Undercover investigation discovers pesticides being tested on beagles, Humane Society says

[orleans]

Source: abc action news

The Humane Society of the United States says it discovered in an undercover investigation that pesticides are being tested on 36 beagles at a lab in Michigan.

The organization says over 60,000 dogs are used in toxicity tests and research every year in the United States. Now the Humane Society wants people to demand the immediate release of the 36 dogs.

According to the undercover investigation, workers at the lab use gelatin capsules, fill them with the prescribed amount of fungicide and then force the capsules down the beagles’ throats sometimes using up to four capsules per dog depending on the dose.

"This cruel and unnecessary testing includes the force-feeding of pesticides to the dogs, who are otherwise held in practically barren cages," the Humane Society said. "There is no way out for dogs like these. The dogs who don't die from the poison throughout the tests are scheduled to be euthanized in early July."

Read more: https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/national/humane-society-undercover-investigation-discovers-pesticides-being-tested-on-beagles

[mr_lebowski]

1. Sounds horrible, but it's also some pretty sketchy reporting ...

First off, there's a difference between a fungicide and a pesticide ... but the article uses both terms as if there's not.

And then there's the odd specificity of 'Beagles'. I mean, we all love Beagles, they're adorable, right?

So why is this particular breed of dog being used?

And what's with 'discovering' ... an 'undercover investigation'? An investigation by whom?

And why wouldn't you just put all four capsules-worth of pesticides (or is it fungicides?) into one capsule? Why make it four? The amounts of pesticides are measured in micrograms, typically ... so why do you need to use a bunch of capsules?

Also, why do they only want 36 out of 60000 dogs ... released?

Story doesn't pass the smell test for me, sorry, just sayin'.

But if it's true, by all means ... FREE THE BEAGLES!!!

[orleans]

2. i saw this also

it might explain a bit more

http://www.fox2detroit.com/news/local-news/humane-society-beagles-being-force-fed-pesticides-in-tests-at-michigan-lab

"The society says beagles are typically used in testing because of their "docile nature."

[mr_lebowski]

3. Wow. But, I mean, what kind of evil motherf***ers use BEAGLES for scientific experiments?

Who uses ANY domestic DOGS in this capacity? Who can POSSIBLY think this is going to be okay by the American People? What kind of MONSTERS are we talking about here?!?

It's all just so unfathomable that I have a hard time believing it.

WTFF?!? I guess is what I'm saying.

[get the red out]

5. They all use Beagles to torture

In research because the reachers don't want to get what they deserve. I am no PETA person but these torture bastards need to be stopped.

[rwsanders]

15. In the late 1980's they were being used at St. Louis University. Don't know if they still are.

I wasn't working in that research group, but it was horrific to see all those friendly faces in cages.
If I had stayed I would have ran out with the whole group, and maybe it was cowardly to not do it. (confession time).
Horrible because they are one of the world's sweetest dog breeds. Love and happiness with spots.

[Brother Buzz]

20. UC Davis used beagles for radiation testing from 1956-86

Scientists experimented on beagles because they are long-lived, have greater genetic diversity than other dog species and their skeleton and bone marrow resemble that of humans.

When the cold war project was completed, the frozen dogs were sent off to a nuclear dump (where ever that was), but a 140 tons of radioactive dog shit still remained on campus for decades. UCD may, or may not have addressed the toxic dump, but it was big news back in the eighties and nineties.

The dogs are long gone, but I cringe every time I drive past the slick primate center and wonder what the Hell is going on inside.

[rwsanders]

22. And trying to help can be ruinous...

I read the book Operation Bite Back.
Terrible what was done to the Protagonist.

Have you ever read "Plague Dogs"? Fiction, but an amazing book.
Non-fiction, I've recently read "The Emotional Lives of Animals" and "Zoo Story".

[barbtries]

10. i don't know why

but in non clinical research it is common to use beagle dogs.

i just quickly googled and a reason offered is that they trust humans the most. i don't know if that's the reason, though.

[leftyladyfrommo]

25. They are easy to handle. Nt

[bluecollar2]

14. Technically all fungicides are pesticides

Pesticides come in many forms...



Pesticides can be grouped according to the types of pests which they kill:

Insecticides - insects.
Herbicides - plants.
Rodenticides - rodents (rats and mice)
Bactericides - bacteria.
Fungicides - fungi.
Larvicides - larvae.

I'm sure there are hundreds more. I never really knew much about it until I had to be one a licensed applicator.

[mr_lebowski]

16. Ahhh ... that is true. Funny thing is, giving dogs fungicides is not necessarily a bad thing ...

Basically one treats a number of infections in animals with oral fungicides. Valley Fever is an obvious example, ...

[bluecollar2]

18. True

And not all pesticides are necessarily bad.

The problem is that the use and development are not well regulated.

For instance, lawn herbicides applied in residential use account for much higher levels of water pollution than agricultural use of the same herbicides.

Having said that, the use of animals for pesticide development and testing is very troubling.

Now if they could find a way to test everything on roaches, fireants, varroa mites and small hive beetles you'd get no complaints from me.

[Doremus]

21. They use beagles because they won't attack the people who are torturing them.

[Mosby]

24. that's it exactly.

[Raine]

6. Awful what is done in these labs!

[TexasBushwhacker]

7. They categorically euthanize them

to hide their ugly secret. But the Rescue Freedom Project is able to save some.

https://rescuefreedomproject.org

[BaileyBill]

11. They have changed their name to Rescue+Freedom Project

and now advocate for a number of animals used in research. As noted above, beagles represent 95% of dogs used because of their trusting and forgiving nature. Many are de-barked and otherwise mutilated to make work "easier" for the "researchers." Much of the research is not for medicine, but for cosmetics, pesticides, etc.

Here is the new link to their site:
https://rescuefreedomproject.org/

[llmart]

8. This is sickening.

However, I'm not surprised that Dow Chemical is involved. They've probably killed a lot of people/ex-employees with their chemicals over many years. Taking advantage of helpless creatures to test their products is abhorrent.

I signed the petition.

[bronxiteforever]

9. Kick and recommend for visibility of this torture of poor pups.

[MineralMan]

12. My wife and I have a beagle, Sam, who was a lab beagle for

three years. We adopted him from the Beagle Freedom Project several years ago. We have no way to know what sort of testing was done on him, but he has adjusted, learned how to be a pet dog from our Beagle/Basset mix shelter rescue dog, and is now a happy, healthy doggie.

That organization, now known as the Rescue Freedom Project, has been instrumental in getting state laws passed requiring labs to make test animals available for fostering and adoption, instead of just killing them.

Beagles are the most-used dogs in such testing, because of their calm, trusting demeanor and non-aggressive personalities. They suffer because they are such good dogs in general.

It took Sam, our lab beagle, almost six months to bark. Apparently, he was punished for barking. He remains afraid of stairs, which may mean that he was taking down stairs to the place where testing occurred. He took a long time to warm up to me, which may mean that he was mainly handled by men in the lab.

We're lucky to have him in our home, now. He was one of nine beagles made available for adoption in Minnesota. The Minnesota Nine, as they are called, were instrumental in our state legislature passing the lab adoption requirement bill here.

Good dog, Sam!

[orleans]

23. i love your post

with such a happy ending.
i'm so glad you have sam. and so glad he has you!

[Bayard]

13. Beagles and Greyhounds

Both are often used because they are so docile. Beagles just keep wagging their little tails no matter what's done to them. I would imagine there are plenty of Greyhound subjects now that the racetracks in FL closed.

[douglas9]

17. Bred to Suffer

Dated but revelant

https://theintercept.com/2018/05/17/inside-the-barbaric-u-s-industry-of-dog-experimentation/

[Beringia]

19. There is a petition for the Beagles by the Humane Society

https://secure.humanesociety.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=7598&s_src=web_inline_dowdogs_031219


Story
https://www.humanesociety.org/news/undercover-investigation-finds-dogs-suffering-lab-experiments

[Guilded Lilly]

26. My daughter, who is a very active and healthy, grown woman now...

Contacted pseudomonas in the hospital during an inner ear operation when she was 7. Almost lost her.

One of the new experimental drugs they suggested to me was one that had only been tested on beagles. I was mentally horrified, physically shaken and verbally outraged.

The side effects were way too risky and I opted for a lengthy, months long intravenous antibiotic procedure involving her having a stent in her hand with daily treatments and weekly visits from nurses while she went on with her 7 year olds life.
She was cured and never looked back.

I never forgot the moment they mentioned the beagles. Never forgot. Opened my eyes to things that...well I never forgot.