Beagles Rescued From Breeding Facility Make Their Way To Somerset County

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Six beagles who were rescued from a mass-breeding facility in Virginia arrived in Somerset County as part of a nationwide effort to remove the dogs from a dangerous environment.

"Somerset Regional Animal Shelter is thrilled to assist the Humane Society of the United States by welcoming into our Bridgewater shelter six of the many beagles being rescued from the Envigo lab, which has been closed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) due to a multitude of proven violations," said SRAS Shelter Manager Brian Bradshaw.

About 4,000 dogs are being removed from Envigo, the Virginia-based breeding shop after a lawsuit filed against Envigo by the Department of Justice in May, alleging Animal Welfare Act violations at the facility.

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, according to shelter officials.

The dogs will be transferred from the facility in stages over 60 days and will be up for adoption via Somerset Regional Animal Shelter(SRAS) and other shelters and rescues.

“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.”

For more information about the beagles available for adoption at Somerset Regional Animal Shelter, visit srasnj.org or call 908-725-0308.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.