Hobbs is home!

[isabel]

Meet the newest addition to our family! This is Hobbs.

He's already using the dog door like a champ. Using stairs is a real challenge though. He's a little awkward. Hobbs spent the first 8 years of his life in a lab as a test animal for household chemicals, beauty products, and the like. He's definitely still adjusting to normal life, but is handling all the changes admirably. We're already in love with our new guy!

[nsl]

What a sweet boy!

[W.T.Faulkner]

I LOVE HIM

[Deleted]

Oh that makes me so mad. Thank goodness you we giving him a wonderful home. What a cutie.

[Deleted]

What company tested on him?

[bania]

ZOMG! So many conflicting feelings. I'm so sad for his former life. I'm SO HAPPY he has the best life now.

I didn't know companies tested on DOGS!

[mrsgoontz]

Oh I love him!

How wonderful that you are giving him the life he deserves.

[bania]

@scottydeux look at this puppy! Rescued!!

[Stingyshark]

Oh my! I didn't know companies tested on animals! The world I live in is so nice (lol).
He is so sweet!

[Deleted]

What a sweetie! I bet he's going to be such a lover once he realizes he's home for good. I feel like it usually takes 6 months for them to realize what's happened and for their personality to shine.

I have a lot of articles/videos on teaching dogs to use stairs if you want me to post. Our greyhounds don't know how to use stairs when we get them from the track either and the foster families have to teach them.

[janiejones]

Jan 1, 2014 14:29:49 GMT -5 @gracie6414 said:

Beagles are predominantly tested on as they are not generally an aggressive dog, the will allow a lot to be done to them. It's quite sad really. To exploit that part of their nature that way,

Yeah, we have a veterinary college here and they have a huge Beagle (lab) program.  An old CW adopted two at once from them.

[noodle]

He is such a cutie!

I'm so glad you're giving him a loving home. The first part of his life breaks my heart, but I love that he's going to have an incredible life moving forward.

[grayskies]

What a cutie! So glad he has a good home now!

[isabel]

Jan 1, 2014 14:26:55 GMT -5 elle said:

What company tested on him?

We don't know. The group we adopted him through (Beagle Freedom Project) does not release that information. Ideally, they would like to stop animal testing altogether, but they understand that the first step is to get the labs to release the animals when they are done with them. Most are euthanized. They work with various labs to conduct rescues of multiple dogs and then find foster homes for them while they are waiting to be adopted. As a policy, they do not release any information about the labs because they don't want to labs to stop their willingness to release these dogs.

We know that Hobbs was tested on for beauty products and household cleaners. It is likely that he was forced to swallow chemicals. We also know that he was kept in isolation for the majority of his time in a lab, so he was in a cage by himself without any other dogs around.

Beagles are a favorite for testing laboratories because they are docile, friendly, and small, but BFP has saved lots of animals, including some pigs, horses, and rabbits. If you're looking for an organization to help out, they're a great one. Also, buying cruelty-free products is a great way to cut this off at the source. These products are under no legal obligation to be tested before being released to the public. This is a good resource for finding cruelty-free products.

[isabel]

Jan 1, 2014 14:26:16 GMT -5 @gracie6414 said:

Oh for Pete sake! I love beagles. He is very handsome.m
Can you give him some ear rubs for me?
Oh man I want to snuggle him.

Absolutely! He gives the best snuggles!

[aussiecrush]

Oh buddy, you fell into the good stuff now. I'm so happy he's starting his new year with you. What a sweetie.

[isabel]

Jan 1, 2014 14:31:06 GMT -5 @ameliapond said:

What a sweetie! I bet he's going to be such a lover once he realizes he's home for good. I feel like it usually takes 6 months for them to realize what's happened and for their personality to shine.

I have a lot of articles/videos on teaching dogs to use stairs if you want me to post. Our greyhounds don't know how to use stairs when we get them from the track either and the foster families have to teach them.

OMG please! He goes down really timidly, one step at a time. And then he tries to bolt up the steps and just flails all over the place. It is actually pretty funny, but he's just so awkward trying to go up.

[Deleted]

We have been cruelty free in our household for a long time, but I cheat sometimes. I hope I never do with a company that tests on dogs. It is bad enough if they test on rats. But dogs. OMG.

[zoidberg]

Awwwwwww

[isabel]

@gracie6414

Snuggles from Dad.

[bania]

Was he in the lab since he was a puppy?

[bania]

Jan 1, 2014 14:43:29 GMT -5 isabel said:

@gracie6414

Snuggles from Dad.

OMG. Real tears.

[annyong]

Omg, I could cry thinking about his life before you! Thank you so much for rescuing him. What a sweetheart!

My pup didn't know how to use stairs either when I first got her (and was afraid of grass, among other things). She learned pretty quickly (shaping with treats is the way to go) so I hope he does too!

[isabel]

Jan 1, 2014 14:43:32 GMT -5 bania said:

Was he in the lab since he was a puppy?

Yes. There are breeders that specialize in breeding dogs meant to be used in labs. He was likely purchased from one of those breeders as a puppy.

[lilibet]

Hi cutie!! That photo with dad made me tear up.

I'm so sad about his early life but so happy he's going to have such a good life now. You guys are awesome for adopting through that program.

Definitely re-committing to buying cruelty free products.

[kcr1972]

I love him!!!!! If you have never had a Beagle before then you are in for a treat. They are the sweetest dogs ever.

They recently exposed our local dental school testing on dogs, mostly hounds. It makes me sick.

I want all the doggies to be freeeeee!!!

[leeann]

He's so adorable. Congrats.

[osulori]

isabel, I've followed Beagle Freedom Project on Fb for a while, adopting from them is something I'm hoping to do one day they're the reason were working towards using all cruelty free products at home. Hobbs is adorable, congrats!

[polka]

He is so sweet! Congrats!

Thank you for giving him a happy home. He will forever be grateful to you

[mrsukyankee]

Hobbs is gorgeous!