A celebrity couple in China who adopted an injured laboratory dog have drawn attention to the plight of animals used for research.
On June 23, Chinese actress Huo Siyan posted a video on Xiaohongshu, recounting how she and her actor husband Du Jiang discovered a wounded beagle by the roadside.
In the video, the couple are seen rescuing the shivering dog from bushes and then taking it to a vet, where medical checks revealed it had just given birth and was malnourished.
Vets found a number on its ears, which showed the animal had been used in laboratory experiments. An ultrasound test revealed its spleen was missing.
Online sources indicate that beagles are internationally recognised as a breed used in biomedical research.
Since the US began using beagles for research in 1950, other countries have followed suit, with China officially using them since 1964, according to Beagle Commune, a well-known mainland rescue organisation.
Experiments on beagles range from topical and internal drugs testing to assessing blade sharpness, and in vivo extraction.
Moved by the plight of the dog, the couple decided to adopt it and named it Pearl, because to them it is as precious as a gem.
Du comforted the animal, covering the marking on its ears with his hand, saying: “Pearl, my good girl, let’s forget your past and live well together from now on.”
At the end of the video Huo wrote: “Posting this video wasn’t meant to blame anyone. Animal testing is still a necessary part of human scientific development. We thank laboratory beagles for their contributions and hope more attention is given to the retired ones.”
Research shows that the traits of beagles make them ideal for animal testing.
They endure pain well, recover quickly, are easier to train and their intestinal structure closely resembles that of humans.
On June 27, Du posted another video documenting Pearl’s new life.
It showed her struggling with stairs due to growing up in a cage, and Du noted that Pearl prefers quiet corners for sleeping and shows little interest in the outdoors.
When playing basketball with the dog, their son said: “I heard you haven’t seen sunny lawns. I will show you more in the future.”
The celebrity couple has 18 million followers on Weibo, which has helped raise awareness of retired laboratory beagles.
After the posts about Pearl, topics related to laboratory dogs topped the trending list for several days on mainland social media.
The Beagle Commune’s founder, Spencer, posted on Weibo that the celebrity couple’s influence has led to over 3,000 applications to adopt.
“Retired beagles often carry skin diseases, gastrointestinal problems, and are sensitive, vocal, and socially awkward, often with anxiety,” Spencer said.
“All adopters must consider these issues seriously. Please do not adopt impulsively without full awareness and preparation. This would be unfair and irresponsible to beagles.”
The plight of beagles has sparked a heated discussion on mainland social media.
“If it weren’t for the celebrity couple adopting Pearl, I might never have known about laboratory beagles,” one online observer wrote on Weibo.
“I hope Pearl can live happily in her new home. Thanks to every laboratory animal for their sacrifices for humanity,” another said.
