From rescue dog shelter to canine binomial 0:44
(CNN) --
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is transferring 4,000 beagles from a research facility in Cumberland, Virginia, to humane societies in the United States where they can be adopted, according to a report. plan approved last week by a federal judge.
In a series of inspections carried out over the course of nine months, more than 70 animal welfare violations were found at Envigo's breeding facilities.
Mortality records reviewed by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) showed more than 300 pup deaths from January 1, 2001 through July 22, 2021, which was attributed to unknown causes.
The facility also did not take additional steps to determine the cause in order to prevent similar deaths in the future.
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A motion filed in June said federal agents had already seized 446 beagles.
HSUS will transport the remaining beagles from the facility at its own expense for the next approximately 60-day period.
Following last week's ruling, Inotiv, Inc., Envigo's parent company, said in a statement that it will "implement an orderly closure plan" of the Cumberland facility.
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Envigo's research facility in Cumberland, Virginia, will be closed.
Virginia Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine said in a statement, "After months of advocacy, we're heartened to learn that nearly 4,000 Envigo dogs will be spared a lifetime of suffering and instead headed to loving homes." We are pleased that you know that Inotiv - the parent company of Envigo - will close its Cumberland facility and that no other dog will be subjected to the appalling conditions and inexcusable anguish that so many dogs and puppies endure at the facility. prevent the mistreatment of innocent animals in Virginia and the nation.
Sue Bell, CEO and founder of Homeward Trails Animal Rescue, told CNN that her group took 36 dogs between the ages of one and six years old out of 446 beagles that were turned in earlier this year.
Bell said the dogs were adopted in just three weeks.
She is also part of a team working on logistics for an additional 4,000 beagles due to be delivered in the coming weeks, she said.
"We're hoping to get 200 to 250 beagles off the property on July 19," Bell said.
The group will prioritize obtaining pregnant bitches, young bitches, and bitches with unweaned puppies first from the facility.
"We prefer that pregnant dogs not give birth in that facility. We hope to get them home first," Bell said.
After that, there will still be thousands of adult beagles that will need to be removed from the property.
Inspections found more than 70 animal welfare violations over a nine-month period.
Animal rights organization PETA applauded last week's ruling that allowed the dogs to be released from the facility.
"The surviving victims of Envigo will soon have the opportunity to have what every dog deserves: the freedom to enjoy life, love and respect for their individuality as members of a family home," said Daphna Nachminovitch, senior vice president of Investigations for PETA cruelty.
"PETA's groundbreaking undercover investigation helped trigger a historic domino effect of state and federal law enforcement and legislative action that paved the way for the independence of these dogs and the closure of this dog prison."
Anyone looking for information on how to adopt one of the beagles or how to help with beagle rescues can visit the USHS website at humanesociety.org.
animal welfare