Madison, Wisconsin.. Pop star Debbie Gibson and Terry “Geezer” Butler, co-founder of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath, sing the same tune when it comes to sparing dogs from medical experiments.
The unlikely pair reunited on Tuesday not for the most unusual duet, but instead for the praise Continuous efforts To find new homes for about 1,500 people The beagle was purchased From the dog breeder and research facility Ridglan Farms outside Madison.
Forget the black anti-war anthem “War Pigs.” This day was all about dogs – more specifically, beagles.
“It was very profound to be able to hold each of these dogs in our arms and be able to reassure them that their new lives had begun,” Gibson said. “Today was a very emotional day.”
Gibson and Butler were carrying beagles from Ridgelan Farms that were transported from the facility to the Humane Society on Tuesday.
“They’ve never let me down,” Butler said of his pet dogs at the Humane Society of Dane County, which is working to find new homes for 500 beagles. “They are always loving.”
As they and others talked at the humane society barn, beagles from Ridgelan Farms sat in the arms of volunteers as they waited to be seen by veterinarians for health checks, vaccinations and other care.
The Washington, D.C.-based Center for the Humane Economy and Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Florida, both of which oppose the use of animals in research, struck a deal last month to buy the dogs for an undisclosed sum from Ridgelan Farms.
The deal was announced a few days after A.J Violent clash Between animal welfare advocates and police outside the Ridgelan Farms facility. Police used tear gas and pepper spray to push away the activists who said they were there to take the dogs. Protesters also stormed the facility in March and took 30 dogs.
Several groups are working to move the 1,500 dogs purchased from Ridglan to facilities where they will receive veterinary care and be prepared for transport to shelters across the country, where they will eventually be put up for adoption.
More than 1,300 people have expressed interest in adopting dogs to the Humane Society of Dane County alone, said Amy Goode, the society’s marketing director.
“It’s not difficult to sell beagles to homes,” said Wayne Basile, president of the Center for Humane Economics. “The response across the country has been overwhelming.”
The first 1,000 dogs were removed earlier this month and are in temporary shelters with agencies partnering with Big Dog Ranch Rescue. The Humane Society of Dane County began taking in the remaining 500 dogs this week.
Ridgelan Farms agreed in October to give up its state breeding license effective July 1 as part of a deal to avoid prosecution on animal abuse charges. The company denied abusing the animals, but a special prosecutor determined that Ridglan Farms was performing eye procedures that violated government veterinary standards.
Butler, who said he has five dogs and five cats at home, described the day as a historic day for the end of animal testing.
“This is just the beginning,” he added.
Gibson, who released her first album when she was 16 in 1987, said she plans to foster and possibly adopt one of the beagles she met on Tuesday.
“This little guy was the last person in my arms, and I couldn’t put him back in the cage,” she said, holding the hound as she spoke.
When asked if they would work on a song about dogs together, Butler and Gibson laughed.
“Maybe,” Butler said, smiling, Hound still on his lap.