Animal activists release 72 beagles from Spanish lab

File photo / Thinkstock

Seventy-two beagles raised in a Spanish laboratory have been rescued by the Beagle Freedom Project.

The beagles, all between ages 4 and 7, had lived in cages their entire lives, spokesman Gary Smith told the NBC.

"We've been told they lived one per cage in rooms of 10 beagles, but they never had any physical interaction with one another," said Smith.

"They've been in kennels since they were rescued about a week ago, but aside from that, they've spent most of their lives locked up."

Beagles are used in university and other research facilities to test medical and pharmaceutical products, household products and cosmetics.

When the beagles are no longer wanted for research purposes, some labs attempt to find homes for adoptable, healthy beagles.

The Beagle Freedom Project works with the laboratories to remove and transport beagles to their new homes. All of the Beagle Freedom Project's rescues are carried out legally with the cooperation of the facility.

Beagles from a previous rescue effort can be seen in this video:

- HERALD ONLINE