General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsA Plug for Beagles and all Laboratory Animals
Last edited Sun Jun 8, 2014, 04:24 PM - Edit history (1)
Universities, pharmaceutical companies and manufacturers of all sorts of consumer products conduct experiments on animals to test whether or not those products are harmful. One of the most common larger animals used are beagles. The reason is that they are smallish dogs, very docile, and are usually forgiving. Once the tests are over, it's common for these labs to simply kill the animal.
The Beagle Freedom Project is a non-profit that is working to get such labs to release beagles and other animals used in testing to foster and adoptive homes. In Minnesota, and in other states, the BFP is lobbying to have laws passed that require labs to do this. The Minnesota law passed just last month, and labs receiving state funds now must try to have their test animals released for adoption, rather than killing them when testing is over.
In December, my wife and I took in a beagle through the BFP as a foster family, and then adopted that dog, who we renamed as Sam. Today, he lives with us, our two cats, and a shelter rescue beagle/basset mix named Dude. When Sam first came to us, he was scared of everything, underweight, and had no idea how to be a dog. Six months later, he's gained a few pounds, and has discovered the beagle within and is rapidly making progress. He's still afraid of going through doors, for some reason, so we carry him for now. He loves walks, playing in our newly-fenced backyard, and is buddies with our two cats, who can often be found snuggled up to him. Here are a couple of photos of Sam. You may have to click the links to view the photos. Blogspot.com photos don't always display on DU:
Sam and his buddy, our 18 year old tortie, Scout.
Sam's Glamour Shot
If you think that laboratory test animals deserve a life with a loving family, I encourage you to visit the Beagle Freedom Project's website and learn more about this very effective and important organization. Thanks for reading this.
dhill926
(16,234 posts)catbyte
(34,174 posts)MineralMan
(146,192 posts)We're blessed by having Sam, the lab beagle. Right now, he and Sam, our beagle/basset, are sleeping in the back yard, waiting for someone to show up and throw a ball for them or something.
Adopting a rescue dog is its own reward.
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)Sam is one lucky dog to have been adopted by you and your family.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)Adopting or rescuing a dog or other creature always has many rewards.
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)When we lived along Skyline Drive in Virginia we took in a lot of abandoned dogs. Too many people driving out from the DC metro area use the mountains as a dumping ground for dogs. Apparently they think that domesticated dogs can just survive out in the wild. What the dogs really face is a slow death from disease and starvation. Worse, starving dogs can form a pack and start going after easy prey, i.e., local livestock. That's when they end up getting shot, as was the case with one of our rescues, who carried the buckshot in his body until he died. He was such a sweetheart but the psychological damage was more than even we could cure. He was terrified of men and it took us several months to convince him it was okay to come in the house. The ironic thing was he was so formidable looking -- like a big, sleek black German Shepherd, but had been so abused that when strangers came to the house he would hide under the kitchen table.
The other problem out there was that the mountains also serve as dumping grounds for puppy mills. Too many unsold puppies or females too old to breed are left to die a slow death. We rescued a pair of Scotties that way. It took several months to get them back to health (they were starving, unneutered and infested with parasites) but once all those problems were taken care of we found the both of them (together!) a loving home. Puppy Mills should be outlawed!!!!!!!!!!
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)People who mistreat animals will also mistreat other people. That's something I've learned in my 68 years more than once.
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)I wouldn't trust anyone who is unkind or cruel to animals.
Louisiana1976
(3,962 posts)MineralMan
(146,192 posts)you can go to the Dude Sez blog at:
http://dudesez.blogspot.com/
Unknown Beatle
(2,672 posts)Really funny. I was really laughing at the way you have your furry family dog Dude narrating the story. The picture with the soft Frisbee had me in stitches. And the photobomb one is, well, lmao!
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)I'll pass it along to Dude.
They are beautiful!
Erich Bloodaxe BSN
(14,733 posts)We have two companion beagles living with us, and although the breed isn't right for every living environment (they're very vocal), they're also extremely loving. I'll check the BFP's site to see if our state has such legislation, or, if not, if they have model legislation from states like Minnesota that could be passed along to legislators with a plea to enact such here.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)It turned out to be pretty easy to get this legislation passed in Minnesota. It was part of an education bill.
brer cat
(24,402 posts)He has obviously adjusted to the real world outside a lab very nicely. Best of luck to you both, and I hope he has a long safe life with you.
If I ever get another dog, I will look into BFP. Thanks for sharing, MineralMan.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)He's a great little dog with a lot of potential. I'll give him a pat on the head for you.
magical thyme
(14,881 posts)You and I agree on just about one thing. This is it.
MissDeeds
(7,499 posts)And thank you for giving Sam and Dude a good and loving home. My four bichons - two living, and two gone to the Rainbow Bridge - are grateful for folks like you.
iamthebandfanman
(8,127 posts)go on, type in 'rabbits' with other keywords like 'cosmetic', 'pharmaceutical', 'testing', 'experiment', 'chemicals'... etc.... into youtube or google...
I dare you.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)And pigs and cats, and anything else used in labs. They're getting laws passed. It's a great organization. Go look at the site.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)Try giving him praise and a small treat every single time he passes through a doorway. Replace those awful memories.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)Our guess is that when he went through a door it was usually to have some testing done or something else unpleasant. So, we're using the treats and praise, along with something really good happening when we pass through a door. He'll get over it. Apparently other adopters have noticed the same behavior.
It's also being difficult to house train him. For the first three years of his life, he had to do his business in the cage he was in. He's making progress, but it's slow. At first, he didn't get it that he could pee outside. Walking with Dude, our other dog, who marks everything on our walks, seems to have given him the idea, and he's doing his business outside whenever he's outside, but still isn't letting us know that he needs to go yet.
We're using training pads for now, but he'll soon be house trained, too. It's all a slow process that requires patience and lots of affection.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)Say "pee!" every time he goes. It might work.
Dogs...my 75 pound bag of labradog humbles me.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)so we're hoping Sam picks up on that. In time, he will.
airplaneman
(1,237 posts)In this modern age - testing on animals is no longer necessary. There are other scientific methods that will get the information needed without causing animals to suffer.
-Airplane
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)help the animals until that happens. That's what they're about for now. One step at a time.
flvegan
(64,389 posts)It made a difference for that one.
We'll never adopt our way out of any of our animal problems (overpopulation, for one) but lets do what we can for the ones we can.
Thumbs up again.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)Louisiana1976
(3,962 posts)airplaneman
(1,237 posts)are tissue cell cultures which can be used to analyze cancer potential and side effect damage of any compound or drug. This is even cost effective so the argument for live animals is no longer very valid.
-Airplane