Skip Navigation

Beagle rescue and other animal welfare issues

  • Scott LaMar

Airdate: August 11, 2022

Listen to Smart Talk every weekday at 12 p.m. and 8 p.m. on WITF 89.5 & 93.3. You can also stream WITF radio live on our website or ask your smart speaker to “Play WITF Radio.”

Last month, some 4,000 beagles – puppies and adults – were rescued from a facility in Cumberland, Virginia where they were being bred to be used in medical research.

Kristen Tullo, Pennsylvania State Director of the Humane Society of the United States was on Thursday’s Smart Talk and described the conditions the dogs were living in, “Puppies dying from cold exposure nursing, mothers being denied food, dogs being sold instead of treated for basic veterinary conditions. So as a result, these dogs are being spared a life of pain and suffering in laboratories that test subjects that most were likely destined for.”

Tullo said dogs being used for testing is not unusual,”dogs are used to test the safety of drugs, medical devices, pesticides, things like weed killer, insect repellent, deet. In Pennsylvania, there are approximately 2,800 dogs that are used in research and product testing in laboratories.”

Most of the rescued beagles have never been outside or walked on grass.

The beagles are now on their way to being adopted from shelters and partners across the country, including at least seven here in Pennsylvania.

In the heat of summer, Tullo reminded everyone that Pennsylvania has a tethering law where dogs can’t be tethered outside for longer than a half-hour and must have access to food, water and shade.

Support for WITF is provided by:

Become a WITF sponsor today »

Support for WITF is provided by:

Become a WITF sponsor today »

Up Next
Smart Talk

Writers' camp and what we can learn about storytelling