Melanie Kaplan
Journalist and author who adopted a former lab beagle and reported on animal research, writing the book 'Lab Dog' about animal testing and its ethical complexities.
Best podcasts with Melanie Kaplan
Ranked by the Snipd community
Dec 12, 2025 • 32min
The Ethics Of Animal Testing
Journalist Melanie Kaplan, author of 'Lab Dog', shares her poignant journey adopting Hammie, a lab beagle, sparking her investigation into animal testing ethics. She reveals the troubling statistics around animal use in research, especially beagles, and examines the limitations of the Animal Welfare Act. Kathleen Conley, from Humane World for Animals, discusses the push for alternatives in testing and the promise of innovations like organ chips. Both guests challenge the status quo, advocating for a transformation in how society views and treats research animals.
Oct 21, 2025 • 39min
Melanie Kaplan: Travels With a Beagle
Melanie Kaplan, a veteran journalist and travel writer, shares her heartfelt journey after adopting Hammy, a former lab beagle. She unpacks the troubling realities of animal research, revealing that over 95% of promising drugs fail in humans. Kaplan discusses the historical reasons behind beagles being used in labs and the welfare issues in commercial dog breeding. She advocates for innovative non-animal alternatives and emphasizes the importance of societal responsibility in animal research, all while recounting touching moments of Hammy's recovery and transformation.
