Back on May 20 of this year, Governor Mark Dayton signed the Omnibus Supplemental Budget Bill into law, which included the Beagle Freedom Law (and the MN Dog and Cat Breeder Regulation Law) — thus making Minnesota the very first state to pass the Beagle Freedom Law. Yip yip hurray!
What does the Beagle Freedom Law do, exactly? Well, according to a feature story in this month’s Bark Magazine, it requires that “the state’s higher-education research and related facilities receiving public money offer their dogs and cats to non-profit animal rescue organizations when the animals are no longer needed.” In other words, the law requires that beagles in MN tax-payer funded research labs must be put up for adoption after their lab time is up. This means these beagles get a second chance to have a wonderful, happy life! Can I get a woof-woof?!
Here’s why the issue matters so much to Minnesotans: In 2012, our state had the 5th most number of research dogs of any state in the nation. And while that’s a major problem in an of itself, allowing those lab dogs a chance to get adopted is definitely a step in the right direction. No other state is required to give that kind of happy ending to their research dogs, so we’re considering this good news.
The Beagle Freedom Project, a colossal nation-wide advocate for lab beagles, has put a lot of effort into rescuing and saving the lives of these dogs. Want to see them in action? Check out the video at the bottom of this post, in which the Beagle Freedom Project folks rescue lab beagles. You won’t want to miss when these pups touch grass for the first time! Absolutely heartwarming!
95% of research dogs are beagles, for a lot of the same reasons beagles also make great pets: they’re forgiving, friendly, trusting, passive, and all about pleasing their people. So let’s reward them for these qualities by making sure each freagle (free beagle, obviously) gets adopted into a loving home. Foster or adopt a freagle here.
Big sloppy kisses and tail wags to the Beagle Freedom Project, Mark Dayton, Senator Scott Dibble (the now-law’s major advocate), and the countless others who helped push for the Beagle Freedom Law. Because of them, hundreds of Minnesota Beagles will finally be able to enjoy the good life.
– Emily Kulich
[Related: Get a Beagle, They Said. It’ll be Fun, they Said.]