Virginia courts, Humane Society rescue, find homes for 4,000 beagles mistreated at research facility

An effort by Virginia courts and the federal government to shutter of a dog breeding-and-research facility over inhumane conditions has now moved into a large-scale effort to find new homes for as many as 4,000 beagles. 

The Envigio breeding and research facility was forced to shut down after a months-long Agriculture Department investigation concluded that conditions at the Cumberland, Va., facility were inhumane to the animals.

The investigation was followed by a Virginia District Court judge ordering the government to step in and oversee "the expeditious removal" of all dogs remaining at the facility.

The investigation found over 300 puppy deaths, small confinements for the dogs, underfeeding and temperatures as high as 90 degrees for extended periods of time. More than 70 animal violations were discovered.

In addition, the facility did not take any additional steps to determine the cause of death in order to prevent similar deaths in the future, according to CNN.

"After months of advocacy, we're heartened to know that nearly 4,000 Envigo dogs will be spared a lifetime of suffering and will instead head to loving homes," Virginia Democrat Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine said in a joint statement. 

The transfer of all the dogs will be paid for by the facility’s parent company, Inotiv, which has promised to "implement an orderly closure plan." 

The Justice Department and Humane Society have submitted a plan that would allow the dogs to be transferred in the next 60 days to Humane Society facilities across the country, where they will be put up for adoption.

The New York Times reports one volunteer drove from Minnesota to rescue on of the dogs.