Our Mission
At Brucie’s Angels Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, our mission is to provide compassionate and nurturing homes for animals released or retired from biomedical research laboratories. We are dedicated to offering both temporary and permanent loving environments for these animals who have played a crucial role in lifesaving research. We strive to educate the public about their health, well-being, and care while in the laboratories, while promoting a deeper understanding of the considerations necessary for their transition. By working collaboratively with the research community, we aim to ensure a seamless and supportive rehoming process, honoring the vital contributions these animals have made to advancing medical science.
It all started with one pig named Bruce…
My world was completely turned upside down in 2016 when a laboratory received an accidental shipment of a male pig instead of a female pig. They named the pig Bruce, but because he was not the sex they needed for research, he was scheduled to be euthanized. My heart bled for this pig, and I knew I could not sit by and let Bruce die for no reason.
After reaching out to the lab and making a case to take in Bruce, the lab agreed to surrender Bruce to me where he can live on my property for the remainder of his days. Bruce was my first farm pig and I immediately fell in love. My fate was sealed as a rescuer and I began to ask the lab for more animals.
Unfortunately, my time with Bruce was much shorter than anticipated. On April 30, 2018, Bruce unexpectantly passed away while getting a work up at Cornell. Prior to his arrival at Cornell, I noticed my Brucie was acting different and was worried something was wrong medically. Our local vet couldn’t determine the issue, and we agreed that if our home treatments weren’t working, we would send him to Cornell for the work up. He arrived on a Saturday, but the following Monday, I got the call. Bruce passed away due to a ruptured aorta due to erysipelas.
I thought after Brucie, I wouldn’t be able to take in any other pigs. My heart shattered with Bruce’s passing, who was only two years old, however, I knew I had to continue to save animals like my Brucie. My mission is inspired by Bruce and his story, and he will continue to be my angel and help guide me through every single rescue.