Conversations around animal breeding and testing facilities have intensified in recent months following several high-profile rescue efforts across the United States. Many of the dogs removed from those environments are now being placed in homes and shelters where they are slowly adapting to a completely different life.

"The U.S. Government is the single largest funder of animal testing in the world," Goodman said. When Laurie Simmons announced a deal to free 1,500 dogs from Ridglan Farms in Blue Mounds, west of Madison, the founder of Big Dog Ranch Rescue gave President Trump's health secretary a verbal pat on the back.

A Wisconsin animal laboratory testing facility has been shut down – with at least a little help from Rep. Nick Langworthy. Langworthy sent a letter to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Jayanta Bhattacharya urging immediate action to end National Institutes of Health funding for research involving dogs sourced from Ridglan Farms as well as

The Beagle Freedom Project is transforming a 30-acre property in Oklahoma that used to be an animal testing facility into Freedom Fields Kelli Bender is the Pets Editor at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2013, covering pets, animal rescue and ...

A new busload of beagles arrived at Big Dog Ranch Rescue on Wednesday night, pushing its total to almost 400 canines freed from a Wisconsin lab and prompting a Mother’s Day Adoption Special event.