A company that breeds animals for medical testing has been fined a record $35m (£27m) after 4,000 beagles were rescued from its facility in Virginia in 2022.

The fine against Envigo RMS LLC for animal cruelty is the largest fine ever issued under the Animal Welfare Act, according to the US Department of Justice (DoJ).

“Envigo promoted a business culture that prioritized profit and convenience over following the law,” Christopher Kavanaugh, the US attorney for the Western District of Virginia, said in a statement.

“This callous approach led to dire consequences: the inhumane treatment of animals and the contamination of our waterway,” he said.

Envigo’s parent company, Inotiv, has agreed to pay the record eight-figure settlement. It has also agreed to not breed dogs for the next five years.

    • TranscendentalEmpire@lemm.ee
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      5 months ago

      I think that’s somewhat of a pedantic place to draw a line in the sand. I could just as correctly claim that if you aren’t committed to civil disobedience and are still paying taxes, then you are part of the problem. You are vegan, but you’re still supporting a government that spends hundreds of millions of dollars perpetuating animal cruelty on a daily basis?

      Just because you aren’t vegan doesn’t mean you can’t believe that animals should be treated in a more ethical manner. Veganism is a imperfect human construct filled with internal contradictions based on western interpretation of ethics and cultural mores.

      • Riven@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        5 months ago

        I bet that person also buys products that are either based on stuff that has had animal testing or actively does it. Bet they’re vaccinated.

    • bazus1@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      Get a load of this reformed beagle-eater here. Good on you for stopping eating dog, but most of us don’t share that life-challenge.

    • xmunk@sh.itjust.works
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      5 months ago

      It’s insane how colonial veganism has become. It’s quite possible to be thankful to the animals and plants that give their lives to sustain you and quite eurocentric to view those two positions as incompatible.

        • xmunk@sh.itjust.works
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          5 months ago

          It is extremely awesome that you read “some cultures treat meat consumption differently” and replied, “you’re wrong” without any further comprehension of that difference. That is an excellent demonstration of how bull headed colonizers can be when pushing an agenda.

          • Sizzler@slrpnk.net
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            5 months ago

            It’s excellent to see how proudly you wear that chip on your shoulder. You are wrong, and me pointing out there are 250 million Indians who are vegan shows how wrong you are. Lose the hate, get with the program.

            3 animal abusers are upset lol.

            • ASeriesOfPoorChoices@lemmy.world
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              5 months ago

              based on your posts, you’ve convinced me to shoot squirrels with a pellet gun all afternoon.

              it won’t kill them, not quickly. But I figure making a couple dozen animals suffer and die a slow death in my neighbour’s yard will create a nice balance.

    • kandoh@reddthat.com
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      5 months ago

      You’re right, it’s just so hard because it’s all I’ve known and it’s everywhere around me 😔

    • Crackhappy@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      I have never been persuaded to loathe myself as much as I am now, after reading your comment. Thank you.

    • NoIWontPickAName@kbin.earth
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      5 months ago

      When steak stops tasting good, or they finally nail lab grown meat at a low enough cost, maybe I’ll join you.