Dog Research Exposed

Ridglan Beagle Rescue Trial with Dane4Dogs

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/

Ridglan Farms Beagle Rescue with Direct Action Everywhere (DxE)

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.

Negative Social Impact of Animal Abuse in Research Labs

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.

Rescue Has No Boundaries: Beagle Freedom Project

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.  

Cracking the Code of Envigo Beagle Tattoos

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 with PETA: Views from the Inside

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. 

Stepping Up for Research Dogs in Canada

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.

Animal Free Research Benefits Everybody

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.

Tools to Help Dogs in Labs

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.  

Senator Bill Stanley--Champion for Envigo Beagles

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.