ANIMALIA - Edition 1 by Carien Marais | Alwyn P. Marais - HTML preview

BEAGLE FREEDOM PROJECT

The story of a woman who

turned an animal testing

lab into a rehab sanctuary

In a striking turn of events, a site once known for animal testing has been reborn as a beacon of hope and rehabilitation for former lab animals. This transformation is the work of Shannon Keith, an Animal rights lawyer

and founder of the Beagle Freedom Project. Established in 2010, the project is dedicated to rescuing and

rehoming animals used in research, with a special focus on beagles, the most commonly used breed in testing.

T However, Keith’s compassion extends to all animals in need.

he journey began with Keith’s persistent outreach and socialization, spaces dedicated to the needs of cats, and to animal testing labs across the country, a an education center aimed at raising public awareness about mission that for years seemed to echo into animal testing. Beagle Freedom Project’s advocacy extends silence until John Riner, owner of Animal Health beyond rescues, pushing for legislative change with the Innovations, responded. Moved by a combination Beagle Freedom Bill and developing resources like the Cruelty

of regulatory scrutiny and a personal epiphany about the fate Cutter app to help consumers make ethical choices. With of his lab animals, Riner chose a path of kindness, offering the the passage of the FDA Modernization Act 2.0, there’s hope animals to the Beagle Freedom Project instead of euthanizing for a reduction in animal testing, further supported by the them. This collaboration led to the rescue of approximately sanctuary’s mission. The transformation of a testing site into a 3,400 animals, but Keith envisioned a grander purpose for the haven for recovery highlights a significant shift in the dialogue animals and the land they were on. When Riner expressed around animal testing and welfare. As the sanctuary prepares his intention to retire, an opportunity arose to transform his to welcome the public and educate future generations, it 30-acre testing facility in Oklahoma into a sanctuary. After stands as a testament to the possibility of change and the negotiations, Keith acquired the property, named Freedom power of compassion. Through tireless effort and dedication, Fields, under the condition that Riner cease all animal testing Freedom Fields is set to offer not just a second chance at life activities. Freedom Fields is now undergoing renovation to for its residents, but also a model for the future of animal become a rehabilitation site for animals that have endured rescue and advocacy.

the rigors of laboratory life. Plans include a senior dog center

equipped with amenities designed to aid in physical recovery Original Source: One Green Planet

Meghan, Prince Harry ROYAL ADOPTION But Keith said that for all the upgrades to the facility, the beagles were still being abused. “Basically, it’s a breeding

prison,” she said of the Virginia plant. “Not only were the issues

not corrected after inspectors went, but they were getting

worse.” After the lawsuit was filed, Envigo agreed to release

adopt beagle rescued from 4,000 beagles from the plant and shut down operations. The

federal government and the company agreed to transfer the

dogs to the Humane Society of the United States. The beagles

are being moved to shelters or groups such as the Beagle

abuse at Virginia plant Freedom Project, which places the dogs in foster homes for

rehabilitation before finding their forever homes. Hundreds

of beagles have made their way to Southern California.

Priceless Pets, which has been working with Envigo and the

Humane Society, has taken in nearly 1,000 beagles from the

Virginia plant. Ashlee Sprague, who runs the Chino Hills no-

By Noah Goldberg | Photography by Carolyn Cole kill shelter, said she had been to the Envigo facility and said

Mamma Mia was saved from a life of breeding and is now living with the Duke she’s seen worse treatment of dogs at shelters in California.

In less than two months, Mamma Mia the beagle went from rags to royalty. Her changed life began in July and Duchess of Sussex in Montecito. Above, Mia feeds her puppies at the Beagle Although she was not authorized to give details about the Rescue Project after her arrival in Los Angeles. (Beagle Freedom Project) out-of-state plant, she said it was no way for the beagles when federal authorities rescued her — along with 4,000 other beagles — from overcrowded and unsanitary to live. She also said the rescued beagles represent only a They played in the backyard with Mia, who had been conditions at the Envigo breeding and research plant in Virginia. Her new home is a sprawling estate in Montecito, fraction of all dogs that need adopting. “The beagle mission transported with eight of her newborn puppies from where the 7-year-old dog will roam around a lush 7-acre property. Her new owners? The Duke and Duchess is like a tiny little drop in the bucket of our organization,” she Maryland, where the dogs had been taken after the Virginia of Sussex. said. “We’re in this for the animals, and being able to save rescue, to Valley Village. But they did not want a puppy. those dogs from being euthanized is truly remarkable. “But “The duchess is holding Mia and was like, ‘We’re adopting I’m just so thankful for the attention because through all this her,’” Keith said. “She was like ‘No, we don’t want a Christmas ... we’ve been able to get so many other dogs adopted, and puppy. … We want ones we can help who are older.’” Meghan that’s remarkable,” Sprague said. The Beagle Freedom Project has had a rescue beagle for many years, and when she has taken in 25 of the rescued beagles. The puppies yipped saw the story about Envigo’s shutdown, she wanted to get and bit at one another, played with toys and doused their feet involved, her spokeswoman told The Times. She knew puppies in a water bowl in the backyard of Keith’s home Monday as usually are easier to find homes for and wanted to help a few foster parents milled about. Mia’s 7-week-old puppies one of the older, more vulnerable canines. Mia’s storybook scrambled around the yard and between the legs of Keith’s ending followed a life at the Envigo plant described by the massive but mindful Great Dane, Maya. The eight pups were Department of Justice as a house of horrors. In a lawsuit filed apparently unaware their mother had recently been crowned in federal court against the company in May, authorities say Dog Duchess of Montecito. Five older puppies joined the mix beagles were euthanized or left for dead by a meager staff in the yard. They’d been trucked from Cumberland, Va., to that routinely violated the Animal Welfare Act. Investigators the Atlanta Humane Society, where Beagle Freedom Project visiting the facility on numerous occasions in 2021 and 2022 transporter Malina Shirley scooped them up and drove them found nightmarish conditions, including beagles with severe to Los Angeles. The older puppies had Envigo’s green, six- and untreated medical issues, insufficient food and housed in letter serial numbers tattooed on the insides of their ears. The filthy conditions. The dogs were sometimes being fed moldy youngest pups weren’t marked because they were born too food, and on two occasions, inspectors found live maggots close to the plant’s shutdown, Keith said. With about 1,000 in their food, prosecutors said. Some animals had been people on the waitlist to adopt the beagles, Keith expects euthanized without first receiving anesthesia, and hundreds her nonprofit should have no trouble finding homes for the were found dead at the facility, according to inspectors. In Virginia rescues. But she is focused on finding the perfect addition to the euthanized dogs, investigators discovered that home for each one, a special match between owner and dog. 300 canines died at the plant over a seven-month period from As the Duke and Duchess prepared to leave the Valley Village “unknown causes.” Envigo, the second-largest producer of “T house with the newest, four-legged member of the House of dogs for medical research, breeds roughly 25% of the beagles Windsor, Harry paused, Keith said. “He’s just like, ‘Well, we he duchess called me personally,” said were used in laboratory testing. “We talked for 30 minutes, used in medical and drug research in the U.S. The company, can’t leave yet because there’s something in that back house Shannon Keith, an animal rights attorney and I thought, ‘Is this Megan Fox?’” But it was Meghan, the purchased in November 2021 by Inotiv — an animal testing she needs. Does she have a favorite toy or something?’” Keith who runs the Beagle Freedom Project Duchess of Sussex, and her husband, Prince Harry, who made firm that also has come under scrutiny — has not denied said. The royals made their way back and found a box filled out of the low-slung Valley Village house an after-hours visit to the unassuming San Fernando Valley allegations of noncompliance with the Animal Welfare Act. with toys. They flipped it over, and Mia grabbed a fox toy she where she used to live. But Keith said house on Hartsook Street this month. “There is actually very little that should remain in dispute in had played with during her cross-country trip from Maryland that at first, she didn’t realize who the “VIP Donor” interested this case,” lawyers for Envigo said in court papers, adding that after leaving Envigo. And with that, the Duke, the Duchess in a beagle adoption was. “She calls on my cell with no Caller The royal couple’s spokeswoman confirmed the visit to The officials spent millions of dollars in the last year working to and their dog left the Valley. “OK, now we can go home,” ID and says, ‘Hey Shannon, this is Meghan,’” said Keith, whose Times; neither commented on the adoption. It was a no- improve the facility. Envigo’s parent company, Inotiv, said it Harry said. nonprofit organization rescues beagles and other dogs as well photos affair, with two security guards joining Meghan and installed 1,200 new aluminum doors, upgraded and closed in Courtesy: The Los Angeles Times as cats, pigs, horses, rabbits, goats and sheep, most of which Harry in their quest for a furry family member. flooring gaps, and installed cooling towers in the buildings.

Owl who fell into concrete Best Friends Save Them All About Best Friends Animal Society e reached out to other wildlife “W rehabilitators and they had never

heard of an owl falling into concrete Best Friends Animal Society is a leading animal welfare

before, either,” Richwalski said. organization dedicated to saving the lives of dogs and cats

mixer finds hope at Best “After doing some research, our in America’s shelters and making the entire country no-kill.

team quickly came up with a plan to help the owl in the least Founded in 1984, Best Friends runs lifesaving facilities and

invasive way possible.” That plan included a 20-minute daily programs nationwide in partnership with more than 5,500

bath while the owl was under anesthesia. Thankfully, after shelters and rescue organizations.

Friends Animal Sanctuary a series of concrete removals from the face, chest and right wing, the owl has been recovering well and has a positive From our headquarters in Kanab, Utah, we also operate the

prognosis. “This was a brand-new situation for the Wild nation’s largest no-kill animal sanctuary — a destination that

Friends team and they really stepped up to the plate to do brings our mission to life for thousands of visitors each year.

their best for this owl,” said Judah Battista, Best Friends Animal We maintain the most comprehensive animal sheltering

Society’s Chief Sanctuary Officer. “Their innovative approach data in the country and make it accessible to the public —

By Michelle Sathe and compassionate care is such a beautiful testament to Best empowering communities with critical insights into the needs

A great-horned owl that fell into a concrete mixer is slowly recovering at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary’s Wild Richwalski estimates that the owl is a juvenile male, born every dog and cat deserves a home. And we believe that, by earlier this year. Initially, the owl was recovering indoors, Friends’ belief that every animal deserves a second chance.” of their local shelters and how they can help. We believe

working together, we can Save Them All®.

Friends certified rehabilitation center in Kanab, Utah, after recently coming into its care. With dried concrete residing in a medium-sized soft carrier that allowed staff to covering approximately 25 percent of his two-pound body, it was the first time Best Friends’ staff had seen a handle him more easily. Recently, the owl graduated to an

Richwalski. 6-foot perch, a sign that his recovery continues to go well. Still, the owl will need to stay in Best Friends’ care until the case like this in its 40-year history, according to Best Friends Animal Society’s Wild Friends supervisor, Bart outdoor enclosure where he has been able to ascend to a

spring or summer, which is when molting is expected to occur

and he can once again resume silent flight. After that, the owl

can be released back into the wild, in a wooded area near

where he was found. “He still has a long road ahead of him,

but he’s a fighter,” Richwalski said.

This owl is just one of approximately 1,600 dogs, cats, horses,

goats, pigs, bunnies, birds, and wildlife that have found

refuge at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, the nation’s largest

no-kill animal sanctuary and the headquarters of Best Friends

Animal Society, which has a mission of making America a no-

kill nation by partnering with more than 5,300 shelters and

rescues across the country.

Photo credit: Best Friends Animal Society

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