One Year Free From Cruelty: Beagle Freedom Project Celebrates Anniversary of Closing Animal Testing Laboratory

When most of us picture a Beagle, we think of a floppy-eared, waggy-tailed, sniffing machine, merrily exploring their world, nose first. Sadly, their compact size and docile temperament have made these sweet-natured dogs a popular subject for animal experimentation, a process that is still used by many major pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies around the world.

Thanks to the tireless work of the dedicated team at the Beagle Freedom Project (BFP), many of these dogs now have a new future ahead of them.

Just over 12 months ago, BFP successfully completed a three-year project to close a large-scale laboratory, eliminating a major portion of toxic flea and tick testing in the United States and freeing more than 250 animals from a life of captivity and cruelty. But their story doesn’t end there.

In February of 2024, BFP Freedom Fields was created. On the very ground that was once a place of such misery and torture, this 30-acre sanctuary and rehabilitation center in Nowata, Oklahoma was built, transforming it into a space where survivors can heal, learn to trust humans again, and eventually find forever homes.

The Journey Continues

One year on, and BFF is celebrating this milestone with a reminder that there is still much more work to be done.

“Freedom Fields was founded on the promise that animal testing survivors would no longer be kept in the dark,” says Shannon Keith, President & Founder of Beagle Freedom Project. “This anniversary celebration is a moment to honor everyone who made this victory possible—our supporters, volunteers, and staff—and to look ahead to the work still to be done.”

The first anniversary of Freedom Fields will be celebrated alongside the launch of their “Bring Them Home” campaign, in support of the dogs recently rescued from animal testing and the horrors of the meat trade. At the focus of the campaign are the 55 beagles who spent their lives in cold laboratories, subjected to cruel and painful tests, only to be discarded to the meat trade. Fortunately, a dedicated BFP team in China was able to intercept the trucks carrying these poor souls, rescuing them from the brink of slaughter and getting them on their way to Freedom Fields.

“Despite everything they’ve endured, these Beagles still wag their tails. They still look to humans with hope. And now, they have a chance at something they’ve never known before—love, safety, and freedom.”

How Can You Help?

There are many ways that you can help support the Beagle Freedom Project in their mission to end the cruel industry of animal testing.

• Make a donation to support the animals at Freedom Fields.

• Sponsor one of the 55 beagles that have been rescued by the Bring Them Home campaign.

• Volunteer, start a fundraiser, adopt an animal, or just spread the word about the work being done at BFP. Visit The Beagle Freedom Project for more information.

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