For The Love Of Dog… Beagles As Lab Rats?
– by Christie Zizo
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Beaglefreedomproject.org.
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Photography by Laura Allen Studios
To foster a Beagle, contact the following Florida-based rescue groups via their websites. Southeast Beagle Rescue SEBR.org First Coast Beagle Rescue FirstCoastBeagleRescue.RescueGroups.org Tampa Bay Beagle Rescue TampaBayBeagleRescue.org
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ast February, 10 caged Beagles used for laboratory research were put on a plane in the Midwest. They took their first steps in the California sunshine thanks to an organization that is finding homes for laboratory beagles all over the world. The Beagle Freedom Project was founded in 2010 after attorney Shannon Keith was told about a pending arrival of two laboratory beagles. Moved by the story of caged Beagles and efforts by several acquaintances to rescue them, Attorney Keith decided to shoot video of these dogs as they took their first steps. “How they gingerly walked, interacted with each other for the first time, and slowly warmed up to people, was heartbreaking yet inspiring,” Keith said.The video was posted to the internet and eventually went viral, creating a movement that is helping change how people view animal testing. Since that fateful day some three years ago, The Beagle Freedom Project has rescued dozens of Beagles, including 40 from Spain, 10 from a testing lab in San Diego and the recent 10 from the Midwest. “We can cite over 100 examples of these ‘bred for research’ Beagles successfully adapting to home life and becoming treasured additions to loving families. The journey each Beagle takes from the lab to the couch is different for each dog and depends on the violence they suffered in the labs,” Keith said. “Some of our Beagles adapt right away and love people, soaking up as much human affection as they can. Others take much longer to trust and believe that they will not be harmed.”
Why Beagles? They are such agreeable dogs. According to The Beagle Freedom Project website: “Beagles are the most popular breed for laboratory testing because of their friendly, docile, trusting, forgiving, people-pleasing personalities. The research industry says they adapt well to living in a cage, and are inexpensive to feed.” Many of these Beagles are purposebred for research by commercial breeders. How does Beagle Freedom Project find the Beagles they free? In America, the USDA keeps a record of all facilities that use dogs in research. In Florida, the USDA lists nine groups with laboratory operations that test on dogs, though they do not specify whether Beagles are used. However, records do reveal that in the United States, 70,000 dogs are being used for research…and almost all of them are Beagles. The products tested on them range from cigarettes to makeup to prescription drugs. “Most companies and universities that have partnered with Beagle Freedom Project have come from a friendly advocate working inside the lab,” Keith said. “Although they may disagree with us about the efficacy and ethics of using animals for research, they do share our principle of giving these dogs a chance at a normal life.” So how can you help? The Beagle Freedom Project is running nationwide outreach c