The decision of the US District Court, Norman Moon, comes as the owners of the facility are preparing to close it permanently, WRIC-TV reported. Last month, federal officials blamed Cumberland County facilities for a series of animal welfare violations and seized nearly 150 beagles. Envigo will only be allowed to transport greyhounds to customers who signed dog contracts before May 21, when a court issued a temporary restraining order against the company for serious breaches of animal welfare law. Indianapolis-based Envigo breeds greyhounds for medical research at the facility, raising concerns from animal rights groups, members of Congress and Virginia lawmakers. “There is good reason to believe that the public interest would be better served by allowing the accused to fulfill his contracts,” Moon wrote. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals opposed the decision to allow Envigo to sell some of the dogs. Prosecutors have tried to bar the company from making sales, with the aim of forcing the company to put the animals up for adoption. Prosecutors and Envigo have until Wednesday to decide how to transport all 3,000 dogs from the facility.
