Hyderabad: Animal protection groups are urging members of the public to adopt beagles, a fairly uncommon breed of dog that is often used in medical research. The ones who are “retired” now need a loving home. Beagles are found suitable for lab testing because they are docile and relatively small in size, so research facilities can house more of them, says an expert in the field.
Biomedical laboratories use beagles for cardiovascular and pulmonary studies, cancer research, and testing prosthetic devices. The adoption process requires a team of animal behaviour experts to first inspect the adoptive home and make inquiries about the family. Vasanthi Vadi, vice-president of Blue Cross, Hyderabad Chapter, said, “We are looking for good homes for beagles retired from medical research. Aged between three and seven years, the beagles are friendly, vaccinated and in good health. Experienced animal-friendly families with pet-friendly homes are encouraged to apply to adopt a beagle. Note that they are not suitable for homes with children less than 10 years of age.”
She said families that “match our adoption criteria” will be invited to adoption camps where they will have the chance to interact with the beagles before adopting them. The adoption comes with a tagline stating, “They gave their lives for science, we owe them a loving home.”
