4,000 Beagles Being Rescued From Research Facility Are Seeking New Homes

What’s the story?

• More than 400 beagles bred for pharmaceutical research and testing were removed on July 21 from a Virginia-based Envigo RMS facility that was found to be in violation of several federal animal welfare regulations. 
• The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is coordinating with animal rescue groups across the country to rehome around 4,000 beagles after a federal judge ordered the facility to release the dogs within 60 days. 

The big picture

• A Department of Justice (DOJ) press release reported extensive, ongoing violations of animal welfare regulations at the facility — including failure to meet the Animal Welfare Act’s (AWA) minimum standards for handling, housing, feeding, watering, sanitation, and adequate veterinary care. Reports say inspectors discovered 25 puppies that died from cold exposure over the course of 8 weeks, beagles that were euthanized instead of receiving veterinary treatment for easily treated conditions or euthanized without anesthesia, nursing mother dogs that were denied food, contaminated food, overcrowded conditions, and further evidence of inhumane treatment.
• Envigo, an Inotiv company, breeds and sells animals — including dogs, primates, rabbits, and rodents — for pharmaceutical and biomedical research and testing. The DOJ stated that the company agreed to the plan to transfer the remaining dogs.

What’s next?

• HSUS is coordinating to move the beagles to shelters across the country, including in Virginia, Michigan, California, Wyoming, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin. They will need to undergo health assessments, vaccinations, and further evaluations for proper placement.
• Lindsay Hamrick, shelter outreach and engagement director for HSUS stated:

“It takes a massive network of compassionate, expert shelters and rescue groups to make an operation of this scale possible. We are deeply grateful to each organization that is stepping up to find these dogs the loving homes they so deserve.”

How can you help?

• Are you interested in adopting or fostering? The HSUS has a list of partners accepting beagles into their adoption program here. See if one is in your area and reach out to them directly for more information on how you can help. Many also operate social media accounts with regular updates. If a shelter near you is not taking dogs from this specific operation, they likely still need volunteers, fosterers, and adopters. 

-Casey Dawson

(Photo credit: Doug Zwick / Flickr)