Meghan Markle and Prince Harry adopt 'traumatized' beagle | CTB NEWS

The 'traumatized' senior former research beagle has been adopted by Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.

The royal couple of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are expecting their first child.

Momma Mia, an elderly beagle, was rescued from a Virginia breeding facility run by Envigo RMS and adopted by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex last month.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are the kindest, most kind, and most attentive adoptive parents I've ever come across. Attorney Shannon Keith, who manages BFP and advocates for animals' rights, told PEOPLE. They have been a great supporter of the Beagle Freedom Project, and we are grateful that they adopted a puppy from our shelter that had been mistreated.

When faced with a choice between adopting a puppy or an older dog, the couple went with the latter.

They adopted an elderly rescue dog named Mia who has health problems and emotional scars from her past, as Keith puts it.

"Their dedication to animal care blew me away. They have been in touch to tell us that Momma Mia is thriving in her new, wonderful home."

Over the course of the day, 4,000 beagles like Momma Mia were removed from the facility and transferred to various animal shelters across the country.

The New York Times reported that an inquiry into the facility that breeds the dogs for medical research revealed evidence of underfed, unwell, and damaged pups, as well as dogs who were euthanized rather than receiving medical attention.

The company did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment, but a representative from Envigo's parent company, Inotiv, said, "Envigo has worked cooperatively with the Department of Justice to facilitate the orderly transfer of canines from our Cumberland, Virginia, facility to various adoption and sheltering agencies through a third-party organization."

"Our goal at Envigo is to facilitate our clients' ability to conduct cutting-edge medical and scientific studies, which will, in turn, lead to substantial advancements in the quality of life for humans and other sentient beings. Our primary concern has always been and always will be for the well-being of animals."

According to the Los Angeles Times, after Momma Mia and her litter of eight puppies were initially housed in Maryland, she was transferred to the Beagle Freedom Project's rescue facility in San Fernando Valley.

Prince Harry, who is 37, and Markle, who is 41, have given her a loving, permanent home.

Keith told the L.A. Times, "The duchess called me directly," about the beginning of the royal adoption process. But Keith mistook her for another Meghan who was just as well-known.

"Hey Shannon, this is Meghan," Keith recalls her saying when she contacted his cell phone without showing up in Caller ID. We chatted for half an hour before I asked myself, "Is this Megan Fox?"

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, along with Prince Harry and two bodyguards, paid a visit to the rescue center, a charming San Fernando Valley house where Keith once resided, after learning that Markle was the person she had been corresponding with.

After spending time with Momma Mia in the backyard, the two decided to bring her in permanently.

They were set on getting a "older" dog, and the Duchess was seen petting Mia and declaring, "We're adopting her," according to Keith. ""No, we don't want a Christmas puppy," she firmly stated. We're looking for the elderly ones so we can aid them."

Markle has already taken in a rescued beagle. She adopted Guy in 2015, not long after he was brought into A Dog's Dream Rescue.

Markle contacted the organization through email at the time after viewing its Petfinder profile. A Dog's Dream Rescue owner and founder Dolores Doherty agreed, and she sent Markle an adoption application through email. Ten minutes later, she brought it back finished.

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Doherty extended an invitation to visit the pet store where her group would be holding an adoption event soon. Doherty had previously told PEOPLE that Markle's civility, self-awareness, and "her beauty really shone out" when she met Markle at the event.

After meeting Guy and going on a trial walk with him, Markle immediately fell for him.

After the former Suits star shared multiple images of herself cuddling with Guy to her (now deleted) Instagram account, Doherty realized she had made the right choice in adopting out Guy to Meghan.