Woof! If dogs could read the news, that’s what we would have heard from more than 4,000 beagles bred for research when their East Coast captors were fined a record $35.5 million in penalties and fines for their inhumane treatment of thousands of dogs over several years.
Envigo, a multimillion-dollar Virginia medical research company — a so-called breeding puppy lab — was accused of prioritizing profits and convenience over the law, and pleaded guilty in June to violating the federal Animal Welfare Act and Clean Water Act.
Beagles are the most common breed used for experimenting because, experts have explained, they are gentle, loyal, docile, not too large for handling purposes, and easy to control. They are also known for their loyalty and hunting acumen.
Virginia-based People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, was instrumental in bringing the abuse and mistreatment to the attention of Virginia authorities, who in May 2022 found thousands of suffering beagles at the Envigo facility in Virginia.
“I’m in full agreement with anyone who thinks Envigo should continue to bear the financial burden of providing for these animals,” said Dan Paden, vice president of legal advocacy for PETA, on June 19. “As historic and strong as this plea deal is in many respects, it can’t … undo all of the harm Envigo did to those animals and the thousands that never made it out of that facility alive.”
Paden said Envigo and its parent company, Inotiv, a leading supplier of beagles for medical research in the U.S., made about $11 million between 2020 and 2022 by selling about 10,000 dogs.
Clients included major pharmaceutical companies, research universities and the federal government. The guilty plea involving the Clean Water Act could lead the EPA to disqualify Envigo as a federal contractor.
Paden slammed Envigo for keeping a vast number of beagles in cages and for creating litter after litter of puppies who were sold for medical experiments.
Federal authorities and inspectors discovered unsanitary conditions, dogs euthanized without anesthesia, underfed puppies, failure to document the cause of death of hundreds of puppies, and improper veterinary care, according to the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia.
Dogs were discovered with their ears partly chewed off, wounds and decaying teeth, eyes burned with caustic chemicals and holes drilled into their skulls.
They were not provided beds, toys or stimulation and were kept in small barrels, kennels and cages 24/7 in sheds that stretched as long as a football field. According to PETA’s website, the noise level of the barking inside the sheds was deafening when hundreds of dogs barked at the same time.
After many complaints, a search warrant was executed by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2022 and inspectors found thousands of mistreated beagles who were then rescued and adopted by families across the U.S.
One older beagle was adopted by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from the rescue organization Beagle Freedom Project based in the Valley Village area of Los Angeles.
In Sherman Oaks, Keiza Jauron and Gary Smith fostered Nancy, a rescued beagle they described as a curious, clever and energetic hound who needed plenty of play time. They couldn’t keep Nancy because she attacked the beagle they already owned, but they took in another beagle, Gabe, who has been with them for two years, and adopted yet another beagle, Lilly.
“We fostered Gabe, fell in love and adopted him,” said Smith. “About nine months ago, we adopted Lilly. She was not from Envigo (but) she came from an animal testing lab. The two of them are soulmates.”
The couple was disappointed to learn that the $35.5 million in penalties against Envigo would not trickle down to the pet rescue agencies across the country who found families and provided medical treatment for many of the pooches.
“I think this sends a good message to the animal testing industry that the welfare of dogs is being taken seriously,” Jauron said. “I’m impressed with the Justice Department’s (efforts) to levy the largest fine for animal welfare violations. But truly I wish some of that money was trickling down to the actual rescues like Cage to Couch that have dealt with these dogs and their health issues and their veterinarian care.”
Of the $35.5 million in fines, Envigo is required to spend $7 million to improve its standards beyond Animal Welfare Act requirements; $3.5 million to restore wetlands where their wastewater discharge polluted a creek; and lesser amounts to the Humane Society and officials who assisted in removing and caring for the dogs.
The Smiths are unhappy that $1.9 million from the settlement is going to the Humane Society but none to Cage to Couch. “It actually breaks my heart,” Jauron said.
Anaheim-based non-profit Cage to Couch accepted 27 dogs saved from the Envigo puppy farm, some with significant medical conditions requiring extensive veterinarian care.
“In general, it’s great,” said Mary Pryor, executive director of Cage to Couch. “It’s the biggest fine in the history of animal welfare.”
But, she notes, “None of the fines will trickle down to the rescues that had the brunt of it. We had all the (beagles) neutered; there were terrible ear infections, skin infections. We had a dog that had two or maybe three surgeries on his knees from being in a cage and jumping up to get out.”
Pryor said it’s hard to estimate the cost to her organization and the expenses of a dozen volunteers, but said it was more than $25,000.
“One (rescued beagle) we had with bad knees was probably $12,000 for the surgeries,” she said. “We rented a van … two different times and we had volunteers driving their cars, using their gas. We had to have people donate (wire cages) to pick up the dogs.”
All of the dogs they accepted have been placed in new homes.
“They were a challenging group,” Pryor said. “Some of them had PTSD and anxiety. We always thought beagles would do best in a home with another dog, so we went that route.”
The Podoll and Stuckmeyer families of Redondo Beach are two years into living with their beagles rescued from Envigo. Sailor, a 6-year-old female who has been with the Podoll’s since August 2022, joined their two other dogs.
“One of our neighbors got one of the beagles and that’s what inspired my family to get one,” said Chelsea Podoll, whose father is a commercial fisherman, hence Sailor’s name.
Sailor was a female “breeder” who produced multiple litters at Envigo. “When we first got her, she was so timid and could hardly walk and she couldn’t run without face-planting,” Podoll said. “Now she does all of it and is now the happiest, sweetest dog.”
Podoll said that what Envigo did to Sailor was terrible.
“My dog is still scared of the broom,” she said. When they sweep Sailor “can’t be in (the house) because she freaks out. I think having the other dogs helped warm her up to the idea of running, going on walks, because now she loves it. I feel very bad for what she had to go through.”
The Stuckmeyers took in Grace, a breeder dog who grew only as long as her cage allowed — 13 inches. She weighed 15 pounds but is now up to 20 pounds. The average weight should be between 20 and 30 pounds with a life span between 10 years and 15 years, according to the American Kennel Club.
She was fearful of a leash and people. The Stuckmeyers, who are retired hospitality employees, said they mostly followed Grace’s pace — influenced by their two other dogs.
“We took it day by day, and I couldn’t have been working and doing this,” said Patty Stuckmeyer. “It was baby steps. She is full-on beagle now.”
Patty is tickled pink about Grace’s progress and hopes the Envigo plea deal is a deterrent to other dog breeders. She said of Envigo, “I’m just sorry there wasn’t any jail time.”
As part of the federal plea deal, Envigo and its parent company, Inotiv, have agreed to never breed or sell dogs again.
If there is a silver lining to this story it’s that households who adopted the abused beagles nationwide have formed a bond through Facebook. Today, life is no longer a frightening and painful world for thousands of beagles. And the households who took in a mistreated beagle are now friends throughout the country.
Lisa Jacobs contributed to this article.
