4,000 beagles rescued from a dog breeding facility in Virginia have nowhere to go. The facility had 70 animal welfare violations and over 300 beagle puppies died last year.
Animals rescued from dog breeding facility in Virginia
Over 4,000 beagles were rescued from a dog breeding center in Virginia. Envigo, the breeding facility in Cumberland, Virginia, supplies beagles for medical and other research purposes. It had several lawsuits slapped against it for violating federal laws. More than 70 animal welfare violations were reported at the breeding facility during inspections spanning over nine months.
Additionally, court records reveal that over 300 beagle puppies died there between January and July 2021.
Animal shelters in the area are now gearing up to manage the “monumental” task of rehabilitating the animals through adoption.
Last week, a federal court gave a green signal for rehabilitating dogs from the facility. Based on the complaint filed with the US District Court in the Western District of Virginia., puppies and adult beagles at the facility were underfed, injured, and sick,
The dogs were kept in small spaces where faeces piled up, the complaint said, adding that they had to undergo painful medical science experiments and received poor medical care at the facility.
What next?
“At this time, we are connecting with our shelter and rescue partners and preparing to take on the monumental process of securing placement for these dogs,” stated the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).
A transfer plan that had earlier been sent for approval by Envigo, the Department of Justice, and HSUS was given the green light by the federal court, the HSUS said.
“Now that the Court has approved the joint transfer plan, we and our partners are preparing to move quickly to place these beagles in loving homes,” added the statement by the Human Society.
Homeward Trails Animal Rescue, a non-profit animal welfare group based in Fairfax Station, Virginia are taking some of the beagles from the Envigo facility. Last month, they rescued around 475 beagles from the breeding center.
Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, Virginia senators stated that they are “thrilled to report that nearly 450 innocent dogs are finally free from abuse and neglect after being seized by federal officials and surrendered by Envigo”.
“We’ve spent months pressing the Department of Agriculture to take action against Envigo following its persistent and egregious abuses of animal welfare laws, and are glad to see enforcement efforts come to fruition,” they added. The group is planning to rehabilitate 1,500 more beagles this time, starting from around July 19.