Long Fight for Beagle Bill Finally Won

Shortly before the State Senate gave final legislative approval of a bill to create opportunities for animals used in research facilities last week, Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) told his colleagues that Massachusetts uses more research animals than any other state and after the hardships they endure it is important “to give them an opportunity for a life after the lab”.

An Act Protecting Research Animals, which Tarr has filed since 2017, will facilitate the ability of animal rescue organizations to receive cats and dogs from research facilities and transfer them to those interested in adopting them into homes.

“The Senate has repeatedly and steadfastly supported this legislation which is intended to give research animals an opportunity to be adopted after they have ended their service in research facilities,” said Senator Tarr. “Dogs and other animals involved in research are making tremendous sacrifices to save our lives and make us healthier. It is important to recognize our humane obligation to them because we have a moral imperative to give them the opportunity for better lives when their research involvement is done.”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration mandates that new drugs must first involve trials using animals. Product developers also often include testing with animals. Most animal testing facilities rely on dogs and the vast majority of those are beagles. Renowned for being docile and easy-going, the beagle breed has become a central component of research laboratory testing.

According to a U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Annual Animal Usage report, Massachusetts facilities used more animals then any state. More than 9,000 of the animals used in Massachusetts labs were dogs and the vast majority of those were beagles. Other animals used for testing include; guinea pigs, hamsters, non-human primates, pigs, rabbits, and sheep.

“On behalf of our Beagle Bill team, we want to thank the Massachusetts Legislature for their support of this bill, especially our sponsors Senator Bruce Tarr, Representative Michelle Dubois and former Representative Carolyn Dykema,” said Cara Zipoli of the Beagle Freedom Project. We are so thrilled to have this bill enacted after five years of consideration. We look forward to developing partnerships between our research and animal welfare communities to ensure as many dogs and cats find loving homes as possible.”

These same qualities also make beagles excellent candidates to become household pets also make them preferred for medical and research testing.

Having been enacted in both the House and Senate the bill was signed into law by Governor Baker on Thursday.