Beagle Freedom Australia

Rehoming Ex Laboratory Animals

WELCOME TO BFA​

In Australia, many animals find themselves in a teaching and research situation. Previously, no provisions were made for these animals when it came to their retirement. Some might go to staff members or their friends, but mostly they would be euthanised. This is where we come in! Beagle Freedom Australia has established Australia’s first rehoming program designed specifically for the rehabilitation of ex-research, ex-testing or ex-teaching laboratory animals.  We founded Australia’s first sanctuary where these animals can safely spend time learning about all the things that we take for granted, before advancing to their new homes. We specialise in beagles, because they are the breed of choice in laboratory settings, but we also help other breeds and other types of animals too.

Dogs
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Cats
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These are the total numbers of dogs and cats that were reported as having been used in research and teaching in 2020, in the state of Victoria alone.
These are also the most recently available statistics that the Australia Government has made public, they are 4 years old. We have no way of knowing how these numbers have grown in recent years. Not all states in Australia report their numbers, and not all states make their reports available to the public. So there is no way of knowing exactly how many animals are being used in research and teaching in Australia. 

what do we do?

we make families

Dog adoption

See our available dogs, read about the process and the FAQ about adopting an ex-laboratory dog.

Cat Adoption

See our available cats, read about the process and the FAQ about adopting an ex-laboratory kitty!

Foster care

Can’t adopt or donate? Try foster care! Help our animals get ready for their new homes.

Right to Release

Read about our campaign to make the release of animals from research a mandatory practice. Sign a petition and see how you can help.

WISH LIST

Check out what’s on our wish list and see if there is anything you can help us with.

Sponsorship

If you want to help, but can’t adopt or foster, you can sponsor! Check out our current sponsor animals.

So, what's been happening?

Latest NEWS

Reforming Victoria's Animal Care and Protection Laws

We recently made a second submission to the Victorian Government with advice and feedback on their draft plan to reform the outdated "POCTA" (Protection of cruelty to animals act).
Learn More

VIC Pet Rehoming Sector Reforms

BFA was accepted onto the committee working wth the Victorian Government to reform and implement all the recommendations put forward by the Taskforce for rehoming pets.
Learn More

NSW Right to Release PASSED!

NSW has passed into law, the mandatory rehoming of animals from research! At this stage it only applies to cats and dogs, but we hope they will extend it to other species in the future, we will keep pushing.
View Document

Right to Release APPROVED!

After much deliberation, the Animal Welfare Vic have put forward their report in response to the Taskforce's recommendations. In an Australian first, they support mandatory release and a retirement age for animals in research!
View Document

Victorian Taskforce on Rehoming pets

BFA recently had the opportunity to make a submission and also meet with the taskforce, we, of course, recommended mandatory rehoming for research animals as well as a retirement age.
Learn More

BFA Featured in The Age

"The Andrews government will investigate ways to find homes for laboratory animals once they are no longer needed for medical research, under a plan advocates say could prevent animals being put down unnecessarily."
Read the Article

NSW Inquiry into the use of animals in medical research

The NSW Legislative Council's Portfolio Committee No. 2 - Health, is currently conducting an inquiry into the use of primates and other animals in medical research in New South Wales. BFA was invited to make a submission.
Learn More

QLD Parliamentary Amendment

BFA have made a submission, including recommendations, for animals in research, to the QLD Parliamentary Committee. In it we ask for mandatory release and a retirement age.
Learn More

NSW Rehoming Guide

Following in Victoria’s footsteps, The NSW Government has just released a rehoming guide for lab animals. Made possible by lots of input from many stake holders, the guidelines have been issued to all AEC's in labs across NSW.
View Document

Have you fallen in love with what we do?

How Does it all work?

Our Process

1. Fill in our form

2. Phone interview

3. Meet and Greet

4. Trial Period

5. Final Adoption

Sponsorship

Meet Some of Our FOrever fosters

WRINKLES

10 YEAR OLD BEAGLE Boy

ARMANI

6 year old Cat GIRL

CASEY

10 year old beagle girl

about us

We don’t usually get in front of the camera here at BFA, we like to make the animals our main focus. But for the curious at heart, you can read more about our founders and how BFA started.

NIKKI STEENDAM

Co-Founder

TAM BURKE

Co-Founder

Having the opportunity to be part of the rehabilitation process with Jensen has given us a true appreciation of how special and wonderful these dogs are. They have brought such love into our lives.

- Dom

Jensen's Foster Dad

Happily ever after

Meet Some of our adoptees

Love it and want to help?

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