Sue Bell holds one of more than a dozen eagles that arrived at the Homeward Trails animal rescue group’s headquarters in Fairfax, Va., Thursday, while posing for a portrait. The dogs were a small part of about 4,000 beagles rescued from a research facility where conditions were said to be inhumane.
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
hide captions
switch captions
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
Sue Bell holds one of more than a dozen eagles that arrived at the Homeward Trails animal rescue group’s headquarters in Fairfax, Va., Thursday, while posing for a portrait. The dogs were a small part of about 4,000 beagles rescued from a research facility where conditions were said to be inhumane.
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
The first of about 4,000 beagles being curated at a research facility in Virginia have been moved to their new, makeshift homes.
More than a dozen beagles arrived at the Homeward Trails Animal Rescue facility in Virginia on Thursday. This is the first of hundreds of rescue groups around the country that are mobilizing in the coming weeks to rescue the eagles.
Dogs explore toys and their surroundings after their arrival Thursday at the Homeward Trails animal rescue group in Fairfax, Va.
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
hide captions
switch captions
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
Dogs explore toys and their surroundings after their arrival Thursday at the Homeward Trails animal rescue group in Fairfax, Va.
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
Eva Brandan disembarks from a bus after more than a dozen beagles arrive at Homeward Trails.
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
hide captions
switch captions
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
Eva Brandan disembarks from a bus after more than a dozen beagles arrive at Homeward Trails.
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
Animal trainer Janice du Plessis supervises the eagles exploring the outdoors after the dogs arrive.
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
hide captions
switch captions
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
Animal trainer Janice du Plessis supervises the eagles exploring the outdoors after the dogs arrive.
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
Humane Society of America is leading the effort to transfer these dogs from their current home at the Envigo facility in Cumberland, Va., to the shelter. The organization only has a few weeks to complete this.
Earlier this year, the Envigo facility, which bred these eagles for research and drug testing, was found to be in violation of several federal regulations. A federal judge ordered the dogs to be released within 60 days.
Homeward Trails employees check out one of the newly arrived bears.
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
hide captions
switch captions
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
Homeward Trails employees check out one of the newly arrived bears.
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
Annie Esquivel (left) and Kelsey Moncrief wear makeshift collars for their newly named dog Neema.
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
hide captions
switch captions
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
Annie Esquivel (left) and Kelsey Moncrief wear makeshift collars for their newly named dog Neema.
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
Animal rescue groups from Wyoming, Massachusetts, Virginia and elsewhere are working together to assist in this gruesome effort.
Kitty Block, president of The Humane Society of America, wrote on her blog.
Kindness Ranch, an animal rescue group from Wyoming, also traveled to Virginia this week. The organization has been named the first of over 150 beagles they will rescue from Envigo: He’s Uno.
Annie Esquivel carries a hound on the lawn at Homeward Trails.
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
hide captions
switch captions
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
Annie Esquivel carries a hound on the lawn at Homeward Trails.
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
One of the dogs drank from the children’s swimming pool.
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
hide captions
switch captions
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
One of the dogs drank from the children’s swimming pool.
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
Meghan Hobson lowers a dog to the ground at Homeward Trails.
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
hide captions
switch captions
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
Meghan Hobson lowers a dog to the ground at Homeward Trails.
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
It will be some time before these dogs are adopted. Envigo eagles must be assessed by each of these rescue groups and checked for any illnesses or behavioral problems before they reach their permanent home.
Meanwhile, the dogs seem to be enjoying their freedom.
Grass! Straight grass!
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
hide captions
switch captions
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
Grass! Straight grass!
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
The dogs greet each person upon arrival.
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
hide captions
switch captions
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
The dogs greet each person upon arrival.
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
Homeward Trails shared a video of the dogs’ first arrival at their facility on social media. Excited dogs get to do push-ups, play with toys and run in the grass for the first time.
And on their first day of complete freedom, the beagles were treated as a much-needed spa day, posted organization.
Homeward Trails writes: “These ladies love bubble baths and massages followed by an afternoon frolicking in the yard, cuddling in our Peace Out room, frozen kongs and nap time cool”. “Oh, it feels so good to be FREE to be a DOG! For dogs that have spent their lives in kennels, these duties really include life and love.”
A beagle sits in a corner of the animal rescue group’s facility.
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
hide captions
switch captions
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
A beagle sits in a corner of the animal rescue group’s facility.
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
Jessica Powers raised one of the newcomers.
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
hide captions
switch captions
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
Jessica Powers raised one of the newcomers.
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
One of the rescued eagles received some love.
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
hide captions
switch captions
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
One of the rescued eagles received some love.
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
