Category: News

On Tuesday, the Delaware Senate voted to stop automatically killing perfectly healthy cats and dogs who’d been retired from their positions as test animals. The legislation passed unanimously. “I’m honestly amazed that this was even a debate,” said Sen. Jack Walsh (D-Stanton), a rescue dog owner himself. “We have healthy animals that research labs don’t want. We have local shelters that are willing to care for them. We have families that might want to adopt them. It defies reason that anyone would choose to euthanize them instead of giving them…

Maryland just became the seventh state to enact a “Beagle Freedom” law, which seeks to find homes for cats and dogs that survive testing in research labs. Every day, in labs across the United States, researchers experiment on thousands of cats and dogs. They test new surgical techniques, inoculate the animals with experimental drugs and remove organs, all in the name of advancing human knowledge and developing consumer products such as face creams and window cleaners. Until recently, no laws covered what should happen to animals that survive the lab…

On April 24, 2018, Larry Hogan, Governor of Maryland, signed the Beagle Freedom Bill – a measure that legally compels research laboratories to release dogs and cats who are no longer needed in testing, allowing them to be adopted into loving homes! Maryland is the seventh U.S. state to pass this legislation, saving the lives of countless animals. The bill comes at the perfect time as it was passed during World Week for Animals in Labs, which brings attention to the issues of animal testing and cruelty. Thanks to the…

Gov. Larry Hogan has signed a ban on the sale of puppy mill dogs at Maryland pet stores, and a law requiring lab animals to be adopted. ANNAPOLIS, MD — Animal rescue groups and shelters celebrated Tuesday as Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan signed a law that bans the sale of puppy mill dogs in pet stores. Dogs and owners celebrated at the Statehouse, while owners of the few remaining pet stores affected criticized the law. “An overwhelming majority of Marylanders agree – holding puppies is the best part of any…

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Governor Larry Hogan signed more than 200 bills into law Tuesday morning, some of which cracks down on repeat violent offenders and those who commit crimes with guns. The one bill that made Hogan smile the most was the so-called Beagle Bill, named for the most common dog breed used in testing. The bill will require cats and dogs used for research to be given a chance at adoption. When the animal is no longer needed, research facilities will have to give them to animal rescue organizations.…

Beagle Freedom Project (BFP), an animal welfare group, has just announced its latest campaign. Cut the Cruelty will expose pet suppliers with ties to animal testing and work with major retailers to discontinue their partnerships with these suppliers. The campaign has already reached an agreement with overstock.com, which will no longer do business with Marshall Pet Products. BFP Founder and President, Shannon Keith, explained that many pet supply companies are also associated with animal experimentation. Marshall Pet Products, for example, sells pet toys and treats, but it is also connected…

The Maryland General Assembly has passed new legislation that requires research facilities in the state to “take reasonable steps” to adopt out any dogs used in scientific experiments once they are no longer needed. Named the Beagle Freedom Bill because beagles are the most commonly used dog breed for research, the new law means institutions will have to search for placement of the dogs, or create relationships with animal rescue centers that can help find them new homes. Up until now, there have been no laws regulating what happens to…

Del. Kramer poised to push additional protections for companion animals in next year’s session At first glance, Del. Ben Kramer’s multiyear effort to protect companion animals was successful on two fronts during the just-finished 2018 session of the Maryland General Assembly. Legislation offered by Kramer to end the sale of dogs in retail pet stores—where critics say many of the animals are products of so-called “puppy mills”—sailed through the House and Senate. It is awaiting Gov. Larry Hogan’s signature, as is another Kramer proposal—which he had been pushing for four…