Prince Harry, Meghan Markle adopt dog rescued from Virginia breeding facility
WASHINGTON (WJLA) — A mother beagle that was recently rescued from a Virginia breeding facility has gotten a new lease on life in a major way.
Mamma Mia has been adopted in California by none other than the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
The dog now lives in her very own puppy palace in Montecito, where the famous couple resides.
WJLA spoke with Shannon Keith, who is the founder and president of Beagle Freedom Project, about the experience of meeting royalty.
Keith said she got an email about scheduling a phone call with a supporter. When her phone rang, a woman said, "this is Meghan" and that she'd love to adopt one of the rescued beagles.
Keith didn't know exactly who she was talking to. But after the call, she figured out it was Meghan Markle.
They could not be any nicer or gracious," Keith said of her meeting with the famous couple.
Mamma Mia and 4,000 other beagles were rescued by federal authorities in July from overcrowded and inhumane conditions at the Envigo breeding and research plant in Cumberland, Virginia.
WJLA has been following the beagles' journey since the first group of dogs was rescued from the facility on July 21.
The facility is now shut down.
According to the Humane Society of the United States, the beagles' rescue comes after the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Envigo in May, alleging Animal Welfare Act violations at the facility.
The Humane Society said the facility, "bred dogs to be sold to laboratories for animal experimentation."
The dogs, including many that are pregnant, are being removed from the facility in stages. The rescue operation will need support in the form of donations to help cover the cost of the dogs' medical care after they are rescued and to prepare them for adoption.
If anyone would like to support the beagles' rescue with a donation to the Humane Society of the United States, visithumanesociety.org.
Anyone who is interested in fostering or adopting one of the beagles should visit humanesociety.org for a list of animal rescue agencies that are working to place the dogs in good homes over the next few weeks.
