Liberty Research
Liberty Research Inc. — an upstate New York facility that breeds and tests beagles and cats for companies including Merck, Zoetis, and Bayer. Subject of a 2017 PETA undercover investigation revealing thousands of dogs warehoused in filthy conditions on a factory farm.
Liberty Research Inc. is a laboratory animal breeding and contract testing facility in upstate New York. Unlike pure breeders like Marshall or Ridglan, Liberty both breeds animals and conducts testing for pharmaceutical clients — combining the supply and demand sides of the beagle trade under one roof.
The Facility
- Location — Waverly, New York (upstate)
- Species — beagles and cats
- Business model — breeds dogs and cats for research AND conducts contract testing for clients
- Known clients — Merck, Zoetis, Bayer1
- USDA licenses — Class A (breeder) and research facility
The 2017 PETA Investigation
In 2017, PETA released an undercover video exposé of Liberty Research that described:2
- Thousands of beagles warehoused in filthy cages on a factory-farm-style operation
- Dogs and cats bred specifically for sale to or testing by pharmaceutical companies
- Conditions described as factory farming applied to companion animals
The investigation generated significant media coverage and public attention, contributing to broader awareness of the beagle breeding industry.
Relationship to Other Facilities
Liberty Research occupies a distinct niche — it is both a breeder and a testing facility. Most other major players are either:
- Pure breeders (Marshall, Ridglan, Envigo) — breed and sell dogs but don't conduct the testing
- Pure CROs (Charles River, Labcorp, Altasciences) — conduct testing but purchase dogs from breeders
Liberty's dual role means it can offer clients a vertically integrated service: breed the dog, test the drug, report the results.
Current Status
Liberty Research continues to operate. It has not faced enforcement action on the scale of Envigo or Ridglan, despite the 2017 PETA investigation. Its current dog population and recent USDA inspection history are not prominently documented in public reporting.
Sources
- 1.The Intercept, May 17, 2018. "Inside the Barbaric U.S. Industry of Dog Experimentation." Liberty Research identified as breeding and selling dogs/cats for Merck, Zoetis, Bayer.
- 2.PETA Investigations, 2017. Undercover video exposé of Liberty Research Inc.