Do we really need Dow AgroSciences to test pesticide on beagles?
I can’t get the pictures out of my head, and I didn’t even watch the video. I can’t quit thinking about Harvey, the docile beagle, or Spud, my pet beagle who disappeared from my yard when I was ten. I can’t stop thinking about how Harvey was a good boy right up until his last day, when he was finally released from his cage and his own personal hell.
Although I don’t know what happened to Spud for certain, I do know what happened to Harvey. My friends, family, and Apple watch tell me to breathe and accept. I can do that after I finish this. This article is for Harvey and Spud and all other animals that have been subjected to horrendous testing for the benefit of humans or even other animals.
A recent undercover investigation by the Humane Society of the United States revealed the suffering and death of beagles and hounds used in toxicity tests for pesticides, drugs, dental implants, and other products. Harvey was one of those beagles.
Over the span of the nearly 100 days, an investigator documented nearly two dozen short- and long-term experiments that involved tests on dogs. The investigator saw dogs killed at the end of studies and others suffering for months, including 36 gentle beagles, being tested for a Dow AgroSciences pesticide. This investigation was carried out at Charles River Laboratories in Michigan.
Unfortunately, this is only a glimpse of what occurs in the U.S. Dogs are often provided to labs by commercial breeders. The good news is that because of public outcry, DOW AgroSciences is ending the dog test and will rehome the animals.
When my dog, Spud, disappeared, labs were paying for any dogs they could get, regardless of where they came from. Snoopy, the famous beagle from the “Peanuts” comic strip that we all love, was sired at the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm (mill) and could have easily suffered the same fate as Harvey. My dog Tess, who was found in a dumpster, could have ended up in a lab as well. Fortunately for her and us, she was rescued by a former client and given a loving home. After the client died, we adopted her and now we can’t imagine life without Tess.
Many people are aware that animal testing occurs but are not aware of the scope. A large portion of drugs tested on animals fail in humans, and tests are repetitious and inconclusive. Today, there are more effective non-animal approaches. Technology has provided us kinder options. Often, tests can be conducted on a single cell. It doesn’t make sense to kill and torture Snoopy so you or your pet can live longer. All it takes is a more proactive attitude toward lifestyle.
Please take positive steps to ensure your health and that of your beloved pets. Eliminate toxic products from your house, and only use products that are not tested on animals. If you aren’t sure which ones are, you can search the internet or click this link. Harvey and Spud’s lives mattered. All lives matter.
Articles related to “Do we really need Dow AgroSciences to test pesticide on beagles?”
Free spaying and neutering programs help both feline and human populations
What’s wrong with giving a home to a puppy or kitten from the online classifieds?
