11 May 2016

LEGISLATION - Illinois Bill Gives Research Animals Chance at Adoption

A bill currently at the Illinois State Capitol, if passed, would create the Research Dogs and Cats Adoption Act.

This act would require “(i) an institution of higher education located in this State that receives public funds for scientific, educational, or research purposes or (ii) a facility that provides research in collaboration with an institution of higher education with the use of public funds and that confines dogs or cats for scientific, educational, or research purposes and plans on euthanizing the dog or cat for other than scientific, educational, or research purposes must first offer the dog or cat to an animal rescue organization.”

The bill is sponsored by both Democrats and Republicans and gives animals a chance for a home who may otherwise have just been euthanized.

The Beagle Freedom Project is actively lobbying for this bill to pass since beagles are very often used in research.

Testing done on beagles in university and other research facilities includes medical/pharmaceutical, household products and cosmetics.

The Illinois motion dovetails with the Beagle Freedom Bill promoted by the organization.

In 2014 Minnesota became the first state to pass the Beagle Freedom Bill and it has been successfully implemented. In 2015 this law was also passed in California, Connecticut and Nevada.

In addition to Illinois, the Beagle Freedom Project is currently supporting a similar bill in New York.

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