Many of the breed used to test experimental drugs
Published on Page 13 of the August 7, 2013 issue of Morgan Hill Life:
By Marty Cheek
Photo by Marty Cheek
David Enney and two of his rescued beagles play in the backyard of his Morgan Hill home. Enney started the South County Animal Rescue Friends.
David Enney loves beagles. The Morgan Hill resident has so much passion for the breed that he wants to help South Valley residents adopt into their families beagles that have been neglected.
The South County Animal Rescue Friends (SCARF) dog rescue organization was set up by Enney to find volunteer individuals and families willing to foster the dogs until they can be adopted into a “forever home.”
Because beagles tend to be passive animals, they are bred in puppy mills in New York state for pharmaceutical use in testing the effects of experimental drugs. If the dogs are fit for a family after the testing period, they are put into the adoption system.
“The life that many of these dogs have lived before surrender is not a life that an animal deserves,” Enney said.
“At the very least, they have become unwanted. These animals love from an unconditional standpoint and give that love freely to their owners.”
Many benefits come to a family when they adopt a beagle into their home, he said. “A family benefits from knowing that they did their part in reducing the need for puppy mills,” he said. “They know that they have spared the unwanted dog’s life and will be giving it a forever home. They know the joy an animal brings to a home for the kids. Together they can grow up sharing their lives.”
SCARF is based in Enney’s home so the number of animals that he can take in is limited and varies with the number of foster homes available, he said.
SCARF limits itself to being breed specific only to beagles in its rescue efforts. “With our zero euthanization culture, we don’t clear out our inventory after a predetermined amount of days so that we can bring in the most current batch of beagles needing help,” he said. “Because the dog stays within the organization until adopted, it requires a network of volunteers to house the animals so that they don’t have to live in the pet hospital in cages, which can lead to health and behavior problems.”
Enney did not grow up with animals and it wasn’t until later in life that he got his first dog, which happened to be a beagle, he said.
A few months later, he met a woman with a beagle puppy at her place of business and struck up a conversation with her about the dog breed.
From that experience, he learned about the Nor Cal Beagle Rescue Group and became a volunteer for them as a foster family. He started with a dog named Boomer, a black-and-white beagle-Jack Russell terrier mix. After four days of fostering, Enney ended up adopting Boomer.
SCARF is currently in the application stage for nonprofit status. “We hope one day to be able to offer beagle rescue services across the Western United States in fulfilling a never-ending demand,” Enney said.
HOW TO HELP:
Call: (408) 221-6592
E-mail: [email protected]
Visit: www.scanimalrescue.com
