Vézelay, Yonne – After three years spent within the confines of an animal experimentation laboratory, a beagle named Tamara has finally experienced the outside world, thanks to the dedication of the Beagles of Burgundy association.
A Beagle’s Tentative Steps to Freedom
Table of Contents
- A Beagle’s Tentative Steps to Freedom
- From Survival to Pleasure
- Virginia Mouseler
- President of Beagles of Burgundy
- “Almost a year after leaving the laboratory, Tamara is unrecognizable. She asserts her character, reveals her emotions and knows how to make herself understood perfectly. Sometimes she still freezes when we approach her and jumps at unfamiliar noises. But more and more rarely.”
- Victory for Tamara
- Beagles of Burgundy
- From Survival to Pleasure
A remarkable story of recovery and a second chance at life for a dog once confined to a lab.
- It took Tamara 11 minutes to emerge from her transport crate and cautiously explore the grass.
- The Beagles of Burgundy association has rescued over 550 beagles from research facilities.
- Tamara, now affectionately called Victoire, is learning to trust and enjoy life outside the lab.
The scene was striking. It took Tamara, a beagle, 11 minutes to summon the courage to leave her transport crate. She’d spent three years in a laboratory. Before her, the grass undulated gently, an entirely unknown world. Accustomed to an enclosed space and a controlled environment, the beagle hesitated, trembled, then advanced cautiously. She sniffed, tasted the green sprigs as if to verify that this new reality really existed. Every step was an effort, and every movement a victory. At that moment, freedom began to take root.
From a laboratory crate to a sweet basket
From Survival to Pleasure
At the Maison des Beagles Libres in Vézelay, Yonne, Tamara is learning everyday gestures. The bowl initially intimidated her, and kibble surprised her. But she gradually understood that eating was no longer synonymous with stress, but a moment of comfort. Her tail wags again, confidence is reborn, even though her past has left its mark.
Virginia Mouseler
President of Beagles of Burgundy
“Almost a year after leaving the laboratory, Tamara is unrecognizable. She asserts her character, reveals her emotions and knows how to make herself understood perfectly. Sometimes she still freezes when we approach her and jumps at unfamiliar noises. But more and more rarely.”
A beagle who gets a taste for life again
Victory for Tamara
Today, Tamara is progressing every day. At 4 years old, she dared to cuddle and discovered the comfort of a basket. She surprises her caretakers day after day with her progress and curiosity, showering them with affection. They’ve renamed her Victoire – Victory.
A renewed appetite
Beagles of Burgundy
Founded in 2019, Beagles of Burgundy rescues beagles used in scientific research around the world. Welcomed in Burgundy, these dogs learn to live freely before being put up for adoption. More than 550 beagles have already found a second life.
