They were rescued by two associations that will have them adopted by families willing to welcome them. In recent months, two attacks on the research center ended with clashes with the police and arrests
There is a case Green Hill also in the United States. And as happened with the Montichiari company, also in the American twin story there is finally a happy ending: i beagles used for animal testing they have left the laboratories and are preparing to join new families who will welcome them as life companions and not as living subjects on which to test chemical products. I am 1,500 and some of them have already left the research center where they were detained. Others will do so in the next few days, thanks to the commitment of two associations: the Big Dog Ranch Rescuewho will take care of a thousand little dogs, and the Center for a Humane Economywho will take care of the others.
The two organizations have negotiated an agreementremained confidential, with the company that owns the laboratories for detect animals and rescue them from their fate as soon as possible, even if the company’s activity here would have ended in the summer anyway.
In recent weeks there had been heated protests around the Ridglan Farms headquarters and the police had intervened with force, also using tear gas and pepper sprayto stop activists who were trying to free the dogs kept in the facility. Some of them were stopped and reported and will have to answer for crimes such as resisting a public official and burglary. When the matter arrives in court there will be a lot of talk about it, because the associations that support them intend to use the media visibility of the case to report the methods of treatment of animals intended for testing.
This will happen in the coming weeks and months. Meanwhile, yesterday began for many of the dogs path to a new life. Among the activists and volunteers who participated in the recovery operations there was also the journalist and presenter Giuliana RancicItalian naturalized American, also well known for a very popular reality show she ran together with her husband. Rancic lent his face to the recovery and adoption campaign. «The last 48 hours have been full of emotions – he wrote today on his Instagram profile -, more than I can express in a caption, and I wanted to be present to fully savor them. I’m here supporting this incredible mission, watching the first 300 sweet beagles begin the next chapter of their lives.” And again: «After two intense days, I woke up with a moment of fear thinking that it could all have been a dream. But it wasn’t. Thank God for this. Animal rights activists they gave a voice to these innocent beaglesthey made the world take an interest in them.”
In the next few weeks the beagles will be kept under observation and visited by veterinarians and will then be entrusted to anyone who requests it. The two animal rights associations that rescued them – not involved in the clashes of a month ago – have already made it known that they have received hundreds of requests from almost all American states. But they will not be assigned to the first ones who show up: the associations will rigorously select potential adopterswhich will be directed to shelters across the country where the animals will soon be sorted. Furthermore, the dogs will receive an initial basic education to facilitate coexistence, which is inevitable after an entire existence spent between cages and fences. For example, they will be taught how to relieve themselves outside the home.
As mentioned, not all the rescued dogs have yet left the research center, considering the numbers in the field. But the operations should be completed within a couple of weeks. The two associations that are responsible for it have set up a sorting area with play pens in Wisconsin, where dogs are vaccinated, microchipped, spayed or neutered and prepared for transportation. From there they then reach the headquarters of the two rescue groups who will then provide them with a new family. Big Dog Ranch Rescue has already begun relocating dogs to its center in Palm Beach County, Florida. «Younger dogs will adapt more quickly – explains Simmons -, while older dogs will need more time. Many of them are more likely to accept affection and already want to be with people.” In short, after long detention and total emotional deprivationfor them it is time to learn to live in society.
«Beagles are the most commonly used dog breed for animal testing, mainly due to their small size and of mild temperament – highlights Simmons -. A Belgian Malinois would not stand to be tested, to be confined to a kennel for his entire life. Beagles are so confident, docile, calm and forgiving, so they are the most chosen dogs for animal testing. And we take one of the sweetest, kindest, most trusting breeds and mistreat them? This is wrong. We need to put an end to all this.”
THE’Associated Press recalls that Ridglan Farms agreed in October to give up its state breeding license effective July 1, as part of a deal to avoid criminal prosecution for animal cruelty. The company denied mistreating the animals, but a special prosecutor established that they were being carried out at the center ocular procedures in violation of state veterinary standards. Also for this reason, on April 18th, a thousand activists decided to meet outside the warehouses. Blue Moundsabout 25 miles southwest of Madison, on April 18, with the purpose of releasing the animals. An event which, as mentioned, ended with the energetic intervention of the police deployed in force.
In that second action, 29 people were arrested, although only 5 were charged with burglary. Activists have also filed a federal lawsuit in Wisconsin accusing the officers of excessive use of force.
