#68 | Shannon Keith’s Legal Battle to End Animal Testing
🎧 Full Episode: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Can we end animal testing in our lifetime?
My guest today 🎙, Shannon Keith— the Animal Rights attorney who founded Beagle Freedom Project, — certainly believes it. She has made achieving that goal her life’s work.
Did you know that beagles, one of America’s most cherished dog breeds, are the most common canine victims of laboratory testing due to their extremely docile nature? This heartbreaking reality motivates Shannon Keith, our guest today, who is an animal rights lawyer and the founder of the Beagle Freedom Project.
Beagle Freedom Project is the world’s leading organization for rescuing and rehoming animals used in experimental research. Since 2010, they have liberated thousands of animals while working to end their abuse through education, advocacy, and legislation. Each day they move closer to their ultimate goal of a world without animal testing.
NEWSFLASH!
Beagle Freedom Project recently shut down a massive animal testing laboratory in Nowata, Oklahoma, effectively ending decades of cruel experimentation –and are converting into an animal sanctuary rehab and education center. Click here to watch the inspiring video!
Shannon Keith has not just pioneered rescue operations, but also spearheaded the integration of animal rights law into university curricula. Recognizing a glaring gap in legal education, Shannon took it upon herself to foster a new generation of legal advocates through her innovative courses on animal rights law.
These courses are not just academic; they have equipped future lawyers with the tools needed to challenge and change the existing legal framework surrounding animal welfare.
Beyond the classroom, Shannon has worked tirelessly to establish animal rights as a recognized legal specialty. This initiative has been crucial, as it has not only provided animals with the legal protection they desperately need but also legitimized the field, attracting more dedicated advocates to the cause. Through her relentless advocacy and educational efforts, Shannon has built a formidable force for change, ensuring that animal rights are no longer sidelined but are a central concern in the legal landscape
🎙️ Hear my full interview with Shannon Keith: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Learn more & get involved here
🎙️ In this episode, we discuss:
👉🏼 Shannon's transition from practicing lawyer to founding the Beagle Freedom Project and becoming a global animal rights advocate.
👉🏼 The daily operations at the Beagle Freedom Project, including rescue missions and rehabilitation, sharing touching stories of success along with the challenges they face.
👉🏼 The ethical dilemmas of using animals, specifically beagles, in laboratory testing.
👉🏼 How public figures like Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision to adopt an older beagle can inspire others to choose adoption.
👉🏼 The landmark FDA Modernization Bill of 2022 that eliminated mandatory animal testing for drug approval in the U.S., a significant achievement led by advocates including Shannon.
👉🏼 Ongoing efforts to pass state laws that require companies to release animals used in testing to shelters instead of euthanizing them.
👉🏼 Shannon's efforts to expand animal rights courses in universities and introduce animal advocacy into classrooms globally through the Beagle Freedom Project’s Classroom initiative.
👉🏼 The innovative Cruelty-Cutter app that helps consumers identify products tested on animals. 👉🏼 How you can support the Beagle Freedom Project and contribute to the fight against animal testing.
