Latest news with #beagles
Auto Blog
07-06-2025
- General
- Auto Blog
Operation Frodo: How Automotive Journalists Found Love Driving Rescue Dogs 1,600 Miles to Safety
Operation Frodo, led by journalists and backed by automakers, is helping unwanted dogs escape a grim fate and find loving homes across the U.S. 13 Beagle Puppies Needed Urgent Help There was a frantic tone to the e-mail. With the Memorial Day holiday fast approaching would anyone be able to squeeze out time to drive from Omaha to the Pacific Northwest, a 1,600-mile, three-day journey? When the message from fellow journalist Harvey Briggs arrived, I was taking a long-awaited vacation in Paris and looking forward to following it up with some time lounging by the lake at our cottage near Hell, Michigan. But there was a reason why I couldn't simply type, 'No,' and hit reply. 0:05 / 0:09 Chevrolet says a next-gen Camaro is still possible. What could it look like? Watch More This wasn't just a friendly trip pairing a couple long-time colleagues, nor an unusually long vehicle test drive. It was a chance to rescue 13 young beagles who'd been rescued from abusive puppy mills. If Harvey couldn't line up enough drivers to transport them from an auction site in Nebraska to new homes in Seattle and Portland, Oregon they'd likely wind up going to medical labs where they'd spend their lives in cramped cages being exposed to all manner of potentially dangerous experimental drugs. Shelters Overwhelmed as Pandemic Pets Are Abandoned In the typical year, about six million dogs and cats will wind up in shelters, millions more getting dumped on the streets. As many as one million will land in 'kill shelters' and eventually be euthanized. But the problem has, if anything, grown worse lately. During COVID lockdowns, many Americans adopted animals to keep them company. Now that corporations are retreating from work-at-home policies, owners are all too often surrendering their furry companions. Shelters and rescues across the country are struggling under the load. This was a chance to find a good home for at least some unwanted dogs. Sitting in my hotel room I looked at my wife and admitted, 'I don't know what to do.' Her reply was blunt. Scratch our holiday plans. 'You know you've got to do it.' Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. A Beagle Search That Sparked a Lifesaving Rescue Mission I'll put the blame on another media colleague, Nik Miles. Back in 2021, his beloved beagle passed away and he went looking for another. Sometimes the search for just the right pet can take a strange detour and, in this case, Miles wound up connecting with Basset and Beagle Rescue of the Heartland. Rather than a typical shelter, it's a loose-knit collection of dog lovers who open their homes up to lost and unwanted animals. Omaha's Kathi Ortmeier estimated the group routinely fosters as many as 350 beagles and bassets a year. The challenge is to then find permanent homes for the dogs. Nik Miles came for one. He wound up heading back home to Portland with four, the others delivered to another rescue group in Oregon. Operation Frodo is Born Curiously, the popularity of various dog breeds varies from one part of the country to the next. Beagles and bassets are popular in the Pacific Northwest. Unfortunately, there are too many unwanted in the South and Southeast where hunters often abandon their dogs after the season is over. Meanwhile, breeders will auction off un-homed beagles to labs or, worse, noted Briggs. One told him he was going to shoot the pups he couldn't sell. 'By moving (unwanted dogs) from one part of the country to another, you solve the problem,' said Miles. Operation Frodo was born. (The name honors a character in The Lord of the Rings, as well as the beagle Miles adopted.) Rescue Convoy Faced Snowstorms That first trip was a challenging one, Miles and several fellow journalists discovered, as they piloted a big Wagoneer loaned them by Jeep across Wyoming during the worst snowstorm in a century, at one point sliding off the road into a ditch. Eventually, they dug out and slowly made their way to the Pacific Northwest. A year later, Miles enlisted Briggs to help with logistics. They reached out for support and were offered some financial backing, as well as a handful of vehicles that, over the coming years would be provided by brands like Mercedes-Benz, Kia, Ram, Volkswagen and others. 'We went to the well and they came through,' Miles said, explaining that the growing support has allowed the Operation Frodo team to shuttle more dogs each year: 23 in 2023 and 20 last December. A Change of Plans Despite the risky weather that sweeps across the heartland, Operation Frodo is normally scheduled for mid-December. It's often easier for auto journalists to free up some time and, as I discovered during my first mission last winter, there often are families looking to adopt dogs for the holidays. But things can change when you're on a 'Mission from Dog,' as frequent rescue driver and MotorTrend editor Aaron Gold calls it. That's why Briggs sent out a frantic series of alerts to the network of writers the program has built up. Members of the Basset and Beagle Rescue of the Heartland had learned of an auction in Omaha, 13 unwanted pups and a couple of older breeding females were being put up for auction. The likelihood was that they'd wind up in medical labs. As Briggs sought out drivers, Miles lined up vehicles and financial support to cover travel expenses. (Everything but the flights drivers take. We cover those expenses ourselves.) Big Booty Judy: The Beagle Who Stole a Journalist's Heart I landed in Omaha on a late Thursday night, jet-lagged and exhausted. The following morning, as I crawled out of bed, prepped and packed, I headed down to meet our charges. All the dogs were already in cages but one: Big Booty Judy, a beagle of uncertain age who had already been fostered by the Omaha group. But, as Ortmeier noted, there were simply too many for the foster group. Judy was heading to Seattle where another home had been lined up. To be honest, I'm a real softie when it comes to animals in need. I have rescued more than a dozen over the years and my current fur family stands at four, two cats, a Lab-mix adopted in February 2023 and Melvyn, the beagle I took home from last December's Operation Frodo. Then I met Judy. Those big brown eyes and the biggest smile I'd ever seen on a dog. For the rest of my two legs there would be no crate for this brown and black bundle of joy. When I wasn't driving, she either cuddled in my lap, all 48 lbs of her, or wrapped around my feet. Heading Home In another unusual move, the team members on this latest Operation Frodo split up after leaving the last overnight stop in Boise, Idaho. Five of the rescues headed off for new homes in Seattle, including my girl Judy. I had to say goodbye to her when I peeled off in Salt Lake, a new driver dropping into my seat. To say I was a bit heartbroken to leave her when I flew off is an understatement. But I knew she'd be heading to a wonderful new home. The remaining nine pups were en route to Portland's Asher House. It's a unique animal sanctuary launched by Lee Asher, an Instagram star, corporate trainer and extraordinary animal lover. According to the official website, it's 'a registered nonprofit sanctuary that advocates for the welfare, protection, and dignity of all animals. It provides rescue, rehabilitation, rehoming and a lifelong sanctuary for animals in need, and promotes humane treatment and education.' Spread out over several 100 acres, it provides a safe place for rescues of many breeds and species. And it's Lee Asher's domain by more than name. He apparently knows each animal by name. Planning the Next Operation Frodo Rescue Run Even before the three rescue vehicles reached their destinations, Miles and Briggs were already lining up plans for the next Operation Frodo scheduled to start, again, in Omaha. And, in character, the two are already laying plans to rescue even more dogs. They may yet ahead additional dates and destinations if they can generate more financial support. If anything, automakers are lining up to put their vehicles in the hands of Frodo drivers. To be honest, Nik Miles is close to the ultimate dog lover with eight of his own in Portland. Most of us who've signed up have rescues of our own – in my case, two cats, two dogs. But it's more than just about loving animals. Over the course of the two rescues I've been on I've seen the way the pups have somehow loosened up. Even in their crates, they just seem to know they're going to a better place. Bella, a second beagle I also kept with me – and Judy – overnight went from fearfully tucking tail between legs to wagging and playing by the time I headed home. 'This will change you,' Miles said. I think everyone who's taking part in Operation Frodo would agree. Support Your Local Shelters: Adopt or Donate Today There certainly are plenty of legitimate, loving breeders. There are far too many sketchy operations run by folks who could just as easily be selling cows or chickens. And, experts note, they often dump unsold animals – or worse – contributing to America's problem with strays and overflowing shelters. Even if you're looking for that rare breed, be aware that there are dedicated shelters and rescues that may have precisely the animal you seek. Even if you can't adopt, please consider donating cash, food or toys to your local shelters and rescues. A wagging tail is a beautiful thing. About the Author Paul Eisenstein View Profile
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Trump's NIH director said agency 'got rid' of all beagle experiments on campus. Here's what we know
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways In early May 2025, claims (archived) circulated that U.S. President Donald Trump's administration shut down a National Institutes of Health laboratory accused of killing beagles in the name of medical research. One popular X post, viewed more than 76,000 times at the time of this writing, read: "NEW: The Trump administration's NIH under Jay Bhattacharya has just closed its "brutal" beagle experimentation laboratory - Fox It was accused of 'brutally k*lling thousands of beagles for 40+ years.'" The claim also appeared on Facebook (archived), Threads (archived), Reddit (archived) and TikTok (archived). Trump-appointed NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya said during a "Fox and Friends" interview on May 4 that "we got rid of all the beagle experiments on the NIH campus." Animal welfare groups celebrated the announcement, which they said included the NIH's last confirmed dog lab that carried out sepsis testing on beagles at the agency's campus in Bethesda, Maryland. However, Bhattacharya did not give further details on how or when he shut down beagle experiments at the NIH's campus. Bodies that carry out animal testing rarely publicly advertise this fact, meaning that we also could not independently confirm animal welfare groups' claims that the sepsis testing lab was the last lab at NIH Bethesda carrying out experiments on beagles. We reached out to the NIH to confirm if and when experiments on beagles had ended, how many labs were affected and what would happen to the animals currently in the agency's care. We await a reply. According to the White Coat Waste Project, a self-described bipartisan government watchdog seeking to end animal testing by the U.S. government, Bhattacharya's announcement brought an end to an almost 10-year-long campaign by the group to close what it called "the U.S. government's largest dog lab." The watchdog group claimed the lab "killed more than 2,133 beagles in brutal septic shock experiments." Sepsis occurs in humans when the immune system overreacts to an infection. It can cause organ failure and is life-threatening. Sepsis shock is the last stage of sepsis. The group's investigation included an invoice from the animal breeder Envigo that showed it shipped beagles to the NIH in Bethesda. Envigo pleaded guilty to animal welfare and environmental crimes in 2024 and faced a $35 million fine. The company surrendered more than 4,000 beagles from its facility after federal regulators found it failed to provide adequate care for the animals. Snopes has not independently verified the claims in the watchdog group's investigation. Bhattacharya's announcement followed an NIH news release on April 29 in which the agency said it would prioritize "human-based research technologies" going forward and move away from animal testing. Bhattacharya said on "Fox and Friends" (at 2:33): I put out a policy to make sure that when we use — when we have animals in research, that we look at alternatives. You know, it's very easy, for instance, to cure Alzheimer's in mice. But that doesn't — those things don't translate to humans. So we've put forward a policy to replace animals in research with other technological advances — AI and other tools — that translate better to human health. But then I'm getting — we got rid of all the beagle experiments on the NIH campus. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced in April 2025 that it would phase out animal testing as well. Snopes previously reported on whether the Environmental Protection Agency revived a promise from Trump's first term to end animal testing. Sources: "Contact Us." National Institutes of Health (NIH), 19 Dec. 2014, McDonald, Allison. "WCW Investigation: NIH's Septic Shock Dog Lab (UPDATED)." White Coat Waste Project, 28 Feb. 2025, "NIH to Prioritize Human-Based Research Technologies." National Institutes of Health (NIH), 29 Apr. 2025, Office of the Commissioner. "FDA Announces Plan to Phase Out Animal Testing Requirement for Monoclonal Antibodies and Other Drugs." FDA, 10 Apr. 2025, PETA Staff. PETA Breakthrough! NIH Embraces Modern, Human-Relevant Sepsis Research. 5 May 2025, Roush, Ty. "Animal Breeder Envigo Fined Record-Setting $35 Million Over Mistreating Thousands Of Beagles." Forbes, Accessed 6 May 2025. "Septic Shock: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment." Cleveland Clinic, Accessed 6 May 2025. "We Got Rid of All the Beagle Experiments on the NIH Campus, Says Dr. Jay Bhattacharya | Fox News Video." Fox News, 5 May 2025,
Daily Mail
06-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Trump shuts Dr Anthony Fauci labs accused of brutally torturing and murdering thousands of dogs
The National Institute of Health (NIH) has closed its last beagle laboratory that allegedly performed inhumane and sometimes lethal experiments on dogs for years. In recent years, the agency has been chastised by animal welfare groups such as White Coat Waste (WCW), which claims the lab has pumped pneumonia-causing bacteria into more than 2,000 beagles' lungs and forced them into septic shock. 'Then they're allowed to suffer for up to 96 hours, and the ones who don't die during that period are killed at the end of the project,' Justin Goodman, WCW senior vice president of advocacy and public policy, told During an on-air Fox News appearance Sunday, NIH director Jay Bhattacharya announced that the agency 'got rid of all the beagle experiments on the NIH campus.' 'I got flowers from PETA — People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Normally, I think NIH directors tend to get physical threats, but they sent me flowers,' he said. The lab closure is part of a new NIH initiative to reduce reliance on animal experiments in biomedical research, and instead prioritize 'human-based research technologies.' In response to the announcement, Goodman said: 'We are so proud and thrilled that the Trump administration has made cutting this laboratory and getting the NIH out of the dog testing business a top priority.' The NIH's beagle experiments have been mired in controversy since 2021, when scathing WCW reports launched accusations of animal cruelty and wasteful spending at NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The resulting political firestorm (dubbed #BeagleGate) centered around claims that Dr Anthony Fauci, director of NIAID and chief medical advisor to the president at the time, allocated more than $1 million toward cruel beagle experiments. This allegedly included $424,000 for experiments in which the dogs were 'bitten to death' by flies; part of a $375,800 grant sent to a lab in Tunisia for more fly-bite experiments; and over $1 million to inject beagles with an experimental drug, cut out their vocal cords and kill them. The reports prompted 24 House members, led by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-South Carolina), to send a bipartisan letter to Fauci and the NIAID asking for more information about the agency's funding of experiments using the dogs. In response to the letter, the NIAID said its standards on animal testing are high, noting that they are peer reviewed and ensured by veterinarians. 'All animals used in NIH-funded research are protected by laws, regulations, and policies to ensure the smallest possible number of subjects and the greatest commitment to their welfare,' The NIAID told Changing America. 'Institutions receiving funds, including those in other countries, must conduct research that involves animals in accordance with the Public Health Service Policy on the Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.' What's more, the institute said the NIH did not actually fund the fly-bite study in Tunisia, claiming that the study (and shocking images it contained) falsely attributed financial support to NIAID. After this came to light, the journal that published the study issued a correction, saying: 'The US National Institutes of Health and the Wellcome Trust did not provide any funding for this research and any such claim was made in error.' NIAID said it did not actually fund the fly-bite research in Tunisia, claiming that the study (and shocking images it contained, such as this one) falsely attributed financial support to NIAID But the NIAID did admit to funding a separate study in Tunisia that used beagles to test a new vaccine for leishmaniasis. 'In the NIAID-supported study, twelve dogs were immunized with the experimental vaccine at the Pasteur Institute of Tunis, and then let out in an enclosed open space during the day, during high sandfly season in an area of Tunisia considered to be hyper-endemic for canine leishmaniasis,' the institute stated. 'The goal of the research was to determine if the experimental vaccine prevented the dogs from becoming infected in a natural setting.' As for Fauci's role in sanctioning NIAID's beagle studies, the institute told that the decision of whether to fund a research grant application is made through a multi-step peer-review process. 'Final funding decisions are made on a group of a few thousand grant applications at a time based on the advice of the Advisory Council and NIAID staff and concurrence by Dr. Fauci. 'Except in very limited circumstances, Dr. Fauci does not approve funding for grant applications on an individual basis. These limited circumstances did not apply to the research recently highlighted by the White Coat Waste Project.' Fauci also addressed #BeagleGate in his memoir, published last year, calling the scandal 'lies' and 'lunacy' from the 'far-right.' The closure of this NIH beagle lab marks a major milestone in the eyes of WCW, but Goodman said there is still work to be done. 'This was the last in-house dog lab at the NIH, and it's actually — to our knowledge — the last in house dog lab across the entire federal government,' he said. 'However, there are hundreds of other dog labs being funded by the US government, including the NIH outside of Washington, DC. 'So colleges and universities, private laboratories, even laboratories in China, are currently receiving taxpayer dollars from the NIH and DoD for dog testing. 'We want to take this great homegrown victory inside the NIH and now export it across the entire country.'
