A mother beagle forced to give birth to multiple litters of puppies then sold for cruel experiments from an Envigo breeding facility now is thriving in her new home one year after her rescue.
Mabel, one of the oldest of the 4,000 beagles rescued from the Cumberland-based facility, stole the heart of PETA Staffer Natalie Hawkins after arriving at the nonprofit’s Norfolk location.
Hawkins hadn’t planned on adopting another dog but decided to take the chance because of the bond she built with Mabel.
Mabel (Courtesy of PETA)
Before being rescued, Mabel had spent at least seven years in the Envigo breeding facility, surrounded by barking dogs and a barren, concrete and metal enclosure, according to a PETA press release.
When Mabel arrived at PETA’s shelter, she didn’t know how to sleep in a dog bed or play with a toy. Despite the cruelty she endured, Mabel loves people and making new friends.
She also loves exploring absolutely everything, from looking out the window at seagulls to running on the beach and accompanying Hawkins to her daily work at the PETA office.
“I can’t imagine what it must’ve been like for her to be trapped in a cage all day because she likes to do so many things,” Hawkins told People.
Mabel (Courtesy of PETA)
Mabel is not the only Envigo dog now thriving after a transition period. Alli Trent, who adopted 4-year-old Maple, told The New York Times that Maple was terrified of grass, which she had never seen before and which was “very scary for her.” The dog, who initially cowered when people approached, now enjoys sunbathing, belly rubs, and crushed ice.
Other beagles exploited by Envigo have since been adopted by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin also signed five beagle protection bills into law following the Envigo exposé.
Along with these other rescues, Mabel is now being treated with the love, attention, and respect that she — and all dogs — deserve, PETA said.
Mabel (Courtesy of PETA)
“Having gone from a crowded, chaotic laboratory breeding mill to a safe and caring home, Mabel is now a beloved family member who will never be bred, caged, or exploited again,” said PETA Senior Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch.
PETA encourages people to help dogs still suffering in laboratories by choosing only cruelty-free products that haven’t been tested on animals.
Their resource for cruelty-free brands and products is available here.
For more information about PETA, please visit PETA.org, listen to The PETA Podcast, or follow the group on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
