A plane carrying precious cargo arrived at Gillespie Field Wednesday afternoon: 108 rescued beagles. They were welcomed with happiness and excitement by staff and volunteers from the San Diego Humane Society.
San Diego Humane Society president Gary Weitzman unloaded the first pup off of the plane.
"She’s really excited ... and she deserves to be. (It's the) first time she’s out of a research lab, so this is really great news," he said as he carried the little dog to an air conditioned vehicle at the ready. The beagle barked and wagged her tail along the way.
The beagles are no ordinary rescue dogs. They are the last batch of 4,000 beagles saved from a Virginia-based company that breeds and sells animals for use in scientific testing. The rescue came after the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit.
They arrived in San Diego during a heat wave, so lots of volunteers lined up on the tarmac and hustled the dogs to awaiting air conditioned cars.
One by one the beagles were packed up and quickly shuttled to the Humane Society’s El Cajon animal campus, where dozens of staff and volunteers have been working overtime, getting ready to welcome the special delivery. There, the beagles will get vaccinated and microchipped, and will be given physical and metal health check-ups along with some play time.
"We have swimming pools set up so that they can have a big water party since it’s going to be so hot out here today," said Hope Huston, an animal care supervisor with the San Diego Humane Society.
Weitzman said the Humane Society will immediately place the beagles in foster homes. But he said the Society will need donations to support their care until the beagles are well enough to go to forever homes.
Weitzman said they feel honored to be a part of the beagles' journey to safe, normal and happy lives.
"We're ecstatic to be able to help them to get into backyards and living rooms and a family that they love," he said.
