- Blog
- Bios
- Boards
- Classifieds
- DIY
- Gallery
- Vendor Reviews
- Shop Weddingbee
Weddingbee boards
I am, admittedly, a huge dog lover (given the choice I typically like dogs more than most people). Since adopting our yellow lab, I've realized more and more how selfless, judgement-free, loving, and accepting dogs are, and the thougth that people harm them or abuse them just absolutely breaks my heart.
Someone sent me this video and an accompanying article last night and it tells the story of 72 beagles who were rescued from a lab in Spain where they were having chemicals tested on them (and I learned most dogs used in testing have chemicals, pesticides, or pharamceuticals tested on them until they are slowly poisioned). They lived their whole lives in metal cages and had never interacted with other dogs, seen the sunlight, or felt the grass. The article said that beagles are specifically targeted for testing because of their docile and trusting nature. Of the 72 dogs rescued, 37 were adopted in Europe, and the rest were flown to LA to be adopted in the US. This video follows just a few of them after their rescue and arrival in the US. There are only a few times in my life when I can say I LITERALLY 'burst into tears', but that was my honest, gut reaction when I saw this video.
It inspired me to email all of the rescue organizations in my area seeking volunteer opportunities (something I've been saying I wanted to do for a while now). I hope it inspires others too. If nothing else, this is a heartbreaking but also joyous and touching video that reminds us that anmials need our help and protection!! Watch and share it!
Heard about that on the news... what a terrible thing to do to so many innocent dogs.
I just balled my eyes out! I am without a doubt a gigantic dog lover and this made me extremely sad and happy at the same time. It's a beautiful story<3
@Stephanie9386:Isn't it amazing?? I also completely sobbed like a freaking baby. I mean, FI came downstairs thinking someone had died. It's so weird...I know it's such a happy story but all I can keep thinking is how awful it is that these dogs lived portions of their lives not knowing ANY happiness or love...and they have so much innocent, pure, and limitless love to give to humans who are their families!! Ugh....seriously drained me last night. I started to watch it again today but I had to stop it and walk away. And using "Songbird" and "here comes the sun"....omggg
OMG. That's awful. I'm not going to watch the video though because I am a beagle mommy myself and I will lose it. I hadn't heard about this in the news at all. It makes me sick to my stomach.
My precious boy, Simon
I am involved in the animal rights community, and I'm Facebook friends with one of the leaders of this rescue effort! In addition to leading the rescue, he is fostering quite a few of these dogs. He has been updating his FB several times a day with little stories about the dogs' progress, photos, videos, etc. It's AMAZING to see!
I am so happy this is making international news! @akp0702: It's so wonderful that you have been inspired to seek volunteer opportunities in your area!! Good for you!
Thanks for sharing this story here!
I unfortuantly had to watch this video at work....I am sucking back tears 
... what a great story!
Here is a FB update that totally made me choke up at work. Dogs really are such amazing creatures, and I think their ability to forgive is so inspirational.
****
I spent yesterday & today with 18 Beagles. They were 18 of the 40 rescued from the testing lab in Madrid, Spain by Shannon Keith & the amazing Beagle Freedom Project Team. All 40 arrived in Los Angeles on Wednesday night.
One of the volunteers who brought them from the airport to Shannon's house told me that when he opened one of the crates to take out one of the Beagles, instead of coming out the pup just lifted his left paw, then turned his head & looked away. My heart sank because i knew exactly why he did that. When this little boy was being tested upon, all he knew was that when a person came to his cage then it meant only one thing, it meant that it was time to be injected. The workers at the lab would inject the 'beauty products' directly into the beagles bloodstream through a vein in their left paw.
I cannot even begin to comprehend the sheer agony, the excruciating pain and the constant vomiting that would then follow. For over 6 years these amazing, gentle & loving dogs went through this ritual 7 days a week, 365 days a year, and why? For make-up, for shampoo and for skin cream, that's why.
The 18 Beagles are at Shannon's house in LA, and it is quite the scene. They are not in cages but in pens so that they may socialize, something they had never done. The fact is they had never done much of anything until now. They had never walked on grass, never played with a ball, never cuddled up with another dog and never, ever had a hug, from anyone, ever, until now.
What struck me the most about these incredible dogs is that they bare no grudges & they have no chips on their shoulders. For reasons that i will never understand, they have already forgiven us for what we, as a race, have done to all of them. They just want to have a home, they just want to be loved & they just want to be dogs & that is the very least that we owe them.
@Ms Bookworm:That's so cool that you know someone who's helping to foster! Part of what I've read (and also says on the video) says that one of the dogs is already learning simple commands and potty training. What warmed my heart the most while watching this was how their tails wagged despite what they'd been through. The part that ripped my heart out was when they were in the van, and someone reached through the bars to pet them and you can see how hard the dog is pressing itself up against the crate, just to get as much human contact as possible. How anyone does these things to dogs is absolutely unfathomable, and totally beyond me.
@zippylef:If you're a beagle mom and feel about your dog the way I do mine (a yellow lab), definitely don't watch it. But at least know that the dogs were saved from the terrible situation!
@Ms Bookworm:That FB status says exactly what makes me love dogs so, so much. They inherently love, trust, and forgive us not matter what. It doesn't matter to my yellow lab baby if I have been gone, yelled at him for doing something bad, or haven't had time to take him for a walk...he is always just as happy to see me as always. He loves me no matter what and doesn't care where I've been or what I"ve done, just that I am home.
When we rescued him from Lab Rescue of NC, we browsed their website and they talk extensively about re-homing dogs. They say that dogs feel such sadness and mourning when they are removed from their families (because being part of a family "pack" is so important to them) that when they are adopted into new families, they usually show an overabundance of affection and love, hoping to be accepted and trying to make sure that they are never removed from their families again. It absolutely tears me apart. It's also exactly why I am so sad at the length of dog's lives...for all they have to give and how selfless they are, they deserve to live a million times longer.
I'm so happy those dogs were rescued. They deserve the world!
I cannot watch those things (I can't handle the stories about the dogs that won't leave their owners sides at their funerals - tears me apart for DAYS).
As the proud owner of two AWESOME dogs (a formerly abused Mountain Cur & a total girly girl Shih Poo), I just cannot imagine how someone can do this. I have had dogs my entire life. I have neighbors who leave their dogs out 365 days a year. It breaks my heart. They are so innocent & loving... I just cannot imagine doing that, let alone testing on them!!
Here are my babies:
Hilde the Shih Poo
Lucy the Mountain Cur
The video was sweet but that music was horrid. I had to mute it to watch it.
@summerteeth: Your dogs are beautiful!! I'm so happy they've found a loving home with you. My FI & I adopted a chihuahua about 4 months ago; she was rescued from a hoarding situation (the woman was hoarding 20+ dogs in her home). We don't think our pup was physically abused, but she sure was neglected & definitely not given enough love. Now she gets plenty! 
So, this is slightly OT, but in the spirit of rescue dogs, here is my sweet Edith:
(It's hard to get a good pic of her because she always looks away when the camera is on her... This is the best we have so far, even though she looks kinda mean! Haha. She's such a doll.)
Thank you so much for bringing attention to this.
We got our sweet Roxy girl form AZ Beagle rescue. She was 8 months old and had been a "lab puppy" for a perfume company.
I don't know how people could keep such precious animals locked up and poisen them.
Ok posting pics they will be big. Sorry but I just love her so much and I have to share.
Also my vet said that part of her left ear had been sliced off at one point. He said probably during a c section. Can you imagine?
Ugh I saw that last night and go the FB update.
I bawl uncontrolably!
Is there any reason why beagles are used, or is this just because its a beagle rescue reporting the story?
@Eva Peron: OP quote "The article said that beagles are specifically targeted for testing because of their docile and trusting nature."
@luvmyDwight: Ah thanks! I just wen't through the article... I see why ...so sad. We have perverted so many things.
Thank you so much for sharing this story. It really touched me. I love dogs, and it breaks my heart that people are capable of doing such things.
Here's my girl at Christmas a few years ago. She just turned 14, and I love her to bits.
Oh I posted a link to this the other day on here! It literally broke my heart. I keep seeing the look on that dog's face when she first opens the crate and how sad, scared, and confused he looks. I'm tearing up now just thinking about it. This honestly just makes me disgusted, angry, and makes me want to do something. I think I will look into rescue agencies in my area too. I love seeing all your doggies too! Here's my baby, Luna:
I'm SO happy to see everyone posting their dog-babies. I felt the same way, watching the video...I was shocked and horrified that this happens...totally overwhelmed with emotion seeing that dog press himself up against the persons hand just to get some physical attention, and again that face when they open the cage door. I cried and cried and cried. Dogs of all animals don't deserve this. I don't think ANY animals deserve this...but to prey on sweet, innocent, loving dogs just because they are easy targets absolutely kills me. We rescued our lab from Lab Rescue of NC, but luckily he didn't come from an abusive situtation. Just a couple who were having a baby and decided to kick my poor, sweet labrador to the curb. I couldn't imagine life without him:
Getting a nap in on the couch
I'm so happy to see how many people love their dogs like I love Cooper!
I saw this video earlier today, and spent a while crying over it. I'm looking up all kinds of products I have at home to see which ones I don't want to buy any more because the companies do animal testing.
I feel so priveleged to get to volunteer 3 mornings a week at my vet's office, then come home to my 4 dogs and my cat. Taking care of animals gives me the most job satisfaction I've ever had, and I'm not even being paid!
@strawbabies:I've done the same thing with all the things I use. Luckily nothing I have so far appears to be tested on animals but this video reminded me to be more cognizant of checking on those things before buying something
It really got me thinking. I would never consiously buy something I knew was tested on animals, but you know what? I've never checked either! Definitely will be from now on and will NEVER buy anything from a company that tests on animals. I've always had a dog my whole life and they've all come from rescue shelters. My Luna baby was found in a filthy, abandoned house with her momma and 6 brothers/sisters. 
I love seeing everyone's dogs! They're all so beautiful!
It's awesome that some of you are talking about making sure that in the future, you don't buy products that are tested on animals! There are a few good, comprehensive lists out there, which you can find by Googling variations of "companies that test on animals," "companies that don't test on animals," etc. Here's one. (I don't generally like PETA because I disagree with a lot of their tactics, but they do keep an updated list of animal-friendly companies.) And here's a list of companies that DON'T test on animals.
Unfortunately, most of the big cosmetics brands like CoverGirl, L'Oreal, Maybelline, Pantene, Garnier, Dove, Max Factor, Rimmel, Neutrogena, etc. DO test on animals. It's so unnecessary in this day & age!! Revlon does NOT test on animals, nor does Almay (owned by Revlon), E.L.F. (super cheap!), or Tresemme. (Those are some of my favorite affordable drugstore brands. ) MAC & Lush are my all-time fave makeup/bath products, and they don't test on animals.
Yay for conscious consumerism!
Yes that video made me weep as well. I AM in the animal rescue business. I have rescued over 70 cats in my lifetime and all were ferals or "dump-offs". There are presently 40 in our sanctuary - we just relocated and I had a two story barn built for them and a huge play yard. All are spayed/neutered and vaccinated,
I wish I had the resources to save all the abused animals. I can't. There are several animal charities I support - Best Friends Animal Sanctuary and Alley Cats Allies. Still, when I see videos like the one posted, it strikes me how humans are truly the cruelest animals of them all and I am often ashamed of my species.
I can't watch the video- it will make me too sad! My boxer who passed away in August was my absolute best friend.
I do want to point out that ALL pharmaceutical companies use animals (and over 90% of the time, dogs) to test their drugs. The FDA actually requires that animal testing be performed before you can begin Phase 1 (human) trials. The reason dogs are used is because their metabolisms are similar to ours and they metabolize drugs similarly.
So if you intend to not buy from companies that test on dogs, you can't take any medications.
@Leeluu: That is a good point to make, but I am a huge fan of the saying, "Don't do nothing because you can't do everything." We don't live in a perfect world, and sometimes we have to make difficult choices. To me, there is a huge difference between taking medication when necessary and buying cosmetics that were tested on animals. Do I agree with animal testing? No. Do I sometimes have to take medication that was tested on animals because there isn't currently an alternative? Yes. Do I have to buy cosmetics/bath products/frivolous things that were tested on animals? NOPE! So I don't. When I am able to make the choice to support cruelty-free companies, as I am 99% of the time, I do.
I am just pointing this out because I feel like all too often, people feel overwhelmed by huge issues like this, and sort of throw up their hands like, "Well, I can't escape animal testing so I might as well not even try!" That couldn't be further from the truth. Every compassionate choice we makes matters, and everything we do makes a difference.
The first picture is my little man with FI when out in the Everglades on my cousins swamp buggy. My boys love to ride.
@Ms Bookworm:That's EXACTLY what I was just going to write. I just located a slew of products from comapanies that I use that I have just trashed and wont' buy again. I used to work for GlaxoSmithKline and actually knew that they tested on animals. I stopped using their products when I found that out. The ONLY redeeming notion for me with GSK was the fact that they actually had a compound for the dogs (they used beagles) in which they could go outside and play and run around and employees could walk them, etc. They also had an adoption program for the dogs they tested on and I think only used each dog for a short amount of time. In NO WAY WHAT SO EVER do I think this is right at ALL, but it did comfort me slightly to know that those dogs knew human interation, outdoor romping, and almost 100% of them were adopted to goods homes. I sincerely wish they'd stop testing on dogs, but I fully intend to at least stop using the "frivolous" prodcts that you mentioned. So be it if I can't use my toothpaste, or shampoo. There are plenty on the list from companies who don't test that I will be buying from now on. I actually just printed both lists and highlighted the products we've bought in the past that we will no longer be buying so I can quickly reference it next time I'm shopping and wondering if a certain soap is made by a company who tested it (or another product) on dogs.
@akp0702: Printing the lists is a great idea! I think it can seem overwhelming at first trying to figure out which companies are okay to buy from and which aren't - but after you get over the learning curve hump, it's easy. Soon you'll have new favorite products that you can just make a habit of buying, just like you made a habit of buying those old products. The effort it takes in the beginning is so worth it!
@Ms Bookworm:I totally agree. As much as I wish I could rescue all the dogs (and I do literally mean 'all the dogs') the best I can do now is donate what I can, monetarily and time-wise, and not support companies that use animals for testing. Luckily I've recently started using Lush hair products which are totally life-changing, and they DEFINITELY don't test on animals!
@Leeluu:I'm not saying I won't take necessary medicine because they test on animals. Unfortunatly that's not really something in my control. If I need medicine to make me well, they all do testing. But as for shampoo, makeup, etc....items that I have a choice of buying from companies that don't test on animals, I will make the choice to buy from those who don't.
I know this is an old thread, but I was just doing some reading, and learned that Tresemme is owned by Unilever, which is one of the WORST companies for animal testing. I recommended Tresemme in my post above, so I wanted to clear that up! I will NOT be purchasing their items anymore.
Thanks for the update. I don't usually use Tresemme products, but now I know for sure I won't be giving anything else a second chance!!
I recently looked up all my products on the PETA website, and there were a few shocking surprises that I would have never guessed! Arm&Hammer tests on animals, for example. I would have never thought that. Others were pleasant surprises, e.g. ALDI and Nivea are cruelty-free.
There are certain brands that I won't buy again. I also won't buy anything at Petco as long as they sell puppies.
Does anybody know what the deal is with Clinique? The info on the PETA website was contradictory, in one place saying they were cruelty-free and in another saying they weren't.
@AprilJo2011: Petco sells puppies? I did not know that, none of the stores in our area sell puppies. Good to know, I don't think I'll be stopping by there again, either.
@AprilJo2011: None of the Petcos near me sell puppies, either! A lot of the locations host pet adoption days (that's where I adopted my first wonderful dog), but none of them sell puppies from breeders/puppy mills... I wonder if it varies by state?
I don't like that Petco sells rats, gerbils, turtles, and hamsters - but I do appreciate all the good they do for dog, cat, and bunny rescues.
As for Clinique, I am pretty sure they don't test on animals. Clinique is owned by Estee Lauder, which also owns MAC, Origins, and Aveda, and they have a "no animal testing" policy.
@akp0702: The ones around here (MA) do! They have big signs in the windows and they had a big "Go buy your kid a puppy for Christmas!" campaign all over the mall in December. Made me sick to my stomach.
You must log in to post.
| Visit our sister sites | eHarmony Online Dating |
eHarmony Advice Dating Advice |
Project Wedding Wedding Songs |
JustMommies Pregnancy Calendar |
Create the honeymoon of your dreams.
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| ndreighton | 11 |
| kate02121 | 7 |
| rivierabridal | 6 |
| bonkeyball3 | 4 |
 turtles73 |
4 |
| jaguar | 3 |
| BMORE SEXI | 3 |
| ohmystars28 | 3 |
| texasbee | 3 |
| mcdonald_515 | 3 |
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| Evi | 1 |
