Laboratory Dogs Rescued

Animal testing is a controversy that has raged for hundreds of years. Some people view experiments on dogs as necessary for human medical progress, while others argue that the practice is barbaric. When the author adopted Marty—a beagle rescued from a research laboratory—she found herself rehabilitating a terrified dog with a traumatic past. She soon discovered the well-kept secret of painful and often fatal testing on dogs. This book details what the author has learned about the past and present of laboratory testing on dogs, life after laboratories and the hope for a future without animal testing. Interviews with rescue organizers and adoptive families reveal the struggles of removing dogs from laboratories and acclimating them to daily life. Scientists discuss the ethics of dog research and advocate for new biomedical technologies. Fundamental change is brewing, with the public, scientists and governments urging the use of new technologies that can replace testing on animals and yield better results.

Ellie Hansen is an award-winning writer, animal advocate, and founder and CEO of Lovable Pets, Inc., a holistic pet supply company located in Billings, Montana. She hosts the podcast Dog Research Exposed and is a Policy Volunteer Leader for the Humane Society of the United States. Her published works include two books and several magazine articles focusing on profound human relationships with dogs.

Brian Patrick Duggan is a canine historian and author of several books and numerous articles about dogs in history. He is a retired university technology educator and an American Kennel Club judge.

Ellie Hansen

Series Editor Brian Patrick Duggan

Foreword by Kathrin Herrmann

Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 247
Bibliographic Info: 45 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2022
pISBN: 978-1-4766-8501-4
eISBN: 978-1-4766-4492-9
Imprint: McFarland
Series: Dogs in Our World

Acknowledgments ix
Foreword by Kathrin Herrmann 1
Preface 5
Meet the Experts 7

Part 1: Dogs in Science
1. Early History of Using Dogs in Research 18
2. The Debate Begins: Researchers Meet Public Outcry 28
3. Dogs in Research—Stories and Statistics 40
4. Dogs and Drug Development 51
5. The Welfare of Dogs in Research 61
6. The Ethics of Dog Research—A Human Perspective 74
7. Future Technologies 84
8. Interviews with Global Experts 93
9. ­Re-homing Laboratory Dogs 101

Part 2: To the Rescue
10. Beagle Freedom Project 108
11. Kindness Ranch Animal Sanctuary 115

Part 3: Saved—Stories of Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Second Chances
12. Ambassadors for Freedom 126
13. Special Dogs … Special Love 141
14. Two, Three, Four … Just One Beagle More 153
15. Beagles Take a Hike … Adventures in the Outdoors 170
16. Wild West Beagles 180
17. Part of the Family 188
18. Sharing the Gift of Healing 197
19. International Rescues—United Kingdom 205
20. International Rescues—Italy 210

Chapter Notes 217
Bibliography 229
Index 235

• “A heartbreaking, activist-oriented, and highly informative account about laboratory dogs.”—Kirkus Reviews

• “Essential reading…impressively engaging and informative… While especially recommended for community, college, and university library collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of everyone who has a canine companion of their own (or who is contemplating acquiring one).”—Midwest Book Review

• “One cannot escape a form of enlightenment in reading Laboratory Dogs Rescued. It is a beautiful testament to those who choose acts of kindness over cruelty and are rewarded with love. We must sometimes speak the unspeakable to shed light on it. Ellie Hansen’s book does just that, with grace. May its truth inspire change.”—Jennifer Skiff, author of The Divinity of Dogs: True Stories of Miracles Inspired by Man’s Best Friend