Debbie Gibson and Black Sabbath’s Geezer Butler urge adoptions for beagles saved from a Wisconsin research lab

(SeaPRwire) –   Pop singer Debbie Gibson and Terry “Geezer” Butler, co-founder of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath, share a common perspective on protecting dogs from medical testing.

The pair, an unexpected combination, gathered Tuesday not to perform a unique duet, but to commend ongoing initiatives aimed at finding homes for approximately 1,500 beagles acquired from Ridglan Farms, a dog breeder and research facility located outside Madison.

Forget Black Sabbath’s anti-war song “War Pigs.” The focus of this day was entirely on the dogs—specifically, the beagles.

“It was deeply moving to hold each of these dogs in my arms and assure them that their new life was beginning,” Gibson stated. “Today was an emotional day.”

Gibson and Butler pet the beagles taken from research facility

Both Gibson and Butler held beagles from Ridglan Farms that had been transported from the facility to the humane society on Tuesday.

“They have never disappointed me,” Butler remarked regarding his pets at the Dane County Humane Society, which is working to find homes for 500 beagles. “They are always affectionate.”

As they and other speakers addressed the audience in the humane society’s barn, beagles from Ridglan Farms sat in the arms of volunteers awaiting veterinary examinations, vaccinations, and other care.

Beagles bought following violent clash with police

The Washington, D.C.-based Center for a Humane Economy and Florida’s Big Dog Ranch Rescue, both of which oppose the use of animals in research, finalized the deal last month to purchase the dogs for an undisclosed sum from Ridglan Farms.

The agreement was announced just days after a violent confrontation between animal welfare advocates and police outside the Ridglan Farms facility. Police deployed tear gas and pepper spray to repel activists who claimed they were there to rescue the dogs. Protesters also broke into the facility in March and removed 30 dogs.

Numerous organizations are working to transfer the 1,500 dogs purchased from Ridglan to facilities where they will receive veterinary care and be prepared for transport to shelters across the country, where they will eventually be available for adoption.

Demand is high to adopt the beagles

More than 1,300 people have expressed interest to the Dane County Humane Society alone in adopting the dogs, said Amy Good, the society’s director of marketing.

“It is not difficult to place beagles in homes,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of the Center for a Humane Economy. “The response nationwide has been overwhelming.”

The first 1,000 dogs were removed earlier this month and are currently in temporary shelters with agencies collaborating with Big Dog Ranch Rescue. The Dane County Humane Society began receiving the remaining 500 dogs this week.

Ridglan Farms agreed in October to relinquish its state breeding license as of July 1 as part of an agreement to avoid prosecution on felony animal mistreatment charges. The company has denied mistreating animals, but a special prosecutor determined that Ridglan Farms conducted eye procedures that violated state veterinary standards.

Butler, who stated that he has five dogs and five cats at home, described it as a historic day for the cessation of animal experimentation.

“This is just the beginning,” he said.

Gibson, who released her debut album at age 16 in 1987, mentioned she intends to foster and possibly adopt one of the beagles she met on Tuesday.

“This little guy was the last one placed in my arms, and I couldn’t return him to a cage,” she said, holding the beagle as she spoke.

When asked if they would ever collaborate on a song about dogs, Butler and Gibson chuckled.

“Maybe,” Butler replied with a smile, a beagle still on his lap.