What Adopters Should Know about Research Beagles

9.12.22 In an interview with Chris McLaughlin of MassLive on August 26, Aisling Center’s Founder and President, Susan Howe, discusses how her two newest beagles are adapting to ‘life outside of captivity’. Tink and Gemma were adopted from the Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem, MA, in July and August as part of the massive effort by the United States Human Society and its partner organizations, to rehome over 4000 beagles seized from the Envigo breeding facility in Cumberland, VA. MassLive has been following the Envigo case all summer and reporting stories of adoption. They were especially interested in knowing how these dogs fare, having come from very unnatural, stressful environments in breeding facilities and laboratories. “You have to meet them where they are,” says Howe. “Patience, compassion, routine, and retraining are critical to their success, and a calm and predictable environment. They are learning to live in an entirely new world, and in most cases have endured considerable trauma in breeding facilities and laboratories.” Beagle Freedom Project has developed a helpful guide to assist new owners of former research dogs with transitioning them to life beyond the laboratory. We at Aisling are dedicated to accelerating the replacement of all dogs in research and product testing with more humane, predictable, and human-relevant in vitro, in silico and in chemico approaches. Until then, we make every effort to help those ‘retired’ from research find the loving homes and the lives they deserve.