Beagles Rescued from Research Labs: Beagle Freedom Project

Most animals used in research labs live out their lives confined in wire cages. They are poked, stuck, prodded and exposed to harsh or toxic chemicals rubbed on their skin or injected into their bodies so companies can claim the safety of their products for human use. Unfortunately for the animals forced to endure pain and suffering in the name of science; test results cannot guarantee the safety or effectiveness of many of the products we buy because of the differences between human and animal physiology and anatomy. The story for too many dogs used in research labs ends quietly behind closed doors. The Beagle Freedom Project is a non profit organization making a difference for dogs by working with research labs trying to find homes for healthy beagles.

Beagle Freedom Project was started in 2010 when founder, Shannon Keith, learned beagles that had been used in a research lab had been granted their freedom. The non profit organization was set up to rescue the dogs that are no longer needed in research labs and try to find them good homes where they can live in a happy environment outside of a cage. The dogs are legally surrendered to the Beagle Freedom Project.

Beagles are intelligent dogs, with a happy, laid back, gentle and loving personality. They make great family pets, with or without kids, and get along well with other dogs and other pets as long as they are properly socialized with them. According to the AKC Dog Registration Statistics, beagles are one of the most popular dog breed in the country. They are also a favorite dog breed for use in research labs because of their trusting nature, eagerness to please, low maintenance, low cost to feed and ability to adapt. Commercial breeders, Class A dealers (puppy mills), supply beagles to research labs. However, responsible breeders who care about selective breeding to improve a dog breed, only sell to the general public and guarantee a puppy's health and genetic background are also commercial breeders. There is an important difference between legitimate breeders and those that are considered puppy mills. Responsible breeders cares what happens to their pups, puppy mills don't.

Most of the lab dogs rescued by the Beagle Freedom Project have lived their entire lives locked away in a cage. The goal of the organization is to place each rescued dog in a forever home. Foster homes and anyone wanting to adopt a dog can find information about either one on their website by clicking here.

If you are interested in helping out or adopting a beagle, please understand that many of these dogs don't know what a real home is or how they are suppose to act. They have never romped in the grass, dug a hole in the ground, felt the warmth of the sun on their body, played with another dog, chased a cat or experienced a loving touch from a human. A tattooed ID number on the inside flap of the ear is the only distinguishing symbol they have that marks them as an individual dog in a lab. They've never played with a toy, walked on a leash or chased a butterfly in a yard. Their feet are sore or infected from standing on the wire floor of their cage.

Beagles are barkers, but for many of these lab dogs, their vocal chords have been damaged by crushing the vocal chords with a pipe or surgically debarked (a procedure where the dog's vocal cords are cut to reduce the level and pitch of his bark) by their commercial breeder before they were sold to a research lab. They have never been housebroken or socialized with other pets or people. Most importantly, they have no idea what it's like to be a real dog. These rescued dogs are healthy and with the right person, can quickly learn and adjust to life outside of a research lab's wire cage.

Every now and then, a story touches your heart and most animal lovers can't help but get a little teary eyed when you see how the efforts of an organization like the Beagle Freedom Project can make a difference in the life of rescued research lab dogs who are finally getting a chance to live a normal life as a dog. Sometimes it's pictures or a video that can say it much better than words. Take a minute to watch this touching video of rescued beagles as they discover a world they never knew existed. For more information on the Beagle Freedom Project, please visit their website.

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