Beagles rescued from American animal testing facility find loving foster homes in Alberta
Ten beagles rescued from animal testing in the United States arrived in Alberta on Wednesday, thanks to a Canadian charity.
The Beagle Alliance, based in Winnipeg, is an organization that helps advocate for the release of animals used in laboratory research across North America.
Beagles are the most commonly used breed of dog in testing facilities across the globe because of their forgiving nature, docile behaviour and ability to easily fit into a cage.
Executive director Lori Cohen says the charity is now looking to place some of the recently rescued beagles into loving homes, while others are already spoken for.
"These dogs have never felt sun on their snouts or the grass under their paws," she said. "It's a special moment to see their first few steps."
"We've crossed a lot of borders to get these little guys to freedom, and they're going to meet their new homes or new families going forward."
Keoma Thorne, who is fostering one of the rescued beagles, says many people are surprised to learn animal testing is still happening in Canada.
"Whenever I talk to people about it, they're shocked," Thorne said.
If it's not something you support, she says one of the best ways consumers can help is by supporting companies that are cruelty free.
"Look at your labels, make sure that you are not contributing to the problem that way, because if you are demanding cruelty-free products, then companies will start looking for other means of testing."
In 2022, the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) reported more than 10,000 dogs were used in testing in Canada.
The exact fate of animals following testing is not known, but out of the 10,000 dogs, about 6,000 were used in education programs such veterinary or animal care schools.
In some cases, the unfortunate result of those tests ends in the euthanizing of the animals.
Cohen notes that Canadian facilities, both public and private, are not bound by law to release animals after use in science, and there's no federal governing body that oversees the treatment of animals in Canada.
"They suffer from PTSD and anxiety, but because of their resilience and ability to forgive, become the most loving companions and family members," Cohen said.
"We intend to prove to the CCAC, the voluntary regulatory body overseeing animals in science in Canada, as well as the facilities themselves, that with experience, education, patience and support, these dogs can go on to live may more years outside of the cage than inside."
Ten beagles rescued from animal testing in the United States arrived in Alberta on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. In June of 2023, Canada's federal government passed Bill S-5, the Strengthening Environmental Protection for a Healthier Canada Act, which will phase out toxicity testing on animals by 2035.
CCAC executive director Pierre Verreault applauds the decision.
"I think this is a big step forward," he said. "Other countries have been moving forward on this for a few years, so we're glad to see our country moving in that same direction."
Under the Constitution Act 1867, the federal government currently does not have jurisdiction to legislate experiments involving animals.
Legislation instead falls to provinces, but ethical and humane CCAC certification has been a federal condition since 1968, requiring all institutions that receive funding from federal grant programs to prevent abuse, neglect and cruelty of any kind during testing.
"Most of the provinces will have cruelty laws, the same at the federal level as well, but when it comes to science, it is a very different way of looking at the ethical framework around it," Verrault said.
"The CCAC program that is in place makes sure that the organizations that use animals in testing are doing so according to the standards we develop."
The name of the American research lab the beagles were recently rescued from cannot be named, but The Beagles Alliance was safely able to transport them into Canada with proper rabies vaccination and health certificates as required by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Anyone interested in volunteering, fostering, adopting or donating to The Beagle Alliance van visit the charity's website or call 1-204-266-1968.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests about relationship with Prince Harry
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they're now named Scouting America
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Rape, terror and death at sea: How a boat carrying Rohingya children, women and men capsized
In March, Indonesian officials and local fishermen rescued 75 people from the overturned hull of a boat off the coast of Indonesia. Until now, little was known about why the boat capsized.
'A huge difference': These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca