Dogs earn their title as man’s best friend, but unfortunately, man isn’t always kind to dogs in return. Beagles are known for their friendly nature and their small size makes them a great pet, but some people have found a different use for them.

Beagles are commonly used for animal testing because of their patient nature. The loud barking that is typical of a hound is easily remedied by clipping their vocal cords. Most people don’t realize these playful pups are used in laboratory testing because the dogs are often euthanized when the testing is complete.

Melanie Kaplan owns a beagle that was rescued from a lab. She says it is often hard to tell what tests the dogs underwent as the signs can all be different. Her dog, for example, has an old leg injury. Numerous agencies are trying to ban the practices, and other groups are working to get the dogs from the laboratories to loving homes.

The Beagle Freedom Project rescues beagles from a Las Vegas laboratory. The video below shows the dogs as they get to experience grass and sunshine for the first time. Previously they’d been kept in small indoor cages and only identified by numbers tattooed inside of their ears.

The dogs joyfully sniffed the grass and played with each other once they were brave enough to run out of their kennels. They were still wary of human contact, but after a bit of time outdoors, they began to let down their guard.

Check out the video below of the beagle’s first steps outside and be sure to share this happy occasion with your family and friends.