Lab beagles get second chance at life in Manitoba

Touching grass for the first time in their lives — an experience several Beagles recently rescued from a testing lab are having.

Rescuers say, they’re going to need support to adjust to their new life in Manitoba.

“Most Canadians do not know that animal testing happens in Canada, and on top of that, those that are aware, most don’t know that beagles are the most used breed in testing and that’s because they’re docile, they’re forgiving and quite frankly, they quite easily fit in a cage,” explained Lori Cohen, executive director with the Beagle Alliance.

Cohen wasn’t able to disclose exactly where the animals came from, but claims had they not been rescued, the dogs – who are three-years-old – would have been killed. Now they’re getting a second chance.

Of the 10 Beagles rescued, some of them will be reside in the U.S. with four set to find their forever homes here in Manitoba.

“As you can see – and as many of our adopters and our fosters can attest to this – these guys don’t need to be euthanized in many cases after study. They can go on to live out the rest of their lives,” Cohan explained.

In late June, Canada passed Bill C-47 which prohibits companies from testing cosmetics on animals, and selling cosmetics that rely on animal testing data.

Cohen says the next step is to ban medical testing, and subsequent killing of test dogs.

“They’re put through things that are often not in their best interest, often that is psychologically and physically damaging and then at the end of it, we thank them by killing them,” explained Liz White, director of the Animal Alliance of Canada and leader of the Animal Protection Party Of Canada.

White says thousands of dogs, the majority of which are beagles, are used for scientific research and killed every year, their life spent in pain.

“These are animals that are often used over and over again.”

White agrees animal testing for scientific research should follow the same path as cosmetic testing, but says there needs to be a unified front on the issue between government, shelters and advocates to ensure released animals are cared for.

According to the Canadian Council on Animal Care more than 10,000 dogs were used for scientific testing in 2021, many of which are beagles like the ones now in Manitoba, but White says that number is low.

“The problem is it’s voluntary, so not all testing labs are actually registered, so we don’t really know,” said White.

The beagles arriving at their foster home Monday and will take a few days to get settled.

Cohen says information for those interested in adopting is on the beagle alliance website.

She says having a dog is not prerequisite for adoption, but another dog in the house may help them adjust.

“These guys have never learned to be dogs,” said Cohan. “There’s only so much we as humans can teach them.”