Beagles rescued from breeding facility for medical experiments go to foster care in Athens

Wayne Ford, Athens Banner-Herald
·4 min read
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The doors to a van opened late Wednesday afternoon at the Athens Area Humane Society where five beagles could be seen in their travel cages.

There was no barking. The dogs, actually puppies, were quiet. Their dark brown eyes appeared cautious and nervous as they stared at the people who gathered.

These puppies are among the survivors of almost 4,000 beagles bred to become subjects of medical experiments in laboratories, an ordeal that would eventually end in death. Now in Athens, they were far away from that fate.

More: 4,000 beagles to be rescued from Virginia breeding facility after animal welfare violations alleged

Apryl Hughes of Athens took one of the beagles from a handler and carefully cradled the small dog that was submissive to the cuddling act.

“How could anyone experiment with you. I don’t understand that,” she said softly into its floppy ear. She named the young one Trek.

These beagles were part of the largest dog rescue operation in the United States. They were seized in July after the U.S. Department of Agriculture cited a massive puppy mill in Cumberland, Va., for numerous violations of the Animal Welfare Act.

The beagles rescued from a Envigo facility in Virginia got to play outside on the grass and in the sunshine after arriving at the Athens Area Humane Society in Athens, Ga., on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022. Athens received five of the 4,000 beagles that were rescued after the Department of Justice alleged the Envigo facility in Virginia violated the Animal Welfare Act.

The U.S. Justice Department then sued Indiana-based Envigo RMS, a company that owned the facility. The seized dogs were turned over the U.S. Humane Society. The company has settled with the government, according to a report in USA Today.

Debra Berger of Atlanta and the state director in Georgia for the national society, attended the arrival of the beagles at the new shelter on Mitchell Bridge Road. The new shelter opened a year ago.

“This is a process. It’s not one and done. There are 4,000 beagles in need of rescue,” Berger said, noting that more beagles would likely come to Athens.

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These dogs were born in small cages on concrete floors, never allowed to walk outside or receive friendly care by the human caretakers, according to Athens Area Humane Society CEO Cheryl McCormick.

“They don’t necessarily associate people with comfort, love and affection,” McCormick said. “They’ve never stepped on grass.”

“It will take time for them to warm up to people who are not poking and prodding them,” she said. “Beagles are known for their gentle affection and this is why they are often used as research models because they don’t act aggressively toward people who want to use them for these purposes.”

The beagles rescued from an Envigo facility in Virginia got to play outside on the grass and in the sunshine after arriving at the Athens Area Humane Society in Athens, Ga., on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022.
The beagles rescued from an Envigo facility in Virginia got to play outside on the grass and in the sunshine after arriving at the Athens Area Humane Society in Athens, Ga., on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022.

The sordid conditions at the farm in Virginia where the thousands of beagles were raised was exposed by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), who sent a person working undercover to secretly video what was happening to the dogs.

Now, the rescued dogs are being sent to shelters across America.

Hughes, president of Hughes Automotive Group in Athens, became a sponsor for a beagle as Hughes Subaru’s “Love Promise” event raises charity money for the local humane society.

“I’m making sure he gets a good home,” Hughes said as she embraced Trek. “It makes me proud that through our customers and our organization that we are part of this state of the art facility.”

A sponsor handed one of the beagles rescued from a Envigo facility in Virginia moments after the dogs arrived at the Athens Area Humane Society in Athens, Ga., on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022. Athens received five of the 4,000 beagles that were rescued after the Department of Justice alleged the Envigo facility in Virginia violated the Animal Welfare Act.

The Athens facility was originally earmarked for 10 beagles, but only received five this day, but McCormick said more are expected in the future.

Beagles, such as the puppy sponsored by Hughes, will go to a foster home where the dog will be acclimated to a life with a caring family.

Nancy O’Hare of Athens fosters animals for the Humane Society, and she came out this day hoping to be one of the foster families. She already owns a beagle and a beagle mix dog.

“These dogs are scent hounds. I can tell you from my experience nothing makes them happier than walking and sniffing around the neighborhood,” she said. “They see the world through their noses. They are gentle, kind and trusting.”

A few feet away, one of the rescued beagles was on the ground. Held by a leash, the puppy pushed its nose into the green grass, then looking up at its handler, it opened its mouth and wagged its tongue.

“It’s wonderful to get these beagles out of that breeding situation,” O’Hare said.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Beagles rescued from breeding facility arrive at Athens Humane Society