Data & Visualizations

The numbers behind beagle testing — sourced, structured, and visualized.

42,880

dogs in US labs

FY2024

Source: USDA APHIS

97.3%

are beagles

UK data, 2004

Source: Home Office

1–3 yrs

lab beagle lifespan

Normal: 12–15

$1M+

per chronic study

Dog costs <0.2%

Source: EPA

1–3 yrs

Lab beagle lifespan

12–15 yrs

Normal beagle lifespan

$1,100

Cost of the dog

<0.2%

$1,023,800

Cost of the study

42,880

US dogs (FY2024)

↓ 9.2% from FY2023

Source: USDA APHIS

410

Column E (no relief)

↓ from 450 (FY2023)

Source: USDA APHIS

$1.08B

OOC market by 2031

↑ 32% CAGR from $154M

Key Finding

The headline decline from 211,104 dogs (1979) to 42,880 (2024) masks a structural shift: teaching and basic research use shrank dramatically, but regulated toxicology testing — the core of beagle demand — has actually increased.

Dogs in US Regulated Research, 1973–2024

From 211,104 at peak to 42,880 — but toxicology use has increased

The headline decline masks a structural shift: teaching and basic research shrank, but regulated toxicology — the core of beagle demand — grew.

Note: Pre-2016 values marked 'medium' are derived from NRC compilations. Pain categories available from 2022.

Source: USDA APHIS annual summaries; NRC 2009; National Academies 2020

How Dogs Suffer: USDA Pain Categories

FY2022–2024 — Column E (unrelieved pain) increased 20% from 2022 to 2023

The 410 dogs in Column E experience the full toxic effects of test substances — nausea, organ failure, seizures — without any pain mitigation.

Source: USDA APHIS Annual Report Summaries, FY2022–2024

Data Gap

Most jurisdictions track "dogs" not "beagles." Great Britain is the only country that reports breed — showing 97.3% beagles (2004) and 94% (2024). The true global beagle count is unknown.

Who's Watching? USDA vs DATCP at Ridglan

Same facility, same years. Radically different findings.

USDA violations

in 25 of 28 inspections

Same inspector every time

311

DATCP violations

same facility, same period

$55,148.50 in proposed fines

Welch alone

50%

With other staff

100%

With ACS

Source: Rise for Animals analysis of USDA inspection records; DATCP citations September 2025

Why This Matters

These visualizations are designed to be embedded in wiki articles. Each chart uses the Figure component for consistent presentation with title, source, note, and "why this matters" context.