Data & Visualizations

The numbers behind beagle testing — sourced, structured, and visualized.

42,880

dogs in US labs

FY2024

Source: USDA APHIS

97.3%

are beagles

UK data, 2004

Source: Home Office

1–3 yrs

lab beagle lifespan

Normal: 12–15

$1M+

per chronic study

Dog costs <0.2%

Source: EPA

1–3 yrs

Lab beagle lifespan

12–15 yrs

Normal beagle lifespan

$1,100

Cost of the dog

<0.2%

$1,023,800

Cost of the study

42,880

US dogs (FY2024)

↓ 9.2% from FY2023

Source: USDA APHIS

410

Column E (no relief)

↓ from 450 (FY2023)

Source: USDA APHIS

$1.08B

OOC market by 2031

↑ 32% CAGR from $154M

Key Finding

The headline decline from 211,104 dogs (1979) to 42,880 (2024) masks a structural shift: teaching and basic research use shrank dramatically, but regulated toxicology testing — the core of beagle demand — has actually increased.

Dogs in US Regulated Research, 1973–2024

From 211,104 at peak to 42,880 — but toxicology use has increased

The headline decline masks a structural shift: teaching and basic research shrank, but regulated toxicology — the core of beagle demand — grew.

Note: Pre-2016 values marked 'medium' are derived from NRC compilations. Pain categories available from 2022.

Source: USDA APHIS annual summaries; NRC 2009; National Academies 2020

How Dogs Suffer: USDA Pain Categories

FY2022–2024 — Column E (unrelieved pain) increased 20% from 2022 to 2023

The 410 dogs in Column E experience the full toxic effects of test substances — nausea, organ failure, seizures — without any pain mitigation.

Source: USDA APHIS Annual Report Summaries, FY2022–2024

Data Gap

Most jurisdictions track "dogs" not "beagles." Great Britain is the only country that reports breed — showing 97.3% beagles (2004) and 94% (2024). The true global beagle count is unknown.

Who's Watching? USDA vs DATCP at Ridglan

Same facility, same years. Radically different findings.

USDA violations

in 25 of 28 inspections

Same inspector every time

311

DATCP violations

same facility, same period

$55,148.50 in proposed fines

Welch alone

50%

With other staff

100%

With ACS

Source: Rise for Animals analysis of USDA inspection records; DATCP citations September 2025

Dogs Reported by CRO (USDA Data)

Most recent available USDA annual report data per registration

These are the only publicly available dog counts for CROs. No CRO discloses beagle-specific numbers. The actual global total is higher — these are single-registration snapshots, not enterprise-wide counts.

Note: USDA reports 'dogs' not 'beagles.' SNBL transferred US operations to Altasciences ~2018. Inotiv/Envigo ceased Cumberland operations Sept 2022.

Source: USDA APHIS Form 7023 annual reports: Charles River FY2022 (14-R-0144), Labcorp FY2017 (35-R-0030), Altasciences FY2023 (3 certificates combined)

The Rise and Fall of US Beagle Breeding

Key events from the founding of Marshall Farms (1939) to the present — showing consolidation from dozens of suppliers to one

Opened / Acquired

Closed / Shut Down

Enforcement Action

Investigation / Exposé

Legislation

1939Marshall FarmsFounded by W. Gilman Marshall — originally ferrets

1951University of UtahFirst beagle radiation experiments (AEC)

1960Hazleton LabsCumberland, VA facility begins beagle breeding

1962Marshall FarmsFirst beagle colony established — colony closed 1967

1966Ridglan FarmsIncorporated in Wisconsin (Corp ID 1R06498)

1966US CongressAnimal Welfare Act signed into law

1967VA Hospital NJSmoking beagles experiments begin (86 dogs)

1975UK pressMary Beith publishes smoking beagles photograph

1979US totalPeak: 211,104 dogs in research

1996CovanceSpun off from Corning — Cumberland continues

1999SNBL USAEverett, WA facility purpose-built

2010PLRSNC facility shut down after PETA undercover — staff charged with felony cruelty

2012Green Hill (Italy)Marshall's Italian facility closed by court amid mistreatment allegations

2015LabcorpAcquires Covance for $6.1B — Cumberland continues under new ownership

2016Santa Cruz BiotechUSDA license revoked — first major revocation in decades

2017Ridglan FarmsDxE undercover investigation — devocalization, cherry eye surgery documented

2017MBR Acres (UK)Marshall's UK subsidiary incorporated (Companies House)

2018Charles RiverHSUS undercover at Mattawan, MI — 36 beagles in pesticide study

2019EnvigoTakes over Cumberland from Covance/Labcorp

2021EnvigoPETA 7-month undercover investigation published Nov 9

2021InotivAcquires Envigo for ~$657M (Nov)

2021Camp BeagleContinuous protest begins at MBR Acres, UK (June)

2022Envigo/InotivDOJ enforcement — $35M penalty, 4,000 beagles rescued, facility closed

2022US CongressFDA Modernization Act 2.0 — removes animal testing mandate

2023CopenhagenAir route exposé — 6,000+ beagles on SAS passenger flights

2024MarshallWhistleblower photos published — first images from inside North Rose

2025Ridglan FarmsSettlement: license surrender by July 2026. Vet license suspended.

2025NIHCloses last on-campus beagle laboratory (May)

2026Ridglan FarmsMarch: DxE open rescue removes 22 beagles. July: License surrender deadline.

Source: Compiled from USDA records, SEC filings, DOJ press releases, court documents, investigative reporting, and advocacy documentation