Beagles Saved From Lab Experiments Now Up For Adoption In Eatontown

EATONTOWN, NJ — This week, the Monmouth County SPCA brought five beagle puppies home to its Eatontown headquarters.

The puppies, all male, were removed from a mass-breeding facility in Cumberland, Virginia, which the Monmouth SPCA says is "riddled with animal welfare concerns." The facility is called the Envigo RMS LLC, which bred dogs to be sold to laboratories for animal experimentation, according to the SPCA. Beagles are the most common dog breed used for lab tests and medical experiments/research on animals, due to their medium size and submissive nature.

In fact, this August the Humane Society of the United States coordinated the removal of approximately 4,000 beagles housed in that Virginia facility.

The transfer plan comes as a result of a lawsuit filed against Envigo by the Department of Justice in May, alleging Animal Welfare Act violations at the facility. Repeated federal inspections have resulted in dozens of violations, including findings that some dogs had been “euthanized” without first receiving anesthesia, that dogs had received inadequate veterinary care and insufficient food, and that they were living in unsanitary conditions.

Beagles from that Virginia facility are now being housed at shelters up and down the East Coast, including in Eatontown and in Westchester, New York.

The plan to transfer all 4,000 of the dogs is being coordinated by the U.S. Department of Justice, which said it is "working with" Envigo RMS LLC. The full transfer will take place in stages over the next two months, into late September, and the five dogs housed at the Monmouth County SPCA will be available for adoption once they clear some medical tests.

“While we were not able to take many beagles due to the fact that, like many shelters, we are at near capacity, we are proud to be a small part of this heroic rescue,” said Ross Licitra, executive director of the Monmouth County SPCA. “It is remarkable to see the effect that human kindness has on these terrified puppies and we look forward to finding them loving homes.”

The five male puppies are currently undergoing medical and behavioral assessments. Due to the overwhelming interest in adoption from the public, the MCSPCA will choose suitable adoption candidates from a lottery system. Applicants should have experience as a dog-owner, reside in New Jersey and in a stand-alone type residence (due to potential noise).

If you are interested in adopting one of these puppies, fill out the application online ASAP: https://monmouthcountyspca.org and click on canine adoption survey. They may also be filled out and submitted at the shelter’s Eatontown location (260 Wall St, Eatontown, NJ 07724). The lottery ends at 5:00 p.m. this Sunday, August 28 potential adopters will be contacted for an appointment.