The fine is the largest ever issued under the US Animal Welfare Act, according to US prosecutors.

A company that breeds animals for medical testing has been fined a record $35m (£27m) after 4,000 beagles were rescued from its facility in Virginia in 2022.

The fine against Envigo RMS LLC for animal cruelty is the largest fine ever issued under the Animal Welfare Act, according to the US Department of Justice (DoJ).

“Envigo promoted a business culture that prioritized profit and convenience over following the law,” Christopher Kavanaugh, the US attorney for the Western District of Virginia, said in a statement.

“This callous approach led to dire consequences: the inhumane treatment of animals and the contamination of our waterway,” he said.

Envigo’s parent company, Inotiv, has agreed to pay the record eight-figure settlement. It has also agreed to not breed dogs for the next five years.

  • @[email protected]
    37•7 months ago

    Massive numbers of beagles are being used for genetic testing and experimentation by the government.

    Don’t worry about it.

    • @[email protected]
      19•7 months ago

      Also medical and pharmacuetical testing. Variety in testing models are important, which is why there are lots of regulations about how abimals bred for research are treated and handled. It’s an ugly reality, but the alternative is just releasing potentially hazardous products on the population.

      • @johannesvanderwhales
        9•7 months ago

        At the end of the day I’d rather medical research be conducted on dogs than humans (at least, prior to when things are ready for human trials). But also I’m pretty sure it’s regulated what can be tested on different kinds of animals. The bar for testing on rodents is for example much lower than the bar for primates.

        • @gheesh
          6•7 months ago

          Medical research? These poor creatures will end up being test subjects for cosmetics, tobacco, pollution,… You know, just so the people who pay know how much a living being (i.e. your future self) can take before collapsing. Implying most (or even a significant portion) of them are for “finding a cure for cancer” is PR washing.

    • @disguy_ovahea
      9•7 months ago

      Animal testing is legal, yes. This was a private company breaking the law.

      The fine against Envigo RMS LLC for animal cruelty is the largest fine ever issued under the Animal Welfare Act, according to the US Department of Justice (DoJ).

      “Envigo promoted a business culture that prioritized profit and convenience over following the law,” Christopher Kavanaugh, the US attorney for the Western District of Virginia, said in a statement.