Victory for Beagles: NIH’s Final Dog Testing Lab Shut Down After WCW Campaign
A major milestone in the fight against government-funded animal testing was achieved this month as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) officially shut down its last in-house dog lab. The closure comes after nearly a decade of relentless advocacy from White Coat Waste Project (WCW), a watchdog organization known for exposing and challenging taxpayer-funded animal experiments.
This landmark victory ends decades of painful septic shock experiments on beagles—tests that have taken the lives of more than 2,000 dogs over the past 40 years. WCW first launched its campaign to expose these experiments in 2016, gaining national attention after uncovering and publicizing the NIH’s controversial testing protocols.
“Taxpayers and pet owners shouldn’t be forced to pay for the NIH’s beagle abuse, and now, following a White Coat Waste campaign, they won’t have to,” said Anthony Bellotti, WCW’s President and Founder.
This isn’t WCW’s first major success. In 2019, the organization helped shut down the U.S. government’s largest cat lab. Their advocacy has also contributed to ending painful dog experiments at the Department of Veterans Affairs—another major win for both animals and taxpayers.
At Ohio Animal Advocates, we believe this victory represents a turning point in how our government approaches animal testing. It demonstrates that sustained pressure, transparency, and public advocacy can create change—even within massive institutions like the NIH.
We applaud WCW’s tireless efforts to eliminate wasteful and cruel testing practices, and we echo their call for a future in which all government-funded animal testing is replaced with humane, ethical alternatives.
What’s Next?
While this is a win worth celebrating, the work isn't done. OAA continues to support:
Ending painful experiments on all animals in U.S. laboratories
Increased investment in modern, non-animal research alternatives
Stronger accountability and transparency for federally funded research
Laws that protect companion animals from unnecessary suffering
You can read more about WCW’s investigation and the final days of the NIH dog lab here.
Take Action
Use OAA's action alerts to urge your Congressional legislators to support:
H.R. 1291, or the Humane and Existing Alternatives in Research and Testing Sciences Act, known as the HEART Act of 2025, and
S. 355, or the FDA Modernization 3.0 Act for Non-Animal Testing Alternatives in Research.
