Michigan lab announces end to study that allegedly force-fed pesticides to beagles

MATTAWAN, Mich. (FOX 2) - A Michigan lab at the center of an undercover investigation last week has announced it's ending a controversial study on dogs. 

In an undercover investigation, the Humane Society of the United States said it witnessed dogs being force-fed fungicides at a laboratory in Michigan - and that the dogs would be euthanized this summer as part of the test. The society then pushed for the immediate release of the animals from the lab, which is in Mattawan, Mich., about 150 miles west of Detroit. 

On Monday, Corteva Agriscience, the agriculture division of DowDuPont, announced they were stopping the study and would make every effort to rehome the animals.

Their statement said they received word on Monday from test regulators in Brazil that the test was no longer required for that product, so they ended the study immediately.  Corteva Agriscience had also earlier said they were working with the Brazilian team to amend animal test requirements. 

According to the Humane Society's undercover investigation, the Michigan lab was hired to use 36 beagles in a yearlong pesticide test for a new product being developed by Corteva Agriscience. The society said their investigator saw beagles being force-fed fungicides, with some subjected to very high doses. The report alleges that in some cases up to four capsules were shoved down the dogs' throats.

The society also alleged the dogs being tested on who hadn't already died from the pesticides would be euthanized in July 2019 so their organs could be assessed for damage. 

The Humane Society also shared the news that the study had ended on social media Monday night. 

"We are grateful they have taken this significant step, and we hope they will now work with us to re-home these animals so they get to experience life outside of a laboratory," the society wrote.

Corteva Agriscience says they're making every effort to rehome the animals that were part of the study.

Fox 2 reported on this story from Southfield, Mich.