Washington, D.C. — May 8. Americans for Medical Progress (AMP) issued a statement related to the purchase of 1500 dogs from Ridglan Farms by Big Dog Ranch Rescue and the Center for a Humane Economy.

Social media pages and news feeds are filled with videos and photos of happy, healthy dogs being transferred from the research dog breeding facility to shelters around the country. This offers the opportunity to reflect on the contribution of dogs to medical progress and to recognize the compassionate care provided for dogs and other animals needed for research.

Below is the statement:

Research involving dogs has played an important role in advancing both human and veterinary medicine, contributing to treatments and therapies that improve and save lives, including the lives of pets. From vaccines and surgical techniques to treatments for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other serious conditions, many medical advances relied on carefully conducted research involving animals alongside non-animal methods and human volunteers.

The dogs adopted from research programs, including those recently released from Ridglan Farms, are healthy, social, and loving animals because of the dedicated care they received from veterinarians, animal care professionals, and staff throughout their lives. The successful transition of research dogs into homes reflects the strong standards of care and commitment to animal well-being that exist within responsible research and breeding programs.

Everyone loves dogs and wants what is best for them. Whether someone works in research or not, we all share the same hopes: healthy lives for our families, effective treatments for our pets, and medical progress when illness strikes. At the same time, society depends on continued scientific advancement to develop new cures, vaccines, and therapies for both people and animals.

Today, achieving those breakthroughs still requires a combination of approaches, including animal research, non-animal technologies, and studies involving human volunteers. While the scientific community continues working to accelerate the development of alternative methods, it is important to do so realistically and responsibly. Until science reaches a point where animals are no longer needed in some areas of research, we must continue to honor and care for the animals that contribute to this essential work with compassion, respect, and the highest standards of welfare.

Download a PDF of the statement here.