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MineralMan

(146,192 posts)
Sun Jun 8, 2014, 01:12 PM Jun 2014

A 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.

31 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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A Plug for Beagles and all Laboratory Animals (Original Post) MineralMan Jun 2014 OP
K & R..... dhill926 Jun 2014 #1
I cry every time I watch a BFP video. Awesome people. So are you, sir. catbyte Jun 2014 #2
I'm just a lucky dog owner. MineralMan Jun 2014 #3
Thank YOU, Mineral Man theHandpuppet Jun 2014 #4
That's very nice of you to say. We are lucky to have him with us. MineralMan Jun 2014 #6
My wife and I have rescued quite a few over the years theHandpuppet Jun 2014 #18
Thanks for what you have done! MineralMan Jun 2014 #19
It's a red flag for a person lacking in empathy theHandpuppet Jun 2014 #21
Well said. I wouldn't, either. Louisiana1976 Jun 2014 #27
If you want to see more photos of Sam, the BFP lab beagle, MineralMan Jun 2014 #5
Cool blog. Unknown Beatle Jun 2014 #13
Thank you very much. MineralMan Jun 2014 #14
Awww StarryNite Jun 2014 #16
And thank you. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jun 2014 #7
Cool. I think you can find the legislation model on their website. MineralMan Jun 2014 #8
You are a great person to adopt Sam. brer cat Jun 2014 #9
Just a lucky person. MineralMan Jun 2014 #12
bless you and thank you magical thyme Jun 2014 #10
Thanks for this MM MissDeeds Jun 2014 #11
you should see what they do to rabbits. iamthebandfanman Jun 2014 #15
Beagle Freedom Project rescues rabbits, too. MineralMan Jun 2014 #17
He is afraid of doorways and doors because they don't mean happy transitions for him. msanthrope Jun 2014 #20
Yup. We're working on it. MineralMan Jun 2014 #23
Try a bell on the doorknob. Hit the bell every time you go out and say "pee!" msanthrope Jun 2014 #25
We have a bell. Dude, our other dog rings it, MineralMan Jun 2014 #31
how about eliminating the use of animals for medical testing. airplaneman Jun 2014 #22
I agree. The BFP is for that, too, but wants to find ways to MineralMan Jun 2014 #24
Excellent answer. flvegan Jun 2014 #30
I agree. Only in the most extreme and exigent cases should animals be used. ntk msanthrope Jun 2014 #26
I agree. Couldn't they use computer models or something that doesn't hurt animals? Louisiana1976 Jun 2014 #28
one of the better Biochemistry tools available today airplaneman Jun 2014 #29

MineralMan

(146,192 posts)
3. I'm just a lucky dog owner.
Sun Jun 8, 2014, 02:11 PM
Jun 2014

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.

MineralMan

(146,192 posts)
6. That's very nice of you to say. We are lucky to have him with us.
Sun Jun 8, 2014, 02:15 PM
Jun 2014

Adopting or rescuing a dog or other creature always has many rewards.

theHandpuppet

(19,964 posts)
18. My wife and I have rescued quite a few over the years
Sun Jun 8, 2014, 04:02 PM
Jun 2014

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)
19. Thanks for what you have done!
Sun Jun 8, 2014, 04:03 PM
Jun 2014

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)
21. It's a red flag for a person lacking in empathy
Sun Jun 8, 2014, 04:11 PM
Jun 2014

I wouldn't trust anyone who is unkind or cruel to animals.

Unknown Beatle

(2,672 posts)
13. Cool blog.
Sun Jun 8, 2014, 03:06 PM
Jun 2014

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!

Erich Bloodaxe BSN

(14,733 posts)
7. And thank you.
Sun Jun 8, 2014, 02:26 PM
Jun 2014

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)
8. Cool. I think you can find the legislation model on their website.
Sun Jun 8, 2014, 02:29 PM
Jun 2014

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)
9. You are a great person to adopt Sam.
Sun Jun 8, 2014, 02:32 PM
Jun 2014

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)
12. Just a lucky person.
Sun Jun 8, 2014, 03:02 PM
Jun 2014

He's a great little dog with a lot of potential. I'll give him a pat on the head for you.

 

MissDeeds

(7,499 posts)
11. Thanks for this MM
Sun Jun 8, 2014, 03:00 PM
Jun 2014

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)
15. you should see what they do to rabbits.
Sun Jun 8, 2014, 03:17 PM
Jun 2014

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)
17. Beagle Freedom Project rescues rabbits, too.
Sun Jun 8, 2014, 03:56 PM
Jun 2014

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)
20. He is afraid of doorways and doors because they don't mean happy transitions for him.
Sun Jun 8, 2014, 04:09 PM
Jun 2014

Try giving him praise and a small treat every single time he passes through a doorway. Replace those awful memories.

MineralMan

(146,192 posts)
23. Yup. We're working on it.
Sun Jun 8, 2014, 04:16 PM
Jun 2014

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)
25. Try a bell on the doorknob. Hit the bell every time you go out and say "pee!"
Sun Jun 8, 2014, 04:20 PM
Jun 2014

Say "pee!" every time he goes. It might work.

Dogs...my 75 pound bag of labradog humbles me.

MineralMan

(146,192 posts)
31. We have a bell. Dude, our other dog rings it,
Sun Jun 8, 2014, 07:58 PM
Jun 2014

so we're hoping Sam picks up on that. In time, he will.

airplaneman

(1,237 posts)
22. how about eliminating the use of animals for medical testing.
Sun Jun 8, 2014, 04:14 PM
Jun 2014

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)
24. I agree. The BFP is for that, too, but wants to find ways to
Sun Jun 8, 2014, 04:16 PM
Jun 2014

help the animals until that happens. That's what they're about for now. One step at a time.

flvegan

(64,389 posts)
30. Excellent answer.
Sun Jun 8, 2014, 07:12 PM
Jun 2014

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.

airplaneman

(1,237 posts)
29. one of the better Biochemistry tools available today
Sun Jun 8, 2014, 04:40 PM
Jun 2014

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

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