Marshall BioResources Faces Call for Criminal Investigation
For years, Marshall BioResources has bred thousands upon thousands of dogs, cats, pigs, and ferrets for use in laboratories.
Now, we’ve joined animal protection organizations in formally calling for a criminal investigation into the treatment and killing of dogs at Marshall’s massive breeding facility in North Rose, New York.
On August 31, attorney and former federal prosecutor Bonnie Klapper submitted a criminal referral on behalf of the Coalition to Save the Marshall Dogs to the Wayne County District Attorney and Sheriff. We’re one of the participating organizations.
The referral draws on whistleblower testimony, photographs and video taken inside Marshall, federal inspection records, and an independent veterinary expert report. Klapper concluded that the evidence warrants an investigation into Marshall for violations of state animal-cruelty laws, including potential felony offenses.
Whistleblower alleges dogs killed while fully conscious
Among the most disturbing allegations is testimony from a former Marshall employee who says they were instructed to kill dogs by injecting sodium pentobarbital into their abdomens when they couldn’t access a vein.
According to the whistleblower’s account, the dogs weren’t sedated or anesthetized first. They described witnessing conscious dogs screaming, thrashing, and struggling after the injections—and even being instructed to re-inject the dogs if the first dose wasn’t lethal.
Veterinarian Dr. Sherstin Rosenberg reviewed the evidence and concluded that this method didn’t meet accepted standards for euthanasia. She wrote that the dogs showed signs consistent with “extreme physical pain” and that the killings represented an extreme departure from veterinary and animal-welfare standards.
The whistleblower also reported that healthy dogs were killed because Marshall needed cage space, because breeding females were no longer considered useful, and because dogs didn’t meet commercial preferences like eye color or tail shape.
The referral details still more alleged cruelty: dogs thrown into transport cages, puppies dying amid inadequate conditions, painful medical problems going untreated, animals confined around accumulated feces, and dogs subjected to restraint and mask training so distressing that one reportedly died on the table.
In 2024, an anonymous former employee of Marshall leaked the below video which appears to show beagles panicking during mask-training.
Federal oversight isn’t enough to protect animals
The USDA regulates Marshall under the federal Animal Welfare Act, but doesn’t enforce the state of New York’s criminal animal-cruelty laws.
The whistleblower alleged that Marshall often received advance notice of USDA inspections, causing employees to “panic clean” the facility and halt mask-training before inspectors arrived.
Alongside the Coalition to Save the Marshall Dogs, we’re fighting for the allegations against Marshall to receive the serious, independent investigation they demand. The Coalition’s referral letter urges the Wayne County District Attorney and Sheriff to:
- Open a criminal investigation into Marshall BioResources,
- Coordinate an unannounced inspection, and
- Take steps to seize and protect animals should the evidence warrant it.
You can take a stand with us
Thousands of animals remain confined at Marshall. Their safety relies on these allegations being taken seriously.
Send a message to Wayne County District Attorney Christine Callanan and Sheriff Robert Milby urging them to investigate these allegations and act to protect the thousands of animals confined at Marshall.
Tell Them: Investigate Marshall BioResources