals.
Sara Amundson is president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund.
Como es posible que sigan haciendo sufrir a mas animalitos esto tiene que acabar no lo podemos permitir por favor ya no mas abusos ni violencia necesitamos alzar la voz por los que no tienen voz
Inotiv and Crinetics are probably independent labs that are used by other companies who contract with them to perform toxicology and other tests. It seems like it should not be that difficult to find out which companies pay Inotiv and Crinetics to do their testing for them. Economic pressure – through boycotts – should then be exerted on these other companies in order to effect change at the testing companies themselves. Signing petitions and demonstrating are all very well and good but these companies care about one thing and one thing only: the bottom line.
Please help them. Their are other ways to test especially products I work t use any make up nothing that test on animals. If we can get a vaccine for Covid that fast. Animal testing must stop and use alternatives.
Horrific, barbaric abuse! So shocking and unnecessary to torture these innocent and feeling beings! Let the beagles go to rescues and stop force feeding them toxins!
STOP THIS MESS
ABSOLUTELY CRUEL AND UNNECESSARY.
Stop subjecting these innocent animals to unnecessary testing !
Disgusting humans are the meanest of all animals. Thank goodness for the angels of mercy. Keep fighting evil . Be safe
To the Humane Society:
Your letters to researchers are too long and too polite. Tell research companies their research is sadistic and inhumane, and unnecessary. What more do they need to know!
I wish this all stopped. I don’t know who are we to decide which living being’s life, suffering or happiness is worth less than ours.
❓HASTA CUÁNDO CONTINÚAN CON ESTAS BARBARIES DESPIADADAS , ABOMINABLES , IRRACIONALES Y DELEZNABLES EN CONTRA DE ANIMALITOS INOCENTES , INDEFENSOS, FRÁGILES Y DESPROTEGIDOS❓ ‼️ES UNA VERGÜENZA INMORAL PARA LA HUMANIDAD Y PARA EL PLANETA
🌎 ‼️💔🆘💔🆘💔🆘💔🆘💔🆘💔🆘💔🆘💔🆘💔🆘💔🆘💔
Testing on dogs in such horrific conditions needs to be stopped immediately. The so called findings are very questionable and non animal testing is far superior for valid results, and stopping horrific torture to man’s best friend. The treatment these beagle puppies are getting is heartbreaking and INAFFECTIVE, and must be permanently stopped now!
Absolutely unbelievable, barbaric and unnecessary.
As a medical professional, I know there is absolutely NO EXCUSE for continuing this barbaric practice on animals. There are far better alternative testing procedures which are HUMANE and do NOT TORTURE animals.
This situation moved me to write a letter to Senator Alex Padilla of California. He actually responded by saying that his staff is looking into the problem. I expressly said that it was “urgent” that he intervene. Why no news from the testing companies? Senator Padilla has been re-elected for the primaries! Congrats to him! I also specifically mentioned The Humane Society of the United States. Maybe more letters to him can bring a stronger response. It’s disappointing that we have such good response in the Foreign Countries and cannot do the same in the United States!
Stop the cruel please and take a Other Way human for the animails
Stop the cruel testing and take a other way human
TIME TO END THIS BARBARIC ACT OF ANIMAL ABUSE AND CRUELTY. IN THE 21ST CENTURY THERE DEFINITELY ARE ALTERNATIVES TO THIS HORRIFIC ACT OF TORTURE.
This is pure insanity to use these animals for tests. Stop it now. Free these dogs to have a good life and be subject to daily poisoning. Can animal cruelty charges be filed against them?We must do something.
Many thanks for your committment to protect animals. I find the video of Riley, the beagle, to be enormously upsetting, but I think we all need to be aware that this outdated testing is still in effect. I also am sickened at animals having to live in cages.
Please continue your campaign and call upon the public for further support. I think most of us realize that such suffering is unnecessary and will gladly support you. How can there be inaction as long as these inhumane and often sadistic practices continue?
There are 100s of things to take stands against in today’s world, this is one of them. We need to put an end to this.
I have been thinking about the 82 beagles ever since I received an email from the HSUS back in April. I have been trying to think of various ways to save these beagles. I was devastated when I heard 32 of the beagles were killed on May 16. Then I read that it was 22 beagles. Now from reading Kitty’s and Sara’s post here I learned that there nobody really knows if the beagles were killed or not. When I called the HSUS an operator there told me that Inotiv plans on killing more beagles in November. I don’t know if that information is accurate. I wish someone could tell me what is being done currently to hopefully have those beagles released. I know that we need to write to the FDA which is what I plan on doing. But that won’t save the lives of those beagles. We all need to get together and DO SOMETHING! I have been unable to speak to anyone at the HSUS who can tell me what they have planned to save the beagles. I have an idea which might help save them but I would like to have the approval of someone in a position of authority at the HSUS to please tell me if what I would like to do is okay with them. I hope someone from the HSUS sees this and will email me to learn about my idea.
Same here, Cynthia… I have been unable to get the beagles off my mind the past 2-3 months and keep searching for updates. It is my hope that because of Inotiv’s stubbornness and unwillingness to give these beagles a chance at loving homes after the hell they’ve subjected them to, Indiana and other states will keep passing stricter laws to put an end to this barbarity altogether.
Please stop all animal testing, Free the beagles to be adopted.