Rescued Beagles Reuniting on Sunday at Kennedy-Dells Park

Between 30 and 40 rescued beagles or “freegles” as they have been nicknamed and their families are expected to attend a one-year anniversary celebration at Kennedy-Dells Park on Sunday afternoon. More than 120 “freegles” were rescued from a medical research facility in Warren County, New Jersey in early July of 2010. The research lab was closing its doors. 

In addition to the beagles and their families, representatives from the animal rescue organizations involved in the original rescue will be joining the 12:30 p.m. gathering. According to Debbie Vobroucek, one of the organizers, there will be a potluck lunch and ceremony at 1:30 p.m. in the pavilion right by the park entrance. She anticipates up to 100 people may attend. 

One reason the group chose Kennedy-Dells was because it is central to everyone coming from all over the NY Metro area. Adopters come from Orange, Rockland, Sullivan, Bergen and Ulster counties, South Jersey, New York City and other places. Vobroucek says Rockland is in the middle and the park has a dog area, picnic facilities and access to water.   

Vobroucek has words of advice for people thinking of adopting a pet.

"It's very important for prospective dog adopters not to buy a pet from a pet store or breeder because there are many wonderful animals available that need to be rescued, just as we have done with the Freegles," says Vobroucek.

She keeps in touch with about 40 other families on Facebook as part of  a group called "Freegle Friends."  

The dogs, aged between two and five years old, had spent all their lives at the facility in cages. When news of the lab’s closing became known, animal rescue groups in New Jersey and New York stepped in to assist in finding homes for the dogs. All of the dogs were adopted.