Former research dogs in London, Ont., headed for adoption

St. Joseph’s healthcare confirms dogs used in controversial medical experiments will be rehomed. CTV London’s Reta Ismail reports.

The dogs previously involved in research at Lawson Research Institute in London, Ont., will be put up for adoption.

According to St. Joseph’s Health Care, all eight of the dogs will go to a “Trusted and fully accredited organization so they can start the path towards adoption.”

St. Joseph’s says six of the dogs went to the chosen organization Wednesday morning.

The dogs will stay together for the time being — receiving ongoing care, socialization, enrichment and training to ensure they’re ready for family homes.

While the organization taking the dogs hasn’t been identified, St. Joseph’s said in a statement, “The partner organization has experience with this breed of dog and with animals coming from a research program and they have an adoption rate that is higher than 90 per cent.”

To protect the wellbeing of the dogs and to increase the willingness of people to adopt them, St. Joseph’s Health Care said the partner will remain anonymous.

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• London, Ont. hospital announces it will cease testing on dogs
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In August, animal rights group The Beagle Alliance called on St Joseph’s to rehome the dogs, and told CTV News on Wednesday that it was not the organization selected to assist in the process.

Animal Justice, the group responsible for bringing the medical testing to light, has said it is “profoundly disappointed” about what it calls the “secrecy” when it comes to the future of the dogs.

CTV News has reached out to St. Joseph’s Health Care for an interview and was told media requests were being directed to Western University, where the animal care clinic is said to be working with the chosen organization in rehoming the dogs.

The chair of Western’s Animal Care Committee, Arthur Brown, released a statement regarding the unnamed organization.