{"id":780014,"date":"2025-12-09T08:12:44","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T13:12:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/animalrightswatch.us\/?p=780014"},"modified":"2025-12-09T08:42:48","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T13:42:48","slug":"lab-dog-a-heartwarming-tale-of-hope-for-lucky-rescued-lab-dogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/animalrightswatch.us\/?p=780014","title":{"rendered":"‘Lab Dog’: A heart-warming tale of hope for lucky rescued lab dogs"},"content":{"rendered":"

The new book ‘Lab Dog: A Beagle and His Human Investigate the Surprising World of Animal Research’, is journalist Melanie Kaplan\u2019s heartfelt story of her tender relationship with one rescued \u2018lab dog,\u2019 Hammy. In it, Melanie Kaplan exposes the hidden world of beagle breeding and research. She also reaches out to those who have opened their homes and hearts to these dogs and offered them the justice and forever homes and lives they truly deserve. ‘Lab Dog’ is an eye-opening and deeply personal book, for anyone to read, whether or not you live with a former lab dog.<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

PSYCHOLOGY TODAY:<\/strong> Few people know the full story of how beagles have been \u2014 and continue to be \u2014 bred and used “in the name of research.” In her new book Lab Dog: A Beagle and His Human Investigate the Surprising World of Animal Research, journalist Melanie Kaplan\u2019s heartfelt story of her tender relationship with one rescued \u2018lab dog,\u2019 Hammy, tells it all. Kudos to Melanie for exposing the hidden world of beagle breeding and research\u2014and reaching out to those who have opened their homes and hearts to these dogs and offered them the justice and forever homes and lives they truly deserve. Lab Dog is an eye-opening and deeply personal book, for anyone to read, whether or not you live with a former lab dog.<\/em><\/p>\n

Marc Bekoff: Why did you write Lab Dog?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Melanie Kaplan:<\/strong> I\u2019m a long-time journalist and a pretty curious person, so when I found myself living with Hammy \u2014 a really special creature who\u2019d lived in a lab for several years \u2014 I felt I had no choice but to tell his story. I realized much of what I felt with Hammy \u2013 bonding with a pet, wanting to understand the background of someone I’d fallen in love with, questioning things that seemed unfair\u2014 was universal, so I thought people would relate to what I\u2019d experienced. Also, I felt I owed it to Hammy to be his voice and share his story with the world…<\/em><\/p>\n

MB: What are some of the topics you consider and what are some of your major messages?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

MK:<\/strong> In Lab Dog I explore the history of using dogs for biomedical research and testing products (including drugs, medical devices and pesticides). I also look at the use of dogs in the classroom over the years \u2014 they were used regularly in med schools until recent decades and are still used in many veterinary schools. I also discuss what is known as the \u201ctroubled middle,\u201d a term coined by philosopher Strachan Donnelley in his 1989 piece \u201cSpeculative Philosophy, the Troubled Middle, and the Ethics of Animal Experimentation.\u201d Donnelley writes about the two extremes in animal research and those who \u201crecognize the legitimate and often conflicting needs and requirements of both human and animal welfare.\u201d It\u2019s this group in the troubled middle, Donnelley says, that are \u201cmost truly vexed by ethical questions.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The book also includes one chapter called \u201cThe \u2018Good\u2019 Research,\u201d which explores the use of pet dogs for clinical trials. Just like humans, dogs can participate in drug trials. (Of course, the animals themselves don\u2019t have a choice so their humans decide on their behalf.) I like this chapter because it looks at a way to continue research, often looking at repurposing existing drugs, without breeding dogs specifically for that purpose and keeping them confined in labs. These trials sometimes help future generations of pets and humans and may even help the pet in the trial…<\/em><\/p>\n

MB: Are you hopeful that as people learn more about how lab dogs are treated they will pay more attention to this and speak out against it?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

MK:<\/strong> I\u2019m super hopeful! I\u2019m an optimist by nature and believe that over time, people do the right thing. This is an issue that\u2019s uncomfortable to read and talk about\u2014but these things should be uncomfortable. Only by talking about animal research and making it part of our dialogue as a society will we see the changes many of us hope for. We have a lot of power in the decisions we make as voters, consumers and patients but we first need to be informed. I hope Lab Dog becomes part of that conversation. MARC BEKOFF<\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

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