Humane Society Welcomes 62 Rescued Beagles to Wisconsin – Help Needed

The Wisconsin Humane Society has welcomed 62 beagles to Wisconsin from the group of 4,000 being removed from a mass-breeding facility in Virginia, an effort led by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). WHS picked up and transported 9 adult mothers and 53 puppies over the weekend as part of the operation, and they are all currently in WHS foster homes throughout southeastern Wisconsin. They’ll need medical examinations, socialization, proper diet, any necessary veterinary treatments, and more support.

“On Saturday night, our team welcomed, examined, and placed all 62 animals in foster homes in less than two hours”, said Alison Fotsch Kleibor, WHS Executive Vice President – CEO Designate. “It has been such a powerful experience to be a small part of the journey for these animals and an even greater privilege to be a part of the team who made it happen.”

The Humane Society of the United States is coordinating the removal of approximately 4,000 beagles housed at an Envigo RMS LLC facility in Cumberland, Virginia, which bred dogs to be sold to laboratories for animal experimentation. The transfer is 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.

“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.”

The beagles being cared for by the Wisconsin Humane Society will be available for adoption once they are old enough to be placed, and healthy enough for new loving homes.

If you’re willing to make a donation to help support their care, please click HERE.

The Wisconsin Humane Society does not receive general government funding and is not part of any national umbrella organizations.

Those interested in adoption should review the adoption process at www.wihumane.org/adopt in the coming days and weeks; the website is updated in real time.