JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The rescue of thousands of beagles from a Virginia ranch that sold dogs to various labs in the US for experimentation has captured the hearts of dog lovers across the country.
The Department of Justice has seized 4,000 beagles from the Envigo breeding facility in Virginia, and the Humane Society of the United States has been working to get them from Cumberland, Virginia, to shelters across the country that have space to raise them. to catch.
Ten of the beagles will soon be available for adoption at the Nassau Humane Society in Fernandina Beach.
All of the beagles now with the Nassau Humane Society are 7-month-old males, said Shelter Director Mandy Holden.
“They look remarkably healthy considering what they’ve been through,” she said.
They’ve all been seen by a vet in Maryland and have health certificates, she said.
RELATED: ‘They’ve spent their whole lives in cages’: Local animal rescue organization helps transport 60 beagles to safe shelters in the US
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After going through the NHS medical department, the dogs should be available for viewing and pre-adoption in Fernandina Beach from Friday, August 26. NHS hopes that once they have been neutered they should be available for adoption from Tuesday 30th August.
“They’re going to need patience and a lot of love and slow introductions,” Holden said. “They are all very sweet and gentle, but they’ve never seen a leash and have never been housetrained, so don’t expect ready-made dogs.”
NHS is one of about 10 rescues in Florida that beagles have received, according to Holden.
“The amazing crew at The Humane Society of Tulsa transported these beagles from the Virginia facility to shelters and rescue services across the country. This trip they had just over 100 beagles in their transport vehicle,” Holden said.
They arrived Wednesday night and “are already adjusting very well,” Holden said Thursday. “Some come up to us at the kennel doors to greet us.”
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Nassau Humane Society is looking for patient adopters who want to work with these dogs.
A federal judge approved a plan to transfer the dogs to US shelters after the facility was accused of numerous animal welfare violations.
US Humane Society Shelter Outreach Director Lindsay Hamrick said the Department of Justice documented dogs in the breeding facility as dying, sick or injured.
“Within a few weeks, about 25 puppies had died from exposure to the cold. Some dogs had wounds because they were housed so close to each other and that they could argue about food, for example. Then dogs with medical conditions should have been treated at Envigo,” Hamrick said.
While it is legal to breed dogs for research, the welfare of the animals in breeding must be in order and provide satisfactory conditions.
Repeated federal inspections of the Envigo facility found dozens of violations, according to investigators, including that some dogs had been “killed” without first being anaesthetized, that dogs had received inadequate veterinary care and food, and that they were living in unsanitary conditions.
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“It takes a huge network of compassionate, knowledgeable shelters and rescues to facilitate an operation of this magnitude,” said Lindsay Hamrick, director of shelters and engagement at the Humane Society of the United States. “We are deeply grateful to any organization that makes the effort to give these dogs the loving homes they so deserve.”
The Humane Society of the United States maintains a list of partners who accept animals in their adoption program.
NHS said it was grateful for the support from the local community that makes it possible for the shelter to help animals in cases like this.
“We have a long history,” Holden said. “We’ve taken in dogs from hurricane relief missions, a Korean meat market, potcake dogs from the Bahamas, and homeless dogs from Puerto Rican rescue transfers.”
If you would like to help by adopting one of the beagles, please check the NHS Facebook page for status updates. If you can’t adopt but still want to help, donations are needed to pay for the dogs’ spaying surgeries and any medical needs. Donations can be made at nassauhumane.org, at the shelter at 639 Airport Road in Fernandina Beach, or by calling 904-321-1647.
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“And please, if you’re looking for a beagle from our facility, consider walking around and meeting all of our animals,” Holden said. “You could fall in love with any dog here. They are all ready for a loving home.”
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