Beagles used in pesticide study have been saved and are now up for adoption

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DETROIT, Mich. (FOX 35 ORLANDO) - "Our team is happy to announce that we are now accepting applications for our retired research animals!"

The Michigan Humane Society (MHS) made the announcement on Friday that 32 beagles who were being force-fed pesticides during lab testing have now been saved and are up for adoption.

According to People.com, within an hour of posting on social media, around 400 adoption applications were submitted. The page where potential adopters could apply has since been taken down and the shelter is reviewing the applications to find the best forever homes.

"MHS is advising all potential adopters that homes selected for these dogs will need to have a lot of patience and time to train their new family member. Training could be a several months process and activities enjoyed by other dogs may not be options for them."

The beagles were released from Michigan's Charles River Laboratories after video circulated by the Humane Society of the United States showed the dogs being force-fed or infused with drugs, pesticides and other products, with some given very high doses.

"Our investigator, who spent nearly 100 days at the facility, documented the dogs cowering, frightened, in their cages with surgical scars and implanted with large devices," said the Humane Society.

The testing was for a yearlong pesticide experiment for a new product being developed by Corteva Agriscience, which is a division of DowDuPont.

The beagles were set to be put down in July at the end of the study if they weren't able to be released.

A petition was started, calling for the dogs freedom. They were handing over to MHS two weeks after Corteva announced they would be releasing the animals.