Four thousand beagles are looking for forever homes after being removed from a Virginia research facility that was allegedly breeding the dogs to be sold to laboratories for animal experimentation. The transfer, which was coordinated by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), stems from a lawsuit filed in May by the Department of Justice against the facility’s operator, Envigo (a subsidiary of Inotiv Inc.), which alleged several Animal Welfare Act violations at the site. Repeated federal inspections revealed dozens of violations, HSUS says, including findings that some dogs had been “euthanized” without first receiving anesthesia, while others did not have access to adequate veterinary care, were not being given enough food, and were living in unsanitary conditions. The facility’s closure was announced in June. The animals’ transfer will take place in stages over the next 60 days. Dogs will be up for adoption via the Humane Society of the United States’ shelter and rescue partners. “These dogs have lived their lives in a massive breeding facility riddled with Animal Welfare Act violations,” says Miguel Abi-hassan, HSUS’s chief animal rescue, care, and sanctuary officer. “We are so grateful for the opportunity to work with our shelter and rescue partners to give these beagles a new life.” For more, click here.
