Dog Research Exposed: Recent Episodes
Ellie Hansen
Over 55,000 dogs are used in biomedical and chemical experiments in the United States each year. Join host Ellie Hansen, author of Laboratory Dogs Rescued, as she continues her eye-opening interviews about how we can work together to end the cruel and unnecessary use of dogs in research.
Dogs–sentient beings like you and I–suffer greatly in research laboratories, and few (if any) of the experiments they are used for actually benefit human health.
Truthful, inspiring, and educational…real dialogue with the people who are on the forefront of changing the animal testing paradigm.
On December 29, 2022 President Biden signed the FDA Modernization Act 2.0 into law which removed the 1938 requirement to use dogs and other animals as part of the process to obtain a license for new human drugs. While this law does not ban the use of animals in scientific research, it allows researchers to employ Novel Approach Methods (NAMs)--human-biology-based technologies such as organs-on-chips--instead of animal testing. NAMs have been proven to be more effective in predicting human safety of new drugs than animals.
Sounds like a great deal, right? Problem solved? So…why in the world are we still fighting to get dogs and other animals out of labs when we have the superior technology to essentially replace them, and a federal law which states you don’t have to use animals anymore? Why is animal use in experimentation sadly on the rise according to the latest government statistics?
To answer these questions, we’re joined by two prominent experts on this issue: Wayne Pacelle, founder of Animal Wellness Action; and Tamara Drake, Director of Research and Regulatory Policy with the Center for a Humane Economy. Together they were instrumental in the formulation and passage of the FDA Modernization Act 2.0. – which was, without question, the most important policy in U.S. history addressing animal testing.
However, now the FDA is stalling on their obligation to adhere to the provisions of FDA Modernization Act 2.0 law and are not advancing their regulatory policies to accept NAMs in human drug approval. This roadblock has led to the introduction of yet another bill, the FDA Modernization Act 3.0.
Get a genuine, inside look at industry, government, and politics surrounding animal testing, and why our voices are more important than ever in this inspiring episode of Dog Research Exposed.
History was made during the summer of 2022. The massive research beagle breeding facility in Virginia called Envigo was officially shut down due to the large amount of animal welfare violations uncovered from inside. In this episode we get an in-depth look at how the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) carried out the Envigo rescue operation.
Lindsay Hamrick, Director of Shelter Outreach and Engagement for HSUS, was in charge of placing the nearly 4,000 beagles safely in the hands of rescue organizations around the country—and she and her team members had only 60 days to do it. She leads us through the enormousness of this rescue and how HSUS is now even better prepared to take on another project like this when it happens again.
This episode is dedicated to all the survivors of Envigo—the nearly 4,000 beagles who were rescued by the Humane Society of the United States during the summer of 2022. It’s also dedicated to the many thousands of dogs who were sold to research facilities…who never got the chance to really live…to be the dogs they were born to be…our companions and our best friends.
On March 18, three activists go on trial for rescuing three dogs from Ridglan Farms. Ridglan Farms—located in Dane County, Wisconsin—is a research puppy mill that keeps hundreds of dogs stacked in cages in windowless sheds and sells their puppies for experimentation. Find out how you can get involved and help the beagles trapped inside Ridglan Farms. Support the activists who saved these three beagles’ lives and who will bravely be telling their rescue stories to the world. This is our opportunity to protest the injustice of prosecuting animal rescue instead of animal abuse: https://dane4dogs.org/trial/
On the night of April 17, 2017, three courageous people representing the animal rights group Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) rescued three beagles from inside Ridglan Farms—an enormous factory farm breeding beagles for cruel research experiments in Wisconsin. The beagles—Julie, Anna, and Lucy—are now safe in loving homes. However, the three activists who saved their lives now face felony burglary and felony theft charges. This compelling, roundtable discussion--including two of the rescuers--reveals why the “right to rescue” should be defended, especially when the welfare of animals is at stake. Also learn how you can support the beagles and these brave activists in their upcoming trial in March 2024.
How can someone work in a research laboratory where their job entails experimenting on dogs? While the abuse of dogs is criminalized outside the walls of the laboratory, inside the laboratory it’s accepted and lawful. Why is there such a disconnect in how we define animal abuse? Furthermore, if people’s jobs include harming and killing dogs and other animals, what effect could this have on their personal lives—and our society in general? Research shows a definitive connection between violence against animals and violence against people, as well as other negative psychological impacts. Dr. Amy Fitzgerald, Professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminology at the University of Windsor, expertly uncovers what consequences the animal testing industry has on human and animal wellbeing.
Beagle Freedom Project (BFP) founder and president Shannon Keith joins us once again to reveal BFP’s most recent, ground-breaking efforts to help dogs in research laboratories. As one of the most well-known activists in the fight against animal testing, Shannon is always ready to jump in to help wherever she is needed—even if the need is an ocean away. Heartening rescue stories—including one about the royal beagle Mama Mia—, more details about BFP’s new project in the United Kingdom, and an honest conversation about the “power of a person” and why that matters for dogs in research are all included in this inspiring episode.
When the massive research dog breeding facility Envigo in Virginia was shut down in 2022 due to numerous animal welfare violations, over 4,000 beagles were set free and adopted out in what has become the largest dog rescue in U.S. history. Sadly, these beagles were not given names in Envigo—they were given ear tattoos as puppies to identify them—much like a barcode on a piece of inventory.
During the rescue process, the over 4,000 beagles were split up among 160 different animal shelters across the nation, leaving many adopters to wonder: did my beagle’s brothers and sisters also make it out alive? And if so, where are they now? Michael Taylor, founder of Finding Connections: Envigo Beagles, reveals how he has managed to connect Envigo beagle families by cracking the code of the dogs’ ear tattoos given by Envigo. Up until now, the ear tattoos were secret codes, but that has all changed, and the availability of this information is proving to be profound.
Undercover investigators in the field of animal cruelty work in absolute secrecy in research laboratories, factory farms, and other places where animal abuse is conducted on a daily basis as part of the job. Their mission? To expose this cruelty and present footage to lawmakers, the media, and members of the public who have the power to stop it. Get an exclusive look into the heart, soul, and the lives of undercover investigators at PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) as Daniel Paden, Vice President of Evidence Analysis for PETA’s investigations division, walks us through what it takes to go undercover, and why raising public awareness through these investigations is so powerful in affecting change for dogs in laboratories and all animals facing human-afflicted cruelty.
Lori Cohen’s life changed forever when she got her first beagle and discovered the painful truth that dogs are still used in large numbers for experimental research globally—including her home country of Canada. She was so moved to help research dogs and help change the paradigm of animal testing that she founded her own rescue organization called The Beagle Alliance. Lori is currently the executive director of The Beagle Alliance, based in Manitoba, and their mission is to give dogs and other animals used in experimental research and situations of abuse and neglect a second chance at life. Lori reveals the challenges she faces trying to rescue dogs from research laboratories in Canada, and more about their critical mission throughout North America.
Dogs are obviously very different from humans, yet dogs and other animals are still being used as models for humans in drug development. Not only is this inhumane, but could this be one of the major reasons we still don’t have cures for diseases such as Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and cancer despite decades of research? In this fascinating episode we’re talking with Dr. Jarrod Bailey, a geneticist from Animal Free Research UK. He is working to encourage and accelerate a cultural shift in science—away from using animals, and towards advanced human-specific research methods which will benefit animals and humans alike.
The anti-vivisection movement—those who fight against animal experimentation—has a rich history that rarely makes its way into general knowledge. But, you can be certain that since the dawn of animal research in America, people have thought that hurting and killing dogs and other animals for science is morally and ethically wrong and they have stood up against it.
Lindsey Soffes is a Program Officer at Rise for Animals, an animal rights organization established in New England in 1895 with a crucial mission: to end all animal experimentation. Lindsey joins us today to shine a light on dog research looking through the lens of one of our nation’s oldest anti-vivisection institutions. Lindsey also reveals details about a new, public database Rise for Animals has created to track dog research activity and increase transparency of the research industry that currently operates in secrecy.
In the summer of 2022, the world witnessed the largest dog rescue in United States history when Envigo—a company in Virginia breeding beagles for experimental research—was found guilty on many charges of animal cruelty and was shut down. All of the 4,500 beagles suffering within Envigo’s cages were rescued and adopted to loving homes.
One of the champions for these beagles was Senator Bill Stanley, a Republican representing the state of Virginia, who had personally witnessed what was happening inside Envigo and took a stand to help the dogs. In a rare show of political cooperation, Senator Stanley rallied fellow legislators to join the cause and he gives us an inside look at how they succeeded in closing Envigo. Heartwarming stories of his own Envigo beagles—Dixie and Daisy—are shared, as well as more about his continuing fight to help end the cruel use of dogs for research.
Our relationships with animals, whether as individuals or as a society, directly affects human health. In this profound episode, Dr. Aysha Akhtar shares why having empathy for animals is so important for human life on all levels. She reveals that the key to sustainable human health is getting away from animal testing—which causes significant harm, pain, and suffering to dogs and other research animals—and replacing it with more humane, human-specific technologies. With over a decade of experience working for the U.S. government in top medical positions, and now the C.E.O of the Center for Contemporary Sciences, Dr. Akhtar gives us an inside look at what it will take to make this change happen.
John Curtin is a veteran animal rights activist in the United Kingdom who now heads up Camp Beagle—a protest that sits right outside the gates of Marshall BioResources, or MBR. An American company, MBR breeds beagles and other animals for biomedical research. For over 18 months people from all over the world have come to Camp Beagle in the U.K. to protest against MBR. Camp Beagle is an actual 'camp'--complete with tents and food, and anyone is welcome to stay and engage in protesting to help save the MBR beagles. Get more information at: www.thecampbeagle.com
Considering adopting of a former laboratory dog but not sure what to expect? Dr. Stacy Lopresti-Goodman joins us to discuss the negative impact that confinement, social isolation, and physical abuse have on the psychological well-being of animals rescued from laboratories. Her latest published research paper is on the adoptability of former research beagles and their ability to overcome the trauma of life in a lab. This groundbreaking work shows that former laboratory dogs make good companions and should be given that chance.
What was it like to be part of the largest dog rescue in U.S. history—the 4,000 beagles of Envigo? These beagles were destined for a life of cruel and painful experimentation and certain death in research laboratories around the world until Envigo—a massive research dog breeding facility in Virginia—was shut down. John Ramer, Director of Kindness Ranch Animal Sanctuary, was one of the few people who were allowed onto Envigo’s property, and he takes us step by step through his personal journey to help rescue the 4,000 beagles of Envigo. *Also featuring an audio debut by Uno…the very first beagle released from Envigo.
The U.S. government is the driving force behind most of the dog testing taking place in America today. It is a little-known fact that the taxes we pay as citizens every year are actually funding the largest animal testing organization in the world: the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Justin Goodman, Senior Vice President of Advocacy and Public Policy at White Coat Waste Project, rocks this episode and sheds light on what’s happening in Congress right now to stop taxpayer-funded experiments on dogs.
In 2021-2022, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) conducted a seven-month-long undercover investigation at Inotiv—an animal research laboratory in Indiana—and what they found inside was horrific animal suffering. While most of the animals in these experiments at Inotiv have already been killed, there remain 48 beagles who are being used to test a new drug for Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, and their experiment is about to end…along with these beagles’ lives. Katie Conlee, Vice President for Animal Research Issues with HSUS, joins us in this episode to give us the latest news on these beagles and what we can do to help save them.
How can we help former research dogs leave the past behind and find happiness…perhaps for the first time in their lives? Dog trainer and nutritionist Tamara Tokash shares decades of wisdom and cool tips to help dogs who’ve left the confinement of a research laboratory by promoting their healing from the inside out.
Ever wondered how anyone could work in a research laboratory where animals are hurt and killed in the name of science? In this exclusive interview, Dr. Emily Trunnell, Senior Scientist at PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), reveals her own struggles with her past of experimenting on animals and how she became such an ardent animal rights advocate as a result. Dr. Trunnell now works to modernize research, end outdated animal experiments, and encourages other scientists to do the same.
How far would you go to save dogs in research laboratories? In this exclusive interview with Ingrid Newkirk, founder and president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), she shares incredible true rescue stories from her book Free the Animals which shines a light on the Animal Liberation Front, an animal rights organization that took extraordinary steps to save animals from research laboratories. An inside look at how PETA is leading the way to end cruel experiments on animals once and for all.
Shannon Keith, Founder and President of Beagle Freedom Project (BFP), inspires listeners with personal stories of why scientific experimentation on dogs in research laboratories needs to end. This exclusive, one-on-one interview gets deep into the issues surrounding using dogs for research and introduces the BFP’s Open Cages, Naming Names campaign aimed at vigorously exposing the animal testing industry.
Dr. Allen Schoen, D.V.M., M.S., Ph.D.(hon.) enlightens listeners with his words of wisdom on how we can all use our love of animals to broaden human consciousness and help change the reality for dogs used in research through the Conscious Animal Lovers Movement.