this post was submitted on 04 Jun 2024
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A company that breeds animals for medical testing has been fined a record $35m (£27m) after 4,000 beagles were rescued from its facility in Virginia in 2022.

The fine against Envigo RMS LLC for animal cruelty is the largest fine ever issued under the Animal Welfare Act, according to the US Department of Justice (DoJ).

“Envigo promoted a business culture that prioritized profit and convenience over following the law,” Christopher Kavanaugh, the US attorney for the Western District of Virginia, said in a statement.

“This callous approach led to dire consequences: the inhumane treatment of animals and the contamination of our waterway,” he said.

Envigo's parent company, Inotiv, has agreed to pay the record eight-figure settlement. It has also agreed to not breed dogs for the next five years.

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[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 93 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Disgusting. Commercial breeding should be illegal. There are enough dogs in the world as it is and they encourage inbreeding to boot.

[–] Sizzler@slrpnk.net 25 points 6 months ago

These dogs are tortured and killed, they are bred to be tortured and killed.

[–] meliaesc@lemmynsfw.com 3 points 6 months ago

When you see products that say "not tested on animals", these are the animals that things DO get tested on, and their bodies are disposed of immediately afterwards.

[–] Dasus@lemmy.world 40 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Envigo promoted a business culture that prioritized profit and convenience over following the law

Yeah that's called capitalism

[–] Pacattack57@lemmy.world 9 points 6 months ago (1 children)

In other words, the cost of doing business

[–] AhismaMiasma@lemm.ee 37 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (3 children)

Massive numbers of beagles are being used for genetic testing and experimentation by the government.

Don't worry about it.

[–] BakerBagel@midwest.social 19 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Also medical and pharmacuetical testing. Variety in testing models are important, which is why there are lots of regulations about how abimals bred for research are treated and handled. It's an ugly reality, but the alternative is just releasing potentially hazardous products on the population.

[–] johannesvanderwhales@lemmy.world 9 points 6 months ago (1 children)

At the end of the day I'd rather medical research be conducted on dogs than humans (at least, prior to when things are ready for human trials). But also I'm pretty sure it's regulated what can be tested on different kinds of animals. The bar for testing on rodents is for example much lower than the bar for primates.

[–] gheesh@lemmy.world 6 points 6 months ago

Medical research? These poor creatures will end up being test subjects for cosmetics, tobacco, pollution,... You know, just so the people who pay know how much a living being (i.e. your future self) can take before collapsing. Implying most (or even a significant portion) of them are for "finding a cure for cancer" is PR washing.

[–] disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world 9 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Animal testing is legal, yes. This was a private company breaking the law.

The fine against Envigo RMS LLC for animal cruelty is the largest fine ever issued under the Animal Welfare Act, according to the US Department of Justice (DoJ).

“Envigo promoted a business culture that prioritized profit and convenience over following the law,” Christopher Kavanaugh, the US attorney for the Western District of Virginia, said in a statement.

[–] Atelopus-zeteki@kbin.run 5 points 6 months ago

It's the Beagle Battalion! Forget about Boston Dynamics.

[–] aeronmelon@lemmy.world 18 points 6 months ago

c/upliftingnews

Each one of those beagles is worth ten of that slimeball.

Is there an animal offenders list we can add these monsters to so that they're not even allowed to pet someone else's dog for the rest of their life?

[–] toiletobserver@lemmy.world 18 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Fuck that company for so many reasons. Chief among them, breeding a dog that barks and howls incessantly.

[–] comador@lemmy.world 19 points 6 months ago (2 children)

I trained my beagle to do neither bark nor howl, but she whined incessantly lol. Point is, any dog can be trained at any age not to, so it's the owners fault (most times as there are exceptions), not the dog's.

[–] toiletobserver@lemmy.world 3 points 6 months ago

Yes, I'm actually mad at bad owners. Poor dogs are in the cross fire.

[–] NoIWontPickAName@kbin.earth 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Maybe but their back is like their ears, way oversized.

[–] BalooWasWahoo@links.hackliberty.org 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I think you're thinking of basset hounds. Beagles ears aren't all that big. Bigger in comparison to head size than a terrier's or a shepherd breed, but not 'trip over them' basset hound size.

[–] NoIWontPickAName@kbin.earth 1 points 3 months ago

I think I was too.

I always get them confused

[–] BakerBagel@midwest.social 7 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Beagles are the primary breed for any sort of medical/drug testing. I have no idea why they use beagles specifically, but it's the industry standard.

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 7 points 6 months ago

They're well mannered and don't take up much space is the answer in seeing in all the search results.

[–] tsonfeir@lemmy.world 7 points 6 months ago (1 children)

What on earth would a dog breeder need with 4,000 bagels?

It’s always jolly holiday with lesdyxia.

Mixed thoughts on the outcome of this lawsuit. "Envigo's parent company, Inotiv, has agreed to pay the record eight-figure settlement. It has also agreed to not breed dogs for the next five years." Like, how about a permanent ban? Five years, are you kidding me? Better than nothing, but cummon.

I'm glad that a portion of the money fined will go towards the activists actually rehabilitating/rehoming these beagles. "The agreement calls for the company to pay $22m to the US government, as well as pay approximately $1.1m to the Virginia Animal Fighting Task Force and approximately $1.9m to the Humane Society of the United States for their help rescuing the beagles."

[–] bluewing@lemm.ee 4 points 6 months ago

Let me check article - Yep, the East Coast where puppy mills run rampant.