Key Takeaways:
- On January 1, 2027, Ontario’s historic ban on invasive medical experiments on dogs and cats will take effect.
- Nucro-Technics is a lab in the Greater Toronto area that conducts experiments on animals on contract for other companies. They are the largest private on-contract lab in Canada.
- Undercover footage from Nucro-Technics shows brutal experiments on beagles used for research.
- Animal Justice is calling on Nucro-Technics to choose compassion and rehome lab dogs as Ontario’s ban approaches.
- Canadian rescue organizations are prepared to help rehome lab dogs and cats, and Nucro-Technics has indicated it has previously permitted some animal adoptions after experimentation.
Everything is about to change for dogs and cats in Ontario’s hidden laboratories. Starting January 1, 2027, invasive medical experiments on these companion animals will be illegal under Bill 75, giving thousands a chance to find loving homes. However, researchers often kill animals at the end of experiments, making adoption tragically rare.
As the deadline approaches, we are urging labs to choose compassion and allow lab dogs and cats used in their experiments to be rehomed with loving families.
Shocking Experiments on Dogs at Nucro-Technics
A recent report by the Investigative Journalism Bureau (IJB) and undercover footage from Last Chance for Animals revealed horrific experiments taking place inside Nucro-Technics, Canada’s largest contract research operation located in Toronto. Investigators documented what these beagles were forced to endure.
The investigation showed:
- Dogs whimpering, struggling, vomiting, and crying during tests
- Dogs being roughly handled and held down while substances are administered orally
- Dogs confined in cages, repeatedly turning in circles—indicative of mental distress
- Dogs being forcefully administered substances through tubes down their throats
- Dogs reportedly watching other dogs suffering in experiments
- Dogs’ legs reportedly being tied together to stop them from struggling during invasive tests
- Dogs killed and disposed of like garbage
Nucro-Technics has acquired beagles from Ridglan Farms, a mass US breeding facility that was facing a state investigation into animal cruelty. There is no indication that Nucro-Technics conducts experiments on cats.
Animal Justice Exposé Sparks Historic New Law
In 2025, Animal Justice helped brave whistleblowers expose a secret dog testing lab at St. Joseph’s Hospital in London, Ontario. Researchers deliberately induced heart attacks in dogs for up to three hours before letting them recover, killing them, and harvesting their organs.
Just days after the investigation was made public, St. Joseph’s committed to ending its experiments on dogs. Shortly afterward, Ontario Premier Doug Ford pledged to end dog and cat testing across the province. Surviving dogs from St. Joseph’s have since been adopted.
Bill 75, which amends the Animals for Research Act, was subsequently introduced and passed, marking the world’s first ban on invasive dog and cat medical experiments! The ban takes effect on January 1, 2027.
Labs Have a Duty to Rehome Lab Dogs & Cats
Labs like Nucro-Technics must choose compassion and begin to rehome dogs and cats immediately. All surviving animals should be given a second chance at life.
There are specialized Canadian organizations who are highly experienced in transitioning animals from laboratories into homes. These groups provide comprehensive behavioural assessments, dedicated decompression periods, and thorough adopter screening.
As the new year deadline approaches, multiple rescue groups are already prepared to house dogs and cats from Canadian labs. Labs have no excuse to kill them.
A dead dog being thrown in the trash. Photo: Last Chance for Animals
Take Action: Tell Nucro-Technics to Rehome Lab Dogs
Animal Justice has reached out to Nucro-Technics, urging the company to commit to a formal rehoming plan for any dogs and cats in its lab. Animal Justice has offered to help with rehoming before the January 1 deadline, but the lab did not accept. Nucro-Technics told IJB that it has previously permitted some animal adoptions.
Urge the facility to commit to allowing the adoption of lab dogs and cats before the Ontario ban takes effect!
Banner photo: Last Chance for Animals
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Ontario’s ban on invasive dog testing take effect?
- Ontario’s ban on a range of invasive experiments on dogs and cats, including procedures that cause extreme pain, severe distress, or death takes full effect on January 1, 2027.
- These rules build on the groundbreaking passage of Bill 75, which amended Ontario’s Animals for Research Act and brought the world’s first ban on the use of cats and dogs in invasive experiments.
What is Nucro-Technics, and what was exposed there?
- Nucro-Technics is a lab in the Greater Toronto area that conducts experiments on animals on contract for other companies. They are the largest private on-contract lab in Canada.
- Undercover footage from Last Chance for Animals and a report by the Investigative Journalism Bureau exposed horrific experiments on dogs at the facility.
- Beagles at Nucro-Technics have been acquired from the mass US breeding facility Ridglan Farms, which has faced a state investigation into animal cruelty.
- Investigative findings at Nucro-Technics documented dogs whimpering, vomiting, being roughly handled, and forcefully administered substances through throat tubes.
- Dogs were confined in cages showing signs of mental distress, such as spinning repeatedly in circles.
- Dogs were killed at the end of experiments and thrown out like garbage.
- You can view the full investigation footage on YouTube.
Why is there an urgent need to rehome lab dogs and cats now?
- Research facilities often kill animals at the end of experiments rather than placing them into loving homes.
- With the January 1, 2027 ban approaching, labs must choose compassion and allow lab dogs and cats used in their experiments to be rehomed. Animal Justice is urging Ontario labs to do the right thing.
Are rescue organizations ready to help rehome these animals?
- Specialized Canadian rescue organizations are fully prepared to accept and transition lab dogs and cats into safe homes.
- These groups provide behavioral assessments, dedicated decompression periods, and thorough adopter screening.
- Because rescue groups are ready to assist, research facilities have no excuse to kill surviving animals.
How did public advocacy lead to Ontario’s historic testing ban?
- In 2025, an Animal Justice helped brave whistleblowers expose a secret dog testing lab at St. Joseph’s Hospital in London, Ontario.
- Dogs were used in cardiac arrest experiments and killed once the experiments were over.
- Public outrage forced the hospital to end dog testing, close the lab, and rehome all surviving dogs.
- The controversy prompted Ontario Premier Doug Ford to commit to a provincial ban on invasive cat and dog testing, leading to the passage of Bill 75.
How can you take action to help rehome dogs at Nucro-Technics?
- Animal Justice reached out to offer help with rehoming animals but the lab did not accept.
- Nucro-Technics has claimed they have previously permitted some dog adoptions.
- You can take action by urging Nucro-Technics to formally commit to rehoming all lab dogs before the ban takes effect.
