Nives Ilic, an animal advocate residing in Ottawa, shares her experience in this First Person column. To explore more First Person stories, refer to the FAQ.
The night Mack nestled in my embrace for the first time, I barely shifted. He fit snugly in the space between my chest and arm, holding on tightly as if afraid of being separated. I remained still, fearing any movement might disturb or alarm him.
Mack’s initial six years transpired within a research facility.
Despite my prior involvement in animal welfare, including fostering and adopting homeless animals and offering comfort to animals in distress, I underestimated the impact of welcoming a former research dog like Mack into my home.
Last year, I actively engaged in a campaign led by Animal Justice following the exposure of dog experiments at St. Joseph’s Hospital in London, Ont., where dogs endured prolonged heart attacks before being euthanized. Participating in a vigil and advocating for the cessation of these experiments shed light on the hidden cruelty. The public outcry led to the closure of the hospital’s dog lab in August 2025.
Learning about the suffering these animals endured and witnessing communities unite to protect them evoked a blend of sorrow and hope, fueling my determination to aid animals facing similar plights.
Concurrently, I was approved as a foster caregiver by The Beagle Alliance, a rescue organization dedicated to rehabilitating former lab dogs.
In October, I journeyed from Ottawa to London to collect Mack, one of ten dogs released from a research facility. Unaware of Mack’s identity until that moment, I was assigned to adopt him.
Due to confidentiality agreements, the exact details of Mack’s past in the lab remain unknown. Signing a contract highlighting potential PTSD, anxiety, and fear-based behaviors in dogs like Mack, I anticipated the distressing experiences he might have encountered, leaving me utterly saddened.
As we journeyed home, Mack’s fear was palpable in his trembling. His dread of the building’s elevator, indicated by uncontrollable shaking and urination, hinted at his past experiences.
