health
‘It shatters my heart’: the fosters taking care of stressed former lab beagles
Hundreds of people applied to adopt beagles from a breeding facility – but ‘these are not ordinary dogs’, says one rescue worker
TL;DR
- 1,500 beagles were released from Ridglan Farms, a Wisconsin-based biomedical research facility.
- Many of the beagles had never been outdoors and were initially frightened and shut down.
- Ridglan Farms agreed to cease operations due to accusations of animal mistreatment, including improper eye procedures without anesthesia.
- Animal rescue groups received a flood of applications to foster or adopt the beagles.
- Adopters were warned that these dogs require more time to reach milestones due to their lack of experience.
- Patience, a calm environment, and often another well-adjusted dog are crucial for helping lab beagles adjust.
- Witnessing the beagles overcome their anxieties and experience normal dog behaviors is highly rewarding for foster families.