Joe Bailey didn't plan on becoming an advocate for former research dogs — he just wanted a beagle. On this episode of Dogs Beyond The Lab, hosts Chelsey Marino (Keeper and Kin), Lori Cohen (The Beagle Alliance), and John Ramer (Kindness Ranch Animal Sanctuary) hear how a two-week notice from the Beagle Freedom Project brought Presley, a six-and-a-half-year-old beagle straight off an Oklahoma breeding farm, into Joe's Los Angeles home. Joe taught him stairs, leashes and how to eat slowly, and learned his triggers — metal on metal, the need to back up against something to relieve himself. Presley was diagnosed with B-cell lymphoma in March 2024 and died that November, after twenty weeks of treatment at Penn Vet and Mount Laurel Animal Hospital. Joe calls him "the boy who brought me home."

Then came Carol — possibly Presley's biological relative, and a year into freedom before adoption. Confident where Presley was timid, vocal where he was silent, she's what Joe calls his redemption arc.

Did you know that there is an instagram page starring Presley?

The hosts of the show are:

John Ramer is the Executive Director of Kindness Ranch

Lori Cohen is the Founder and Executive Director of The Beagle Alliance

Chelsey Marino is the founder of Keeper and Kin. The Leading Experts in Former Research Beagle Rehabilitation

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

John Ramer, Chelsey Marino, and Lori Cohen talk with Alice and Dima about Kane, a senior lemon beagle rescued from Kindness Ranch Animal Sanctuary.

Alice grew up with beagles and had always wanted to adopt a former research dog, while Dima had never lived with a pet before Kane came along. After meeting through a senior adoption promotion, Kane joined their family — and quickly made it clear that he had a lot to learn. From peeing on the desk during his adoption meeting to experiencing the world like a puppy, Kane's journey into home life has been full of unexpected challenges, breakthroughs, and plenty of laughs.

Alice and Dima share an honest look at adopting a former research beagle, including potty training, anxiety, socialization, trauma recovery, and the small milestones that can mean everything. Over time, Kane's personality began to emerge, revealing a quirky, affectionate dog with his own routines and a growing sense of confidence.

Things We Talked About:

• What to expect when adopting a former research dog
• The challenges of potty training and socializing a senior research beagle
• How to help an anxious rescue beagle adjust to home life
• Understanding trauma and nervous-system recovery in rescued research animals
• The small breakthroughs that mark progress
• Common beagle myths — and what life with Kane has taught Alice and Dima
• Why they’re considering adopting a second former research beagle

If you're researching how to adopt a former research beagle, wondering what to expect when adopting a research dog, or looking for ways to help an anxious rescue beagle settle into home life, Kane's story offers a heartfelt, practical, and often funny look at the journey.

The hosts of the show are:

John Ramer is the Executive Director of Kindness Ranch

Lori Cohen is the Founder and Executive Director of The Beagle Alliance

Chelsey Marino is the founder of Keeper and Kin. The Leading Experts in Former Research Beagle Rehabilitation

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rob Wadd joins Dogs Beyond the Lab to share the profound journey of Gabe, a former research beagle whose life was transformed by love, patience, and community. Rob recounts how he and his wife Sharon moved from life with Badger—their confident, well-adjusted beagle—to adopting Gabe, a deeply traumatized ex-lab dog terrified of ordinary things like doorways, wind, darkness, and TV. With Badger as a mentor and Sharon as his anchor, Gabe slowly learned safety, routine, and trust, from four-hour backyard sit-ins to finally mastering the dog door and cuddling on the couch—after years of keeping his distance from Rob.

When Badger passed, Kindness Ranch connected them with Kai, the tiger-striped beagle they’d originally hoped to adopt, completing a poignant full-circle story. Rob reflects on what it really takes to adopt a former research dog, when he’d advise someone not to, and how Gabe’s resilience has humbled and changed him, turning him into a thoughtful advocate for both dogs and the humans who care for them.

The hosts of the show are:

John Ramer is the Executive Director of Kindness Ranch

Lori Cohen is the Founder and Executive Director of The Beagle Alliance

Chelsey Marino is the founder of Keeper and Kin. The Leading Experts in Former Research Beagle Rehabilitation

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosts John Ramer, Lori Cohen, and Chelsey Marino call up their good friend, journalist and author Melanie Kaplan to discuss her book Lab Dog, which chronicles her journey with Hammy, a former research beagle. Kaplan explains how adopting Hammy led her to investigate the vast and largely hidden industry of breeding dogs for laboratory research—a scale that stunned her as she uncovered industrial facilities housing tens of thousands of animals. The conversation moves from Hammy's behavior and the emotional challenges of adopting a lab beagle to the systemic issues within animal research, including inconsistent enforcement of welfare laws and the slow adoption of non-animal testing methods.

They discuss:

- The industrial scale of beagle breeding facilities and how three major operations dwindled to one during Kaplan's reporting

- Balancing the heartbreak of animal research with readability and emotional engagement in the book

- Why legislation and enforcement are the most effective pathways to change in the research industry

- How non-animal methods are advancing rapidly but face barriers to widespread adoption

- The personal experience of losing Hammy and continuing to share his story through book tours and public speaking

This episode explores the intersection of personal grief, investigative journalism, and advocacy—offering insight for anyone seeking to understand the realities of animal research and the dogs who emerge from it.

Links to Melanie:

LinkedIn

Melanie's Website

The hosts of the show are:

John Ramer is the Executive Director of Kindness Ranch

Lori Cohen is the Founder and Executive Director of The Beagle Alliance

Chelsey Marino is the founder of Keeper and Kin. The Leading Experts in Former Research Beagle Rehabilitation

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Luke Toennies tells the story of adopting Snoop, a former research beagle. Luke initially reached out to the Beagle Alliance after losing his dog Leo.

After a six-month to a year wait, he adopted Snoop, who was initially traumatized but quickly bonded with Luke. Snoop's unique bark and playful nature, despite his past, have made him a social media star. Luke emphasizes the importance of patience and training, noting Snoop's progress and his role as an advocate for former research dogs. The conversation highlights the collaborative efforts of organizations like the Beagle Alliance, Kindness Ranch, and Keeper and Kin in supporting former research dogs and their adopters.

The hosts of the show are:

John Ramer is the Executive Director of Kindness Ranch

Lori Cohen is the Founder and Executive Director of The Beagle Alliance

Chelsey Marino is the founder of Keeper and Kin. The Leading Experts in Former Research Beagle Rehabilitation

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

David and Ginny share their adoption and rehabilitation of Celie, a severely fearful former research beagle from Kindness Ranch. They describe choosing Celie, her initial terror at the ranch and home, and the slow work to build trust through routine, “place” training, and positive games like “boop” and ball play. Bowman, their calm older beagle, served as a critical mentor, helping Celie gain confidence.

They spoke of a traumatizing week when Celie escaped; the community’s search efforts and the emotional toll on the family, and Celie’s eventual safe recovery. Over three years, small victories—first down stretches, requesting interaction, tolerating handling, reliable potty routines—became milestones. Hosts and guests discuss practical advice for prospective adopters: patience, celebrating incremental progress, and preparing for setbacks during transitions. John explains Kindness Ranch’s broader role and industry trends shifting from dogs to pigs in research. We talked community support, compassionate consumer choices, and advocacy, highlighting how rescuing a single traumatized dog can transform both canine and human lives.

The hosts of the show are:

John Ramer is the Executive Director of Kindness Ranch

Lori Cohen is the Founder and Executive Director of The Beagle Alliance

Chelsey Marino is the founder of Keeper and Kin. The Leading Experts in Former Research Beagle Rehabilitation

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week's episode features photographer/activist Robert Sturman, and of course, his good pal Otis - a former research hound. Robert shares how early exposure to the realities of animal testing shaped his compassion, eventually leading him to adopt Otis after seeing him through Beagle Freedom Project. While Otis is still triggered by loud noises like trains and fireworks, Rob explains all the ways he and Otis help each other every day.

We explore parallels between Robert’s long-standing work documenting human suffering (including yoga programs in prisons and the military) and his emerging activism for animals. As a living face of animal testing, Otis and Robert work together to raise awareness about cruelty-free products, and the need to shut down breeding facilities such as Marshall Bio Resources. The conversation closes with reflections on empathy, forgiveness, each person’s “link in the chain,” and the transformative lessons these dogs offer humans.

The hosts of the show are:

John Ramer is the Executive Director of Kindness Ranch

Lori Cohen is the Founder and Executive Director of The Beagle Alliance

Chelsey Marino is the founder of Keeper and Kin. The Leading Experts in Former Research Beagle Rehabilitation

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Angelique shared her journey of adopting research beagle Oliver from Kindness Ranch. Oliver is a deeply fearful dog who required months of patience before showing signs of progress. Her journey stands in stark contrast to easier adoption stories, illustrating what happens when an adopter commits to a dog with severe trauma and learned helplessness.

John, Lori and Chelsey discuss:

- Why Oliver entered a five-month decompression period where he slept over 20 hours daily

- The difficult decision to return Hunter when the two dogs proved incompatible in the home

- How learned helplessness prevents research beagles from making choices or expressing preferences

- The difference between standard behavior training and trauma-informed work with research animals

- Why celebrating small acts of independence matters more than correcting "bad" beagle behavior

This episode offers an honest look at the emotional stamina required to help a research beagle transition into domestic life, and the support network that makes long-term success possible for both dog and adopter.

The hosts of the show are:

John Ramer is the Executive Director of Kindness Ranch

Lori Cohen is the Founder and Executive Director of The Beagle Alliance

Chelsey Marino is the founder of Keeper and Kin. The Leading Experts in Former Research Beagle Rehabilitation

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Meet Jean Unger, a longtime Kindness Ranch volunteer and adopter whose life has been transformed by former research beagles. Jean shares how adopting her first lab beagle, Henry, opened her eyes to the hidden world of animals used in research and set her on a path of deep involvement with Kindness Ranch.

She describes working hands‑on with hundreds of dogs at the sanctuary, helping match them with the right homes, and the emotional push‑and‑pull of falling in love with dogs she doesn’t ultimately adopt. Jean talks about her current dogs, including Cinnamon, and the realities of setbacks, fear, and decompression once a dog leaves the lab.

Supported by a strong community—including Lori Cohen and Chelsey Marino—Jean explains how these dogs have taught her patience, resilience, and purpose, and why she believes she’s been changed more by them than they have been by her.

The hosts of the show are:

John Ramer is the Executive Director of Kindness Ranch

Lori Cohen is the Founder and Executive Director of The Beagle Alliance

Chelsey Marino is the founder of Keeper and Kin. The Leading Experts in Former Research Beagle Rehabilitation

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosts John Ramer (Kindness Ranch), Lori Cohen (The Beagle Alliance), and Chelsey Marino (Keeper & Kin) talk with Christy Cooke, a teacher and “foster fail” adopter of Casey (formerly Fiat), a former research beagle.

Christy shares how her family, intending only to foster, instantly fell in love when Casey walked out of the kennel and into her daughter’s arms. She describes Casey as unusually “normal” for a former research dog—deeply trusting, social with strangers, and bonded to her canine “big brother” Finnegan, who helps her feel safe on walks. Over time, Casey has blossomed: celebrating her first Christmas, learning to play with toys, and luxuriating in long, peaceful sleeps in bed.

Christy explains how knowing Casey’s past has transformed her views on animal testing and consumer choices, and how she now actively educates her students and the public about research beagles. The hosts then broaden the conversation to legislation, systemic change, and the supports needed so former research dogs and adopters can succeed.

The hosts of the show are:

John Ramer is the Executive Director of Kindness Ranch

Lori Cohen is the Founder and Executive Director of The Beagle Alliance

Chelsey Marino is the founder of Keeper and Kin. The Leading Experts in Former Research Beagle Rehabilitation

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.