The Massachusetts Society For the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals confirmed on Tuesday that the 100 Beagles brought to Salem’s Northeast Animal Shelter and other shelters across the state late last month were among the 4,000 recently rescued from a Virginia research lab.
The dogs were rescued from “underfed, ill, and injured” conditions. They were found at the Virginia breeding and research facility. MSPCA-Angell later confirmed the Beagles brought to Massachusetts were part of that evacuation.
“We joined the Northeast Animal Shelter to take about 100 of these Beagles,” MSCPA-Angell posted on social media. “Thanks to all of you for sharing our story.”
What MSCPA-Angell have to say about Beagles?
MSCPA-Angell said late last month it closed adoption inquiries after receiving more than 800 requests for the 100 available Beagles. Those who want to donate to support the care for the Beagles waiting for adoption can do so here.
MPSCA-Angell said at the time of their arrival in Massachusetts in June that the dogs were living in confined and unsanitary conditions. They had little to no socialization. Two of the dogs were also pregnant at the time of the rescue. They had since given birth — so the group included 13 newborn puppies.
The case was still under investigation. This is why MSCPA-Angell did not reveal the research facility in question or its location in June.
The Massachusetts State Senate this week passed three bills that promote animal welfare — one of which is commonly known as the “Beagle Bill” that encourages research facilities that use dogs and cats to offer these animals up for adoption after finishing research, rather than automatically euthanizing them.
“The Beagle Bill will give research dogs and cats a second chance at life and bring Massachusetts
in line with other states across our nation,” State Sen. Joan Lovely (D-Salem), Chair of the Senate Committee on Rules.
“We owe so much of human advancement to the service and sacrifice of these animals, and they deserve to be loved and cherished after a job well done.”
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, nationally more than 60,000 dogs, almost all Beagles, and nearly 20,000 cats are used each year to advance scientific research and test
cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and other household products.
Currently, many research labs choose to automatically euthanize these cats and dogs once their experiments are over.