SPCA Westchester announced that their Rescue Center in Briarcliff Manor just welcomed 10 of the Ridglan Farm medical research facility beagles who were released in Wisconsin earlier this week. Thanks to protests by animal rights advocates and celebrities like Ricky Gervais, Ridglan Farms finally agreed to sell 1,500 of the beagles to ensure their release. These resilient dogs are now being dispersed to select shelters and rescue groups throughout the country, including SPCA Westchester, who teamed up with the Befreegle Foundation to save 25 dogs in total.
“This is an incredible nationwide collaborative rescue effort that we are proud to be a part of,” says Shannon Laukhuf, SPCA Westchester’s CEO. “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. “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.”
To support the care of the Ridglan Farm beagles at SPCA Westchester, or to submit an application for adoption, please visit spcawestchester.org.
