Australia Opens First Adoption Center for Lab Animals

After nine years of rescuing lab animals from research facilities and placing them in foster homes, Paula Wallace finally has a permanent space to save even more lives.

The Liberty Adoption Centre opened this week in Wyong, New South Wales, becoming Australia's first facility dedicated solely to rehoming small animals used in scientific research. The center houses up to 120 rabbits, rats, mice, and guinea pigs at a time, giving them a chance to experience life beyond laboratory walls.

"This is a landmark for animal welfare in Australia," Wallace said as she walked through the purpose-built facility filled with spacious enclosures. Since 2017, her Liberty Foundation has helped almost 1,000 small animals find their forever homes.

The animals come from over 300 accredited research facilities across New South Wales, used for everything from human disease research to product testing. While organizations must report the fate of research dogs and cats, smaller animals fly under the radar. Animals Australia estimates hundreds of thousands are euthanized each year.

Monika Ryniewicz and Ignacio Larralde became what they call "foster failures" after taking in three rats last year. They couldn't imagine letting them go.

"They're like little mini pocket dogs that just make everything a little adventure," Ryniewicz said. "They know their spot on the couch, they know who's going to give them more snacks. They're very smart."

Wallace agrees, calling rats "the dogs of the rodent world" for their ability to mirror human emotions and form deep bonds with their families. Her experience with hundreds of these animals over the years has shown her they're just as capable of love and companionship as any cat or dog.

Gemma Field fostered three New Zealand White Rabbits who initially seemed shut down from their laboratory life. With time and love, they transformed into playful, affectionate pets. "They've helped people with the research and now it's their time to have a break," Field said.

The Ripple Effect

The center's opening is already changing how Australians think about research animals. Many adopters had no idea how many animals are used in testing each year, sparking important conversations about their welfare.

While rehoming research animals isn't mandatory in NSW, it's encouraged wherever possible. The Liberty Foundation relies entirely on donations, and though a NSW government grant made the opening possible, ongoing funding remains uncertain.

Centre manager Nadia Capliss remains hopeful that the facility will inspire more research institutions to give their animals a second chance at life. More than half the current residents are rats, who now spend their days climbing play gyms instead of living in cages.

Every animal that walks through these doors trades a lifetime of fluorescent lights for sun-soaked naps on couches and the warmth of human hands that ask for nothing in return.