Beagles Rescued From Breeding Facility Make Their Way To Chicago

CHICAGO — Thirty-six beagles who were rescued from a research animal breeding facility in Virginia arrived in Chicago early Friday morning as part of a nationwide effort to remove the dogs from a dangerous environment.

The beagles arrived at the Anti-Cruelty Society shelter at 2 a.m. on Friday, officials. The dogs were removed from Envigo, the Virginia-based breeding shop that was recently found guilty of dozens of federal regulation violations, shelter officials said.

The Anti-Cruelty Society is partnering with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to rescue the dogs from the facility, where the beagles were reported ill, injured, underfed, and, in some cases, dead, officials from the Chicago-based shelter said Friday.

The Anti-Cruelty Society has been all hands on deck working diligently behind the scenes to prepare for their arrival by securing fosters, adopters, supplies, and funds to ensure that each beagle taken in receives the best possible care and outcome, the shelter said in a news release.

“As an organization that prides itself as a leader in animal welfare in our community, we felt it was our duty to open our doors to these beagles and treat them with compassion that they have never received. We are exceedingly grateful to our support network of staff, fosters, community partners, and donors who have stepped up to help us take on this lifesaving rescue initiative,” Tracy Elliott, CEO of the Anti-Cruelty Society said in the release. “These efforts align with our vision to build a humane Chicago for pets and people and our mission to build a healthy and happy community where pets and people thrive together.”

Under The Anti-Cruelty Society’s care, the beagles will receive innovative medical and behavioral treatment to address their specific needs; foster care as a transformative experience for optimal adoption outcomes, and other immersive environmental and social engagements to prepare them for life in a loving home with families.

“We anticipate these beagles will face special medical challenges and will differ from our usual transport animals, Dr. Emily Swiniarski, medical director at the Anti-Cruelty facility, said in the release.

Swiniarski said expects the dogs will have ear and skin infections due to living in crowded conditions at the Virginia facility. Fleas and heartworm disease are possible, given that the dogs were housed with outdoor runs, she said.

“These beagle pups have gone without vaccinations, so to prepare them for life in a home, all dogs will need to receive vaccines. Once the beagles have decompressed in their loving foster homes, they will need to come into our clinic for a thorough veterinary assessment followed by spay and neuter,” Swiniarski said.

All of the Envigo beagles will be placed directly into an assigned foster home upon arrival due to the exceptional level of care they will require, the shelter said. Officials anticipate that many of our foster volunteers may choose to make their beagle a permanent part of their family.

Beagles who are not adopted by their foster parent will become available for adoption through the Anti-Cruelty Society's Adoption Ambassador program. These dogs will be posted to the shelter's adoption gallery as they become available.