Beagles rescued from research facility find freedom on the Gulf Coast

FORT MYERS, Fla. —

Eighteen beagles rescued from a Wisconsin biomedical research facility are now experiencing freedom on the Gulf Coast, thanks to Guardians of Florida Animal Rescue.

The dogs, previously bred for biomedical research at Ridglan Farms, were transported to Florida by Sherri-Lee Mercuri, executive director of Guardians of Florida Animal Rescue.

"To see them, being offloaded and literally touching the grass for the first time, it's very moving," Mercuri said. "It's very moving, but happy."

Mercuri drove more than 1,400 miles to North Wisconsin to pick up the dogs.

"The drive back, I mean, you've got 18 beagles with you. It was very quiet. I didn't expect that," Mercuri said. "I thought we were going to also have a little sing-along, but that didn't happen."

These 18 dogs are part of a larger rescue effort involving 1,500 beagles purchased by two groups, including Big Dog Ranch in Palm Beach County.

"The vast majority of our dogs are rescued from Florida, but this is an undertaking that no one rescue could do by themselves," said Dana Bursch, co-founder of Guardians of Florida Animal Rescue.

Before the rescue deal was finalized, protestors not affiliated with the rescue groups broke into the Wisconsin facility, alleging inhumane conditions. Mercuri did not enter the facility herself to look at the conditions, but Bursch expressed optimism about the dogs' future.

"They were born destined for a life of lab testing, and now they have a new lease on life where they can be, you know, a dog and part of a family," Bursch said.

The beagles will be ready for adoption in two to three weeks. Adoption availability does vary by dog.

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