For the first time in their lives, many beagles rescued from Wisconsin’s controversial Ridglan Farms are learning how to be dogs. After spending years in a breeding facility that supplied animals for laboratory research, hundreds of the dogs are now settling into their forever homes, where they’re encountering grass, stairs, toys and affection for the first time.

Paws of War Helps Train Dogs

Paws of War co-founder Robert Misseri said during a segment on ‘My View with Lara Trump’ that the dogs ‘right now don’t even know they’re dogs.’ His organization helps train and place shelter dogs to assist U.S. military veterans suffering from the emotional effects of war. The group took 10 beagles into their care upon their release.

The dogs were among a group that was transferred from the facility after state investigators uncovered alleged violations of animal welfare laws, prompting a rescue effort that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called a ‘major win for animal welfare.’ Adapting to life outside the controversial facility takes time. Stepping onto the grass, climbing up stairs and learning to be around humans poses a challenge for some time.

Director of Adoptions Jodie Cohen described how the group helps the ‘traumatized little souls,’ from interviewing veterans and first responders to find good matches for the dogs, to teaching the dogs how to perform basic skills. ‘They’ve never been walked on leashes, so we have to carry them out,’ she said. ‘We have to teach them how to go potty. We teach them to keep their runs clean and basically get them ready for adoption.’

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.