Photo:Meredith Lee/The HSUS
Meredith Lee/The HSUS
In summer 2022,4,000 beagles were rescued from a controversial breeding facilityin Virginia. Shortly after they were rescued, the beagles were adopted out to thousands of lucky families across the U.S. — which means those families are celebrating their one-year adopt-a-versaries with their pups.
To observe this major milestone, and to reunite the rescued dogs and their families, the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) hosted a historic event called “Beagleversary Bash” on Friday. According to a press release sent to PEOPLE, the event took place atBark Social, which allowed the rescued dogs to play, and the humans to interact.
The federal government filed a civil enforcement case in May 2022 against Envigo RMS, which was accused of animal welfare violations. After the case was filed, U.S. District Court Judge Norman Moon issued a restraining order imposing restrictions on the facility,according toUSA Today.
The New York Timesreported last year that investigations had found underfed, ill, and injured dogs at the facility, and dogs that were euthanized rather than given medical care.
“Last time we saw these dogs, all they knew was life in a mass-breeding facility. They had never been in a home. They had never sat on a couch or gone on a walk around the neighborhood,” Jessica Johnson, senior director of the Humane Society of the United States’ animal rescue team, stated in the press release. “Seeing them here with their adopted families a year later is amazing — I hope that this is all they remember.”
“Today, we celebrate the remarkable journey of these beagles, who have gone from life in a mass breeding facility to that of cherished family members,” Kitty Block, president and CEO of the HSUS, also stated. “These beagles represent the loving homes every dog deserves, as well as the tens of thousands of dogs currently held in laboratory breeding facilities and used in painful experiments. We all have a role to play in putting a stop to the suffering of animals just like the #4000beagles.”
A year after the rescue in July 2023,four of the rescued beagles reunitedfor a birthday celebration. Homeward Trails Animal Rescue, who had adopted out the four beagles, posteda video to Facebookshowing the pups' reunion party, which marked their first birthdays in freedom.
Along with dog-sized birthday crowns, the pups, named Mia, Rose, Chewy, and Khali, were donning personalized bandanas. And, of course, they were able to enjoy a pet-friendly birthday cake.
“Oh what fun it is to be a Beagle allowed to have a life outside of confinement and torture,” the Virginia rescue wrote in the post.
source: people.com
