The U.S. Department of Justice and Environmental Protection Agency revealed that the former owner of a dog breeding facility in Virginia has been slapped with a groundbreaking $35 million fine. This unprecedented penalty comes as a result of the mistreatment endured by over 4,000 beagles.
Envigo Global Services Inc., located in Cumberland County, 64 miles east of Richmond, has pleaded guilty to violating the Animal Welfare Act. As a result, the company has been ordered to pay a record fine under the act.
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The company has also admitted guilt for knowingly violating the Clean Water Act. The sentencing is scheduled for October 7th, and the news release did not mention any specific individuals implicated in the case.
In 2022, the breeder surrendered the beagles.
The company has made a commitment to stop breeding or selling dogs at their facility.
The Animal Welfare Act establishes the basic standards of care for animals that are kept in captivity, utilized for research or education purposes, or sold to the public.
The federal agencies have reported that Envigo RMS, a subsidiary of Inotiv like Envigo Global Services, did not meet the required standards for veterinary care, staffing, and safe living conditions for the dogs at their facility.
According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Envigo Global Services not only operated and maintained the wastewater treatment plant at the facility but also caused significant harm by illegally discharging inadequately treated wastewater into a nearby waterway. This reckless action also had adverse effects on the health and well-being of the dogs at the facility.
“Envigo not only committed heinous animal welfare crimes but also violated the Clean Water Act, causing harm to public health and the well-being of the animals under their care,” commented Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This landmark animal welfare case affected numerous individuals – the workers, the beagles, the environment, and the community. Envigo’s record fine is well-deserved and reflects the severity of their actions.”
The entities have been sentenced to three to five years of probation and are required to pay a total criminal fine of $22 million, with $11 million for each violation.
Envigo has agreed to pay around $1.1 million to the Virginia Animal Fighting Task Force and approximately $1.9 million to the Humane Society of the United States as compensation for the direct assistance they provided during the investigation.
According to the department, a sum of $3.5 million will be allocated to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in order to support the restoration and preservation of the environment and ecosystems in Cumberland County. A minimum of $500,000 from this amount will be utilized for the acquisition of riparian wetland or riparian land situated within or adjacent to Cumberland.
Inotiv, a provider of live animals and related products and services to various industries in animal testing such as pharmaceutical and biotechnology, government, academia, and other life science organizations, has issued a statement expressing remorse. The company acknowledges its involvement in the crimes detailed in the charging document and recognizes that it failed to make the necessary infrastructure upgrades and hire sufficient staff, resulting in a shortfall in their standards for animal and environmental welfare. In light of this, Inotiv extends its sincere apologies to the public for the harm caused by their actions. As they resolve this matter, they reaffirm their commitment to upholding the highest standards of animal care and to the well-being of the communities and environments in which they operate. They also express their hope that others will learn from their experience.
