WJLA: From 'house of horrors' to Capitol Hill, Beagles and Lawmakers Fighting for Change
WASHINGTON (WJLA) — Some of those now famous beagles who were rescued from a breeding facility in Cumberland, Virginia, popped up on Capitol Hill Thursday.
The dogs are from an Envigo breeding facility which is closing after multiple animal welfare violations. On Thursday morning, Congressional staffers got a chance to play with the beagles and see what lawmakers are fighting to change.
Cruelty-Free International, in conjunction with Congressman Tony Cárdenas of California and Homeward Trails Animal Rescue, is pushing to pass the Companion Animal Release from Experiments Act or CARE Act. It would require NIH-funded research facilities to adopt dogs, cats and rabbits at the end of experiments.
"You are still allowed to use animals in your testing and that's unfortunate, but when you do, make sure you adopt them out. Don't just send them to a place where they are going to euthanize them make sure they find a caring and loving home,” said U.S. Congressman Tony Cárdenas, D-Calif.
Described as a “house of horrors,” Envigo housed thousands of beagles in inhumane conditions. In a lawsuit filed in federal court, authorities said they were kept in filthy conditions, fed moldy food and suffered from untreated medical issues. The dogs spent their lives in cages, never setting their paws on grass.
Some beagles were euthanized without pain relief, and others were left for dead.
But in an “unprecedented case,” Envigo agreed to release 4,000 beagles from the plant and shut down operations. The U.S. government worked swiftly to transfer the dogs to the Humane Society of the United States, which has been working with shelters and organizations across the nation to place dogs and puppies for adoption.
In national news, even Prince Harry and Meghan Markle adopted a rescue beagle named Mia from the Virginia breeding facility.
By: Scott Taylor
Source: WJLA