12/23/2017
7 years. Wow. It seems like yesterday I was in a remote area of California rescuing our first two beagles from a laboratory.
It was a chilly Thursday and two of my close friends flew with me. We rented a car, and met the laboratory liaison at her home with the beagles. They were still in crates in the back of her car. They were shaking and salivating uncontrollably. Both had urinated in their crates and were visibly shaken by the outside world. We gently carried their crates into an enclosed yard and opened the doors. I had fantasized about this moment so many times: I imagined I would open the door, and they would run out with glee that they were free and could run, sniff and play. However, the reality was very different. They just stood in their crates, too scared to take a step outside. It was approximately 20 minutes before we could coax the first beagle out of his crate, and when he did, he stumbled, and walked over to the other beagle. This gave the other beagle the confidence to step outside as well, and after some time, they began exploring what would be their new reality: Freedom.
These two sweet boys, Freedom and Bigsby, sparked something in me: I realized most people did not know animals like the dogs they share their homes with as part of their families are being tested on and killed for things as meaningless to life-saving research as illicit drugs and makeup. That day, I made it my life’s mission to make sure the world knew about this and would join us in ending it.
Beagle Freedom Project has exploded in the last seven years, thanks to our wonderful staff, volunteers, adopters, fosters and overall supporters. I am excited for what 2018 has to bring - and it will be a big surprise for everyone, so stay tuned!
Shannon Keith
President & Founder of Beagle Freedom Project
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