For most small dogs, activities like playing with toys and going on walks come naturally. But when Yvonne Horan first brought home her beagle, Barkley, these simple joys were completely foreign to him.

Barkley spent five long years confined to an animal testing lab. When the lab finally released him, Horan welcomed him into her home through Kindness Ranch Animal Sanctuary, the only U.S. sanctuary dedicated to rescuing animals used in research.

Horan doesn’t know exactly what Barkley endured in the lab, but the signs of his suffering are clear. Nearly all of his teeth were removed, leaving him with more than just physical scars.

“He didn’t know what treats were … He didn’t know how to play with our other two small dogs,” Horan shared with The Dodo.

Rather than dwell on Barkley’s painful past, Horan focuses on giving him the best life possible.

“We try not to think of the past,” Horan said. “[We] just think, ‘OK, let’s be in the moment and just give him the best life we can for the rest of his life.’”

In the two months since Horan adopted Barkley, she’s been helping him adjust to a new world filled with love and kindness. Teaching him how to walk on a leash and getting him comfortable with being held have been just the beginning. Thankfully, Horan’s other two dogs have served as wonderful “role models” for Barkley, guiding him through this new chapter in his life.

Barkley’s new siblings have been especially instrumental in showing him one of the greatest joys of doggy life — playing with toys. Horan’s other beagle, Arthur, has a playful habit of carrying toys from inside the house to the backyard. For a while, Barkley just watched Arthur’s playful routine, too unsure to join in.

Slowly, he started sniffing the toys, and then one day, out of the blue, we witnessed a miracle.
“He just went over and grabbed [the toy] and started running around the backyard. He just looked so happy. His tail was wagging, and we were just so excited,” Horan recalled.

It might shock some to learn that testing on small dogs like beagles remains widespread. Horan hopes that sharing Barkley’s story will inspire more people to research the effects of animal testing.

“There are still dogs out there that this is happening to [who] need homes afterward,” Horan said.

Thankfully for Barkley, he’s now surrounded by love and learning to embrace the joys of life. He’s quickly become an expert at playing with toys, and the happiness he brings to his family is immeasurable. While some might say Barkley is lucky to have found such a patient and loving home, Horan sees it differently.

“We’re the ones who are really lucky,” she said.