Dogs used in controversial medical testing at London’s St. Joseph are on the path to adoption, hospital says
A month after it was revealed London’s St. Joseph hospital was conducting controversial heart attack research on dogs, all eight dogs are now on their way to finding new homes.Â
Eight dogs who were subjects of heart attack research at London’s St. Joseph’s hospital are on the path to adoption.
Arrangements to transfer all eight dogs to a trusted organization were made by Western University’s Animal Care Committee after it took ownership of the dogs once the research ended Aug. 11.Â
Six of the dogs already made this move Wednesday morning, according to a statement from St. Joseph’s Health Care London.
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The trusted organization’s identity was not disclosed and will remain anonymous to “protect the wellbeing of the dogs and to increase the willingness of people to adopt them,” the hospital’s president and CEO Roy Butler wrote, describing it as a “fully accredited organization.”
Butler said the partner has experience caring for this breed (which the statement doesn’t identify) of these six dogs, as well as with other animals leaving research programs, adding that the partner has an adoption rate higher than 90 per cent.Â
“They will stay together for the time being — receiving ongoing care, socialization, enrichment and training to ensure they’re ready for family homes,” Butler said.Â
The two other dogs will also relocate to the same organization “shortly,” but it is not clear when this move will occur.Â
The transfer comes a month after a story published by the  revealed controversial details about the hospital’s Lawson Research Institute inducing heart attacks up to three hours long on beagles before killing them and removing their hearts to study the effects.
The discovery sparked shock and calls for legislation changes with Premier Doug Ford vowing to end medical tests on dogs and directing his team to “start hunting down anyone else doing research on dogs or cats since it’s unacceptable,” adding that his government is “looking at all options.”
“These dogs are thriving in each other’s company and will continue to receive excellent care,” the hospital wrote, sharing that additional updates will be communicated as they become available.
Asma Sahebzada is a Toronto-based general assignment reporter
for the Star. Reach her via email: asahebzada@thestar.ca
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