The Humane Society of the United States announced a plan last week to transfer nearly 4,000 beagles from a breeding facility in Cumberland, Virginia, and is working on finding the dogs new homes.
There had been more than 70 animal welfare violations at the Envigo breeding and research facility that caused distress, injury, and death in dogs, according to a press release from Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA). After learning about these violations in March, the two senators called for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to suspend the facility's license.
Federal agents seized 446 beagles from the facility, according to a joint motion filed in June by Envigo and the U.S. Department of Justice. And they will be available for adoption, with information on adopting one of the rescued dogs here.
"We’re thrilled to report that nearly 450 innocent dogs are finally free from abuse and neglect after being seized by federal officials and surrendered by Envigo," Warner and Kaine said in a statement on June 2.
"We’ve spent months pressing the Department of Agriculture to take action against Envigo following its persistent and egregious abuses of animal welfare laws, and are glad to see enforcement efforts come to fruition. We will continue to follow this case closely and do everything in our power to prevent Envigo from causing further harm to innocent animals."
The senators released another statement on July 2, and said that the Envigo facility will be permanently closed.
"After months of advocacy, we’re heartened to know that nearly 4,000 Envigo dogs will be spared a lifetime of suffering and will instead head to loving homes," Warner and Kaine said in the statement.
"We’re also pleased to know that Inotiv – Envigo’s parent company – will shutter its Cumberland facility and that no more dogs will be subject to the appalling conditions and inexcusable distress endured by so many dogs and puppies at the facility. We will continue working in the Senate to prevent the mistreatment of innocent animals across Virginia and the nation."
PETA Senior Vice President of Cruelty Investigations Daphna Nachminovitch said in a statement on July 5 that the organization is looking forward for the dogs to "enjoy life" in their new homes.
"PETA’s groundbreaking undercover investigation helped spark a historic domino effect of state and federal legislative and law-enforcement action that paved the way for these dogs’ independence and this dog prison’s closure," Nachminovitch said.
"Envigo’s surviving victims will soon be given the opportunity to have what every dog deserves—the freedom to enjoy life, love, and respect for their individuality as members of a family home."
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