This bill is an update to the very popular “Beagle Bill” also known as “Beagle Freedom Act” Maryland State legislators passed overwhelmingly in 2018. The goal of that legislation was to allow healthy dogs and cats used in research who had paid their debt to society to be adopted by a loving family. The only problem with that bill was that it did not have any mechanisms to ensure that best practices were being followed regarding the goals of that law.
What this bill does is simply hold those institutions conducting research on cats and dogs accountable by submitting information to the Maryland Department of Agriculture. This would include the number of cats and dogs owned and used by the research facility and the number of dogs and cats released to animal rescue organizations after testing has concluded and the names of those animal rescue organizations and that such information about the compliance with that law is available on the Department of Agriculture website. Any school or an institution of higher education that conducts research on animals would submit a report on the results of inspections by the Department of Agriculture to the General Assembly on or before December 31 each year.
The goal of this bill is to ensure that our research institutions, testing facilities, and institutes of higher education are allowing as many healthy dogs and cats, who have endured so much suffering in these experiments, to finally be adopted into loving homes.
Let’s Put Some Teeth in The Beagle Bill! Please contact your legislators and ask them to SUPPORT SB 537!
Thank you again for being an advocate for Maryland’s animals. Remember, Maryland Votes for Animals, Inc. can only succeed with the help of animal advocates like you. Please consider making a donation to Maryland Votes for Animals at voteanimals.org/donate now, so we can continue fighting for Maryland animals.
With compassion,
Maryland Votes for Animals, Inc.