Bill To Give Research Animals Chance At Adoption Advances

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – A bill moving through the Maryland General Assembly would require some animals used for research get a chance at being adopted.

The Baltimore Sun reports the state Senate has already approved the Beagle Freedom Bill, which includes both cats and dogs but is named for the most common type of research dog.

A similar bill has failed for the past two years and was opposed by several research institutions including John Hopkins Medicine and the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Hopkins now supports the bill, which was amended to allow researchers to run adoption programs, among other changes.

The Sun reports animal use in science and medicine has been dropping, but remains largely because government regulators require it.

A hearing is scheduled for the House of Delegates on Tuesday.