My Nonprofit Reviews

Written by my daughter shortly after we adopted Chandler from Kindness Ranch.

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Becoming Chandler: Musings from a Lab-Rescue Beagle

My whole life existed inside of a cage in a big scary building. I didn’t know about the sun. I never saw the sky. I didn’t know what grass was. My memories are of pain, discomfort, loneliness and fear.

Somewhere nearby were others like me. I could sense them and smell them but I wasn’t allowed to know them. I couldn’t talk to them. When I was a baby somebody shaved my vocal cords. When I try to speak all I can do is make a small rasping sound. I have no voice.

I’m a Beagle. We are very smart and the gentlest of dogs. That’s why the humans use us in their labs. We do what we’re told and we just want to please you, even when it makes us feel bad.

When the humans are done with us in the lab they don’t have to let us go free. Many of us are killed. But there are kind humans who come to the labs and ask if they can take us and find homes for us. It doesn’t always work but I was one of the lucky ones. I was rescued!

I have a human mom and sister now. I live in a fun, safe place with a big yard and I even have a beagle sister to play with! Mom says I am still a puppy and I’m a miracle because I got out of the lab at only 14 months old.

I love my new house, but most of the time I just want to be OUTSIDE. Outside is so amazing! Grass, trees, flowers, birds, squirrels, wind, sun, snow, and rain! And I can RUN! I run until my legs don’t want to work anymore, then I lay down on my own special cushion and nap in the sun for as long as I want!

I’m learning to trust humans. Mom is very patient with me and I’m doing better every day. Last week I even felt good enough to try sleeping in the big soft bed with my human sister. It was amazing! Now I sleep in her bed every night.

I heard Mom say that humans don’t have to test their products on animals, but Beagles are easy and cost less. About 96% of lab test dogs are Beagles like me - over 65,000 of us in the U.S. alone - who don’t know that there is a world where they can find love and be happy. They don’t even know about OUTSIDE!

My humans call me Chandler. I like it. It’s nice to have a name instead of just the number that is tattooed inside my ear. A new name for a new me!

I got lucky. Lots of other lab Beagles don’t get a second chance like I did. Please help my Beagle friends in the labs by learning more about rescue projects, new laws that could help us, and the amazing humans who work so hard to set us free. Lots of Beagles need loving homes like mine!