The Life of a Research Beagle

It’s infuriating to me that in 2014, animals are still being used for research purposes in the United States. Why are we continuing to allow dogs, cats, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, and rats to suffer and die in laboratories in the name of science when there are alternatives to these cruel practices?

I find it utterly heartbreaking that the Beagle, one of the sweetest, most gentle breeds of dog, is the canine of choice when it comes to research.

Each year, 70,000 Beagles die in the name of medical and military research, not to mention so that we can have things like cologne, lipstick, and household products.

Why? It’s completely possible to produce cruelty-free products, so as dog-loving consumers, why are we allowing this nonsense to continue?

Take a look at this infographic to learn some interesting facts and statistics about the life of a research beagle, and then we’ll chat some more below. 

The lives these dogs lead are unimaginable. They live in tiny, cramped cages, and the only human touch they’ve ever known is when they’re moved to and from their cages for testing. They’ve never been outdoors, never seen the sun, never played with a toy.

Think about the life your own dog leads, and then imagine her living the way these lab dogs live.

And even worse, when their stint as a research Beagle is over, many don’t even get to go to a nice, cushy retirement home. Instead, they’re killed because they’re no longer needed.

Thank goodness for organizations like Beagle Freedom Project. If you’re not familiar with them, you should know that “BFP is dedicated to saving as many Beagles from laboratories as possible. To that end, BFP reaches out to laboratories that test and experiment on Beagles and asks for their release so that they may be given a chance at life. All of the rescues are legal.”

By the way, that beautiful boy in the photo at the top of this article is Frankie, one of 9 Beagles rescued from a Nevada laboratory earlier this month. He is still unsure and untrusting of people but he’s slowly warming up to his foster parents. Take a look at this amazing video from the day Frankie was rescued. It will make you cry happy tears.

Isn’t it incredible to think that these 9 sweet souls had never walked on grass and had never played with another dog until that blessed day they were rescued? 

But what’s more incredible – and so unacceptable – is the fact that we’re continuing to let dogs just like Frankie and his friends be used for testing. As long as we as consumers continue to support the companies that use animal testing, this cruel practice will continue.

So what are we to do? To make a difference, start with these 3 steps:

1. Refuse to buy and use any product unless the label clearly states that it is cruelty-free. I’m not a big fan of PETA, but they do maintain a good database for finding brands that don’t do animal testing. 
2. Educate yourself and stay on the cutting edge of what’s in the news with regard to research animal laws. 
3. Support groups that work hard to make a difference, like Beagle Freedom Project. 

I’ve found that one of the most important weapons we can arm ourselves with in the war against animal cruelty is recognizing the power each of us has at our fingertips.

Understanding that even though you’re just one person, when we all come together united in our cause, we become a strong army with a much greater chance at victory over our opponents.

If we all stop using products that are tested on animals, eventually those companies will stop making them.

So, will you join me? Will you start practicing the 3 steps above, and will you share this post with your friends and ask them to do the same?