Events leading up to the seizure of 4,000 beagles at Envigo facility
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[March 09, 2023]
By Sarah N. Lynch and Rachael Levy
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Justice subpoenaed two of
the top animal welfare officials at the Department of Agriculture to ask
why they did not take action against animal research breeder Envigo
despite documenting its mistreatment of thousands of beagles.
Here is a timeline of the USDA’s inspections of Envigo before the
Justice Department searched and seized more than 4,000 beagles in May
2022.
The timeline is based on public inspection reports and more than 800
pages of newly released internal USDA records obtained by the animal
rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
July 20-22, 2021 - The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
(APHIS) inspects the Envigo beagle facility and finds 18 violations, 10
of which are “direct" or "critical," with direct indicating an animal is
facing immediate harm.
Sept. 30, 2021 - Inspector Rachel Perez-Baum asks to increase staffing
and send four or five inspectors for a planned October inspection due to
problems such as "uncooperative facility management." Her supervisor
Dana Miller concurs and urges APHIS to send inspectors in pairs after
Envigo's staff “attempted to recant” their statements. Perez-Baum and
Miller declined to comment to Reuters.
Oct. 7, 2021 - APHIS director Robert Gibbens declines the request,
citing “optics” and the risks of COVID-19 exposure. Gibbens declined to
comment to Reuters.
Oct. 25, 2021 – Three APHIS inspectors find 13 violations at Envigo,
seven of which are “direct" or "critical."
Nov. 16-19, 2021 - APHIS inspects Envigo and finds 26 violations, 14 of
which are "direct" or "critical."
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Dec. 16-20 2021 - Envigo's Nov. 23 appeal of the October inspection
sparks tension within APHIS, after Miller learns APHIS managers plan
to strip some citations from the inspection report, including one
that found Envigo provided false information. Miller claims APHIS
has violated policy by not properly consulting her or Perez-Baum.
Gibbens disagrees, saying the appeal review team is only permitted
to consult them on "a question of fact," “to ensure impartiality” of
the appeal.
Dec. 17, 2021 - Inspector Perez-Baum completes a 107-page report
detailing what APHIS found in the November Envigo inspection. APHIS
managers rescind it and order the inspection team to cut it to 22
pages. The move prompts several internal complaints to the USDA
inspector general.
Feb. 16, 2022 - Miller informs her staff that Goldentyer has removed
her from working on any more Envigo inspections. Miller offers no
explanation. Goldentyer declined to comment to Reuters.
March 2-7, 2022 - Ahead of a planned inspection, inspectors learn
that Gibbens met with Inotiv officials and promised that inspectors
would conclude their inspections by 4 p.m. each day. Inspectors
express concern that this will make it more difficult for them to do
thorough inspections. APHIS leaders also narrow the scope of the
upcoming inspection.
March 8, 2022 - APHIS employees inspect Envigo and find five
violations, two of which are “direct.”
May 3, 2022 - APHIS inspects Envigo and only cite the company for
failing to fix the dangerous flooring.
May 18, 2022 - Federal and state law enforcement agents execute a
search warrant at Envigo and find 446 dogs in “acute distress.”
(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch, editing by Ross Colvin)
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