It’s estimated that 5,494 dogs and 11,801 cats are used for testing and experimentation every year. However, the exact figures are unknown or not publicly available.
Previously, there weren’t many options for animals who weren’t required for testing anymore. Most of these are older animals. While some get adopted by staff members, some, unfortunately, are euthanised.
But Beagle Freedom Australia, a rescue organisation and PetRescue member, has helped bring immense change to this environment and helped save more lives!
This amazing team rehabilitates and rehomes the animals that have retired from research and testing environments.
We caught up with Nikki, the President and Co-Founder of Beagle Freedom Australia, to learn more about their awesome work!
Why are beagles more commonly used for testing?
Although Beagle Freedom helps all kinds of animals find homes, they specialise in beagles, who are usually preferred in research and testing.
“They are friendly in nature, kind and forgiving. They are also very stoic and robust and can withstand a lot of pain without showing it. Beagles are instinctually a pack breed so living in a colony is second nature to them. They are small to medium in size and require little grooming hence are considered “low maintenance,” says Nikki.
However, Nikki also notes that while Beagles are synonymous with testing, greyhounds don’t fall far behind, “The greyhounds often get sold on to research facilities after they’re done on the race track.”
Shaun from Beagle Rescue Victoria Inc., which is the parent organisation of Beagle Freedom Australia
Caring for retired dogs
Because there aren’t any laws that direct organisations to rehome animals that are tested on, Beagle Freedom Australia has their work cut out for them. They often have to work hard to track them down in facilities that need help rehoming and spend months or even years cultivating relationships with these facilities.
They can often have up to 50 dogs and cats in foster homes across the state. They also have a few “forever fosters”. These are elderly or special needs animals that might need ongoing vet care, medications or training. The organisation offers to cover the costs of the pets’ on-going needs for their foster families, taking away the financial barrier and giving the animals the best possible start to their new lives.
“The animals that we take in are all different. Just like us humans, they take their time in the facility in different ways. Sometimes they are happy, bouncy and take it all in their stride and sometimes they are shy, withdrawn and need a little bit of extra TLC to learn about the world and trust us, humans.
We give every animal the time that they need. Whether it's four weeks or four months (sometimes even longer), We place them into foster homes and let them learn at their own pace.”
Mitzy from Beagle Freedom Australia was just released from a research facility and is now available for adoption on PetRescue
How you can help these animals
Like most of the animals cared for by Beagle Freedom, seniors or retired ones need all the love and affection they can get in their golden years.
“Seniors, in our opinions, our the absolute best! We love them. They are past the crazy puppy stages, they are gentle, loving, sweet old souls that mostly just need a comfy couch to lay around on. If they’ve had a tough start in life, what better retirement than just being able to make their own choices, snooze their days away and be showered with treats and soft beds! They don’t need lots of long walks or heaps of exercise. They just want a roof over their heads and a belly full of food.
It’s important to remember that even though they may not live a long time once adopted, they still have every right to spend whatever time they have left being loved. Don’t shy away from that 13-year-old. If you think it’s sad that they’ve not had a good life for such a long time, but you would be too sad to lose them after such a short time, imagine how they feel, not even having that short period of time being loved. It goes back to the old saying - It’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all,” says Nikki.
Learn more about Beagle Freedom Australia’s awesome work here!
Meet the cutest tails and paws up for adoption on Beagle Freedom’s PetRescue page.
Image Credits: Beagle Freedom Australia & Beagle Rescue Victoria Inc.