BRIARCLIFF MANOR, N.Y. - The beagle has landed.
Well, actually 10 of the adorable pups have arrived at SPCA Westchester’s Rescue Center in Briarcliff Manor.
They were among 1,500 beagles rescued from Ridglan Farms, a controversial Wisconsin facility that breeds the animals for biomedical research purposes.
According to media reports, last fall a special prosecutor had found that Ridglan had performed procedures that amounted to mistreatment. The facility denied that it had abused the animals.
In April, police used teargas and pepper spray on animal rights activists who were trying to rescue the beagles. The month before, protesters had actually managed to spirit off about 30 dogs.
Subsequently, Big Dog Ranch Rescue and the nonprofit Center for a Humane Economy managed to reach a confidential agreement with Ridglan Farms to purchase 1,500 beagles.
Big Dog Ranch Rescue is working with partners such as SPCA Westchester across the country to find new homes for 1,000 of the pooches, media reports said. The Center for a Humane Economy is handing the remainder of the adoptions.
According to Big Dog Ranch Rescue, the Ridglan beagles were of all ages and seemed to be in good health. They all are getting medical attention and are being spayed or neutered.
SPCA Westchester teamed up with the Befreegle Foundation to save 25 dogs in total.
It credits protests by animal rights advocates, including celebrities such as Ricky Gervais, with getting Ridglan to agree to the settlement.
“This is an incredible nationwide collaborative rescue effort that we are proud to be a part of,” said CEO Shannon Laukhuf. “It’s hard to believe that these large-scale breeding facilities are legal and still exist. Once the beagles are sold to laboratories and research centers, the majority, if not all, live in inhumane conditions where they are forced to undergo horrific and painful testing. They are then left to suffer and die or be euthanized.”
The beagles will be available for adoption at the SPCA, but first, they must receive much-needed medical care, rehabilitation, and “will be given time to decompress after everything they’ve been through,” the organization said.
“We can’t wait to watch each of these beautiful dogs experience many exciting ‘firsts’ -- the joy of toys, yummy treats, the freedom to run and play in the grass, gentle belly rubs, and, most importantly, the love and affection they’ve been denied their entire lives. Our rescue team will be working hard to ensure each dog feels safe and is ready to begin their next chapter” it added.
TO HELP
To support the care of the Ridglan Farm beagles at SPCA Westchester, or to submit an application for adoption, please visit www.spcawestchester.org.
SPCA Westchester is located at 590 North State Road in Briarcliff Manor. It can be reached at (914) 941-2896.
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