15 Beagles Rescued From Virginia Research Facility Have New Homes

TAMPA, FL — Fifteen of the 4,000 beagles rescued from the Envigo RMS LLC facility in Cumberland, Virginia, which bred dogs to be sold to laboratories for animal experimentation, have now been adopted through the Humane Society of Tampa Bay.

The first to be adopted was a beagle now named Quentin. Humane Society of Tampa Bay Director of Shelter Operations Danyelle Ho said his new family drove from St. Augustine to Tampa for the chance to adopt him.

"Within the first 10 minutes of meeting him, he was giving his new mom kisses and wagging his tail," she said.

The family reported that, in his first 24 hours in his new home, Quentin bonded with his two other beagle siblings, experienced walking on grass for the first time, slept in his very own bed and learned how to use the doggie door.

Another beagle the Humane Society of Tampa Bay received was adopted by the Treasure Island Fire Rescue.

See related story: Canine Captain Joins Crew Of Treasure Island Fire Rescue

The Humane Society of Tampa Bay received 15 of the 4,000 beagles that are being sent to Humane Society shelters and rescue groups around the country for adoption.

The beagles were ordered released from the mass-breeding facility after the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Envigo in May alleging Animal Welfare Act violations at the facility.

According to the Department of Justice, repeated federal inspections have resulted in dozens of violations, including findings that some dogs had been “euthanized” without first receiving anesthesia, that dogs had received inadequate veterinary care and insufficient food, and that they were living in unsanitary conditions.

Under the transfer plan signed by the Department of Justice and Envigo RMS LLC, the Humane Society of the United States is coordinating the removal of the 4,000 beagles housed in stages over a 60-day period.

“These dogs have been through so much, and we are grateful to the Department of Justice and the HSUS for facilitating their rescue,” said Ho. “We are thrilled to welcome them to Tampa Bay, give them the care and time needed to heal, and find them loving homes.

“It takes a massive network of compassionate, expert shelters and rescues to make an operation of this scale possible,” said Lindsay Hamrick, shelter outreach and engagement director for the Humane Society of the United States. “We are deeply grateful to each organization that is stepping up to find these dogs the loving homes they so deserve.”

The Humane Society of the United States is maintaining a list of partners accepting animals into their adoption program here.