SPCA Of Westchester Joins Nationwide Rescue Of Beagles Bred For Labs

BRIARCLIFF MANOR, NY — The SPCA of Westchester is taking in a double handful of the 4,000 beagles rescued from a breeding and research facility in Virginia.

Staff members are on their way back to the Hudson Valley after picking the dogs up.

The Envigo RMS LLC facility became infamous after an investigation found that thousands of dogs who were being bred for research purposes were forced to live in confined, unsanitary, and inhumane conditions. It was shut down in early July.

"It’s unimaginable what these poor dogs have gone through," said Shannon Laukhuf, Executive Director of SPCA Westchester, "and we’re honored the SPCA was asked to assist in giving these deserving, brave beagles a second chance. We’ll be placing them into foster and forever homes shortly and encourage anyone interested to email [email protected]."

After years of violations and legislative debate in Virginia, including new regulations passed by the legislature this year, federal agents seized hundreds of dogs and puppies found to be “in acute distress.”

Read more: Beagle Breeding Facility Shutting Down Over Violations Will Be Allowed To Sell 500 Dogs

The Humane Society of the United States has coordinated the transfer plan with the Department of Justice and Envigo.

“It takes a massive network of compassionate, expert shelters and rescues to make an operation of this scale possible,” said Lindsay Hamrick, shelter outreach and engagement director for the Humane Society of the United States. “We are deeply grateful to each organization that is stepping up to find these dogs the loving homes they so deserve."