OH! S.N.A.P. Spay. Neuter. Adopt. Protect.

March 13, 2017 Deborah Stone

Deborah Stone and her dog (Photo provided)

Some questions must be answered from a moral perspective. Here’s one:

If a laboratory uses dogs or cats in research, after testing is done, should the animal

A) be euthanized

B) have a chance for adoption?

If you chose B, you’ll want to know about a bill that’s in jeopardy in the Maryland General Assembly.

Senate Bill 420/House Bill 528 is the “Humane Adoption of Companion Animals in Research Act”. It’s commonly called “The Beagle Freedom Bill” because most dogs used in research are beagles.

The legislation would require Maryland research laboratories to work with non-profit rescue organizations so animals can be adopted once they’re no longer needed for research.

Five other states (Minnesota, Nevada, Connecticut, California, and New York) have passed similar bills.

And yet there’s a good chance this legislation will fail in Maryland this year.

That’s because it faces powerful opposition from two respected Maryland entities: University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University. Neither would respond to requests to comment for this post.

Those who support the measure, however, have a lot to say. They include a well-known Maryland rescue organization called Partnership for Animal Welfare (PAW). PAW has worked with one Maryland research facility since 2001, successfully re-homing 39 of its research animals.

The group’s co-founder, Amy Bleich, herself adopted a research beagle she named Ringo. She says he’s playful and gentle and is a best buddy to her 5-year-old son.

So, how could Johns Hopkins and University of Maryland justify their opposition to this legislation?

Some speculate it’s because they don’t want publicity about their research, or because they fear this could one day lead to a ban on research using dogs and cats.

Others say the labs just find it easier and quicker to euthanize.

At a committee hearing for this bill, its lead House sponsor, Delegate Benjamin Kramer, testified, “I don’t know how anyone could take issue with the idea that these loving, intelligent, sweet dogs, after experiencing years of fear, loneliness, and oftentimes pain, be given a chance to experience …a little tenderness, a warm home, and the kindness of a loving family.”

Also testifying in favor of the bill was Johns Hopkins undergraduate student John Yap who hopes to become a physician and medical researcher.

He’s president of the Johns Hopkins Pet and Animal Welfare Society, which has garnered 30,000 signatures online in favor of the legislation. You can sign their petition at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/903/061/410/

You can also call your state lawmakers and tell them you support the bill. Here’s a link to learn who your legislators are:

http://www.mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmmain.aspx?pid=legisrpage&tab=subject6&poptype=find&popid=

Also, contact Del. Maggie McIntosh of the House Appropriations Committee (410) 841-3407 and Sen. Joan Carter Conway of the Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee (410) 841-3145 to urge committee passage of the bill.

As PAW’s Amy Bleich says, this legislation “is a win-win…it saves animals lives at no additional cost to the research facility; it saves institutions the cost of having to ‘dispose’ of animals…it makes families happy and, of course, it gives research animals time to enjoy life.”

Watch this video to meet Ringo and George, two research dogs given a second chance to lead happy lives with loving owners.