Dogs and cats used in research in New York will be eligible for adoption instead of euthanasia, thanks to a bill signed into law this week by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
“Dogs and cats are like members of the family for many New Yorkers and this action will allow for more four-legged friends to be adopted into a caring home,” Cuomo said.
Known as the Beagle Freedom Bill, the law has the support of the Humane Society of the United States. It requires state-funded research institutions to put dogs and cats up for adoption. A vet must decide whether a lab animal is medically suitable for adoption. Those that are will be offered to a licensed shelter or rescue facility.
There are an estimated 65,000 dogs in U.S. research facilities, according to the Albany Times Union. Most have never seen the sun or touched grass. Beagles are breed most commonly used in experiments. California and three other states have passed similar measures. The Beagle Freedom Project is a wonderful organization that rescues and finds homes for these animals.c
More than 22,000 cats are used and often abused in research facilities across the country, according to PETA. The Research Animal Retirement Act is “an important move to promote the adoption of dogs and cats formerly used for research,” said Brian Shapiro, New York state director for The Humane Society of the United States.
I cannot believe that using pets is ok to use in research labs ever ! How sick are you people ! You can not have a heart or soul ! Your blood must be cold ! I know your mind is sick ! You all make me sick !
There are places that breed dogs, cats and other small animals specifically to provide researchers with animals and also to provide cadavers for anatomy dissections. The dogs may be specific breeds, such as Beagles, but the cats usually look like any random cat you might see in a neighborhood. In most, if not all places, researchers and animal suppliers are prohibited from getting pet animals from humane societies or animal control.