About two weeks ago, Minnetonka-based animal rescue The Bond Between picked up 30 beagles from Ridgeland Farms in Wisconsin.
This was after a judge found evidence of maltreatment at the biomedical research breeding facility near Madison.
“When they arrived, they were exactly what you might expect from animals stepping into a brand-new world. They were shy, apprehensive, gentle and so incredibly sweet,” Rachel Mairose, executive director of The Bond Between, wrote in a blog post. “There were small, quiet moments that felt big… tiny tail wags, cautious steps forward, soft curiosity. You could see them taking it all in, trying to understand what was happening, unsure but open.”
Since then, the dogs have had many firsts with their foster families.
Tristan Keene has been caring for a beagle she calls Theo and says she’s surprised with how well he’s adjusting to his own firsts: touching grass, being on a bed and playing with a toy.
“He's still coming out of his shell a bit and becoming a bit more rambunctious, which has been so fun to see,” Keene said. “He really just loves to be around his people and to snuggle with them.”
Theo has an adopter lined up and will go to his forever home on Friday, but Keene said about half of the volunteers “foster failed” and decided to keep their beagles as part of the family. The other dogs are available for adoption online.
Keene advised prospective Ridgland beagle owners to do their research about the dogs’ past.
“They're super loyal, but they are obviously coming with a different set of circumstances and some more challenges, but if you're up for it, I think they'll be great dogs,” she said. “Just definitely go at their pace. That first week is just a lot of decompression and them getting used to things, so be patient with them.”
The Animal Humane Society in the Twin Cities, Ruff Start Rescue in Princeton and the Tri-County Humane Society in St. Cloud also welcomed beagles into their care this month, as have other animal rescues around the country.
“It's been really inspiring to see the support that these beagles have had, and just how many people are willing to step up and come together as a community to support them and help them get to better lives,” Keene said. “It's been a really cool learning experience to see just how resilient these dogs are, because they've adapted so well, and they still have so much love to give, given the circumstances they came from.”
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