In pictures: Hundreds of beagles spared from animal testing arrive in our care to start new lives
The Humane Society of the United States’ Animal Rescue Team members and volunteers carry beagles into our rehabilitation center in Maryland on July 21, 2022. Kevin Wolf/AP Images for the HSUS
Last week, we along with several of our shelter and rescue partners embarked on a historic operation and removed the first 432 of approximately 4,000 beagles from Envigo RMS LLC’s facility in Cumberland, Virginia, which bred dogs to be sold to laboratories for animal experimentation.
I was on hand to help welcome a couple hundred of these beagles to our rehabilitation center in Maryland, and viewers online also got their first glimpses of these beagles via a livestream. (I suspect that many of those watching will be welcoming one of these beagles into their homes in the coming months!)
The Department of Justice asked the HSUS to assume the responsibility of coordinating placement for approximately 4,000 beagles from Envigo, which bred dogs to be sold to laboratories for animal experimentation. Kevin Wolf/AP Images for the HSUS
As I recently detailed, the removal of these dogs from the breeding facility is the result of lawsuit filed against Envigo by the Department of Justice in May, alleging Animal Welfare Act violations at the facility. Government inspectors found that beagles there were being killed instead of receiving veterinary treatment for easily treated conditions; nursing mother beagles were denied food; the food that they did receive contained maggots, mold and feces; and over an eight-week period, 25 beagle puppies died from cold exposure. Other dogs suffered from injuries when they were attacked by other dogs in overcrowded conditions.
Kitty Block was present to help greet the first 201 beagles transferred to our care and rehabilitation center in Maryland. Kevin Wolf/AP Images for the HSUS
It is difficult to articulate how moving it was to witness this truly historic moment in animal protection. Our Animal Rescue Team was ready for this challenge because this is who we are—what we have trained for: We take on what otherwise seems impossible.
As our team members unloaded pups from the transport van, the scale of this operation became more concrete: Our staffers emerged from the van over and over with literally armfuls of young beagles. Staff and volunteers from RedRover have been invaluable partners in our efforts to help these dogs settle in at our facility.
Staffers made sure that each beagle was accounted for, taking down the numbers that were tattooed on the inside of the ears of the beagles as they were unloaded from the transport van. Kevin Wolf/AP Images for the HSUS
We are honored that the Department of Justice asked us to lead this massive transport operation, which includes some nursing beagle moms.
Beagle puppies settle in at our care center in central Maryland. Kevin Wolf/AP Images for the HSUS
We are also deeply grateful to our dedicated independent rescue and shelter partners, a network of organizations in communities throughout the country. Thanks to them, these remarkable dogs will have wonderful homes and lives ahead of them, just as they deserve.
This first transfer of hundreds of beagles included some nursing beagle moms. Kevin Wolf/AP Images for the HSUS
Follow Kitty Block on Twitter @HSUSKittyBlock.
I was extremely naïve about animal research in US. I am going to research my purchases as much as possible and if there is any hint animals are used for research I will not purchase. The company Envigo has, it seems, has companies everywhere throughout the world. It concerns me the mindset of the people that own and work in these companies/facility. America faces a multitude of issues in this time. Mass school shootings, extremes in thinking of humankind, environmental issues, but if we could treat our animals with more humane treatment, we could, as a country, hold our heads a little higher.
Well said!!!
Amen
How we treat animals may be a greater indicator of how we will treat each other.
Thankyou no more being Abused thankyou bring some to maine
Esto tiene que acabar no podemos seguir abusando de la vida de estos perritos debe de existir una ley para acabar con esta crueldad e inhumanidad está violencia no la podemos permitir más son seres vivos no podemos abusar de su vida
I would love a puppy 🐶
Gracias a Dios que existe gente buena que se esfuerza y se preocupa por salvar a los animalitos pero aun así tenemos que seguir luchando por los todos los seres vivos
Thank You, God, for this wonderful victory!
That horrible Envigo SHOULD PAY ALL expenses involved in the transportation and care for each of the 4,000 dogs until they each go to their forever loving homes.
Agreed. Along with every other company that breeds animals for labs. Also the labs themselves must be help accountable & shutdown
We don’t need this ancient process anymore.
I would like to have one of the puppies :Thanks
🙌 HSUS. Thank you!
I would like to adopt a female baby Beagle.I do have a beagle she is 8 years old and we have 2 other beagles that past away.How do I do this ? Thank you Roberta
Donate, Donate, Donate! To help!
V I C T O R Y
I would love a beagle puppy
I’m located in Arkansas and I’m looking to help. Who should I contact?
Hi Lauren, thank you for your support. You can find here many ways to help.
My wife and I would love a puppy! Please advise what is needed to accomplish this. Thank you in advance.
Please keep up the good work!
Bvanni608@verizon.net
My husband and I are interested in adopting a female beagle puppy. If there are any miniature beagles we are very interested. We like the tri-color beagles.
Our son and daughter both have beagles. We love them.
Unnecessary experiments on animals, carried out by laboratories wherever they may be, must be banned and those responsible prosecuted. For this to happen, there must be monitoring by the authorities and cooperation by animal protection organizations. It would be preferable if those responsible were sentenced to do community work in shelters that rescue and recover animals, in addition to the penalties applicable to them.
It’s always great to see that my monthly donation to HSUS is really helping animals. Thank you for all you do!
Danke für die Rettung der Beagles …♥️Karin erker