author of LAB DOG independent journalist travel • science • animals esp. beagles linktr.ee/melaniedgkaplan newsletter/book updates @ https://melaniedgkaplan.com/contact.htmlhttps://bsky.app/profile/melaniedgkaplan.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/melaniedgkaplan.bsky.social/post/3mr646mrnas2kWant to learn more about the documentary I was interviewed for, narrated by awesome animal advocate Edie Falco? PETA does a nice job summarizing the film here. #labdogbook, #animalresearch https://www.peta.org/news/the-new-gold-standard/21 Jul 2026 15:18 +0000at://did:plc:66xmlggk4gs324jryipuceci/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr646mrnas2khttps://bsky.app/profile/melaniedgkaplan.bsky.social/post/3mr3bdmzvq225Part of Bethesda Magazine's Eastern Shore getaway series--my piece on St. Michaels. I'm a particular fan of Book Hounds (where you can meet resident dog Willie Nelson), because, well, obvs. https://bethesdamagazine.com/2026/07/13/from-bethesda-magazine-best-of-st-michaels/20 Jul 2026 12:12 +0000at://did:plc:66xmlggk4gs324jryipuceci/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr3bdmzvq225https://bsky.app/profile/melaniedgkaplan.bsky.social/post/3mqm6tiytwc2nThanks to Sheehy Subaru of Springfield for being such a good friend to dogs! What a fun event Saturday. Dogs adopted from Homeward Trails, books signed by a happy author, and former lab beagles spoiled, as they should be. #labdogbook, #beagle, #animalresearch14 Jul 2026 12:18 +0000at://did:plc:66xmlggk4gs324jryipuceci/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqm6tiytwc2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/melaniedgkaplan.bsky.social/post/3mq2cpee3ac2gCome join me and a few former lab dogs Saturday for a summer celebration of dogs at Sheehy Subaru of Springfield! I'll be there signing books (RSVP at the link below for a FREE copy of Lab Dog) and there will be FREE adoptions through Homeward Trails. See you there! https://forms.gle/RiCGEVnJKM9LVwvp907 Jul 2026 09:39 +0000at://did:plc:66xmlggk4gs324jryipuceci/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq2cpee3ac2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/melaniedgkaplan.bsky.social/post/3mpobiezpus2oSometimes the planets align and a story idea leads to an assignment and everything about it is magical. This is one of those times. @protectparks.bsky.social https://www.npca.org/articles/11394-of-ice-heart?_gl=1%2A1na9p79%2A_up%2AMQ..%2A_ga%2ANjE1MDcyMTI5LjE3ODI5OTc2MDQ.%2A_ga_Q34526RVM3%2AczE3ODI5OTc2MDMkbzEkZzEkdDE3ODI5OTc2MTckajQ2JGwwJGgw&fbclid=IwY2xjawSzWKVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe9VeBekR3BkxprWE98jhBXBqHxDUQJymZdUbzjjYVaK_NIAo-V_s8NpbtjTw_aem__wtNXmQn6wMmPek15zdaKA02 Jul 2026 14:45 +0000at://did:plc:66xmlggk4gs324jryipuceci/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpobiezpus2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/melaniedgkaplan.bsky.social/post/3mp5mjkuuvk2tI'm thrilled to share Steven Latham's latest film, narrated by Edie Falco, The New Gold Standard: Cutting Edge Science That's Replacing Animal Testing. And I'm honored to have been included! Screenings this summer, streaming this fall. #animalresearch Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkA6HeAzSxs25 Jun 2026 23:47 +0000at://did:plc:66xmlggk4gs324jryipuceci/app.bsky.feed.post/3mp5mjkuuvk2thttps://bsky.app/profile/melaniedgkaplan.bsky.social/post/3mp4haxxtjc2bThanks to the amazing Andrea Sachs for this delightful piece about the USDA's Beagle Brigade, sniffing out prohibited items at airports! “The beagles are very unassuming,” one trainer said. “Until they sit next to your luggage, you don’t think you’re going to be busted for something.” https://wapo.st/43Zyk4O25 Jun 2026 12:40 +0000at://did:plc:66xmlggk4gs324jryipuceci/app.bsky.feed.post/3mp4haxxtjc2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/melaniedgkaplan.bsky.social/post/3movb4ygboc2bWhen I began my reporting for Lab Dog in 2021, I knew about three industrial beagle operations in the U.S., breeding dogs to be sold for research. Envigo closed in 2022. Now Ridglan is closing. And that leaves just one, Marshall BioResources, in upstate New York. https://www.wpr.org/news/deal-struck-ridglan-farms-shutdown-transfer-remaining-dogs22 Jun 2026 16:02 +0000at://did:plc:66xmlggk4gs324jryipuceci/app.bsky.feed.post/3movb4ygboc2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/melaniedgkaplan.bsky.social/post/3mnz53zfqk22hSaturday evening in the garden @ The Ivy Bookshop in Baltimore! I'll be in conversation with Jay Hancock, discussing Lab Dog and everything research beagle-related. Come out and visit with the former research beagles, buy some books and say hey! #booksky, #beagles, #labdoghammy11 Jun 2026 11:36 +0000at://did:plc:66xmlggk4gs324jryipuceci/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnz53zfqk22hhttps://bsky.app/profile/melaniedgkaplan.bsky.social/post/3mnmtqr5kz22wTomorrow in Fredericksburg. Stop by to love on beagles, buy a book and sip a beverage! #booksky, #labdoghammy06 Jun 2026 14:16 +0000at://did:plc:66xmlggk4gs324jryipuceci/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnmtqr5kz22whttps://bsky.app/profile/melaniedgkaplan.bsky.social/post/3mnadqhu24c2oSaturday in Charm City! I'll be in conversation with Jay Hancock at The Ivy Bookshop, and all the cool cats will be there. And of course former lab beagles! Spread the word to your Baltimore friends! #booksky, #labdoghammy https://www.theivybookshop.com/event/yappy-hour-author-conversation-with-melanie-kaplan-lab-dog/01 Jun 2026 14:58 +0000at://did:plc:66xmlggk4gs324jryipuceci/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnadqhu24c2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/melaniedgkaplan.bsky.social/post/3mmu55246ik2nCelebrating Lab Dog's award from @asjahq.bsky.social for best general nonfiction book! Thank you, ASJA judges, and congrats to the other winners. Yay!! https://www.asja.org/.../awards/2026-writing-award-winners/27 May 2026 18:28 +0000at://did:plc:66xmlggk4gs324jryipuceci/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmu55246ik2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/melaniedgkaplan.bsky.social/post/3mmtqnucpck2oThanks for sharing this, @crystalheathdvm.bsky.social. And thank you most of all, Hammy. � [contains quote post or other embedded content]27 May 2026 14:44 +0000at://did:plc:66xmlggk4gs324jryipuceci/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmtqnucpck2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/melaniedgkaplan.bsky.social/post/3mmr42wurp22aI always enjoy talking to Michael McCarthy, especially when the topic is dogs! Thanks to Michael and Modern Luxury for this Q&A about Lab Dog. My fave Q might be the last: If Hammy could've talked, what would he have said first? Link in comments 👇 #labdoghammy, #beagles, #animalresearch26 May 2026 13:31 +0000at://did:plc:66xmlggk4gs324jryipuceci/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmr42wurp22ahttps://bsky.app/profile/melaniedgkaplan.bsky.social/post/3mm7lneo2c22kBefore Condace Pressley learned about Lab Dog, she--like most people--hadn't given research on dogs much thought. I'm so grateful she took the time to sit down with me for her show on 95.5 WSB. #booksky, #labdoghammy, #beagles https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/perspectives-s38-ep21-a-fresh-take-on-a-mothers-day-story/id1521280687?i=100076765113619 May 2026 14:21 +0000at://did:plc:66xmlggk4gs324jryipuceci/app.bsky.feed.post/3mm7lneo2c22khttps://bsky.app/profile/melaniedgkaplan.bsky.social/post/3mlt2taobb223Ever see a bedazzled book? Here's Kathy Wilder's lovely creation, and she'll bring it for show and tell (along with her beagle) Sunday @BNBuzz (Falls Church, VA). We can all be dazzled! Deets on the event in comments 👇 #booksky, #beagles, #animalresearch14 May 2026 14:49 +0000at://did:plc:66xmlggk4gs324jryipuceci/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlt2taobb223https://bsky.app/profile/melaniedgkaplan.bsky.social/post/3mlt2ngjly227Ever see a bedazzled book? Here's Kathy Wilder's lovely creation, and she'll bring it for show and tell (along with her beagle) Sunday @ Barnes & Noble (Falls Church, VA). We can all be dazzled! Deets on the event in comments 👇 #booksky, #beagles, #animalresearch14 May 2026 14:45 +0000at://did:plc:66xmlggk4gs324jryipuceci/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlt2ngjly227https://bsky.app/profile/melaniedgkaplan.bsky.social/post/3mlt2mgcbzk27Ever see a bedazzled book? Here's Kathy Wilder's lovely creation, and she'll bring it for show and tell (along with her beagle) Sunday @ Barnes & Noble (Falls Church, VA). We can all be dazzled! Deets on the event in comments 👇 #booksky, #beagles, #animalresearch14 May 2026 14:45 +0000at://did:plc:66xmlggk4gs324jryipuceci/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlt2mgcbzk27https://bsky.app/profile/melaniedgkaplan.bsky.social/post/3mlqhgzskl22dJoin me Sunday at @barnesandnoble.com (Seven Corners, VA) for one of our biggest gatherings of former lab beagles! We'll have Madeline, Riley, Watson, Ashton, Caprise, Fin, Bert, Mia, Millie, Loaf and Colby Sue, all waiting for attention. And signed copies of Lab Dog, waiting for readers! #booksky13 May 2026 13:56 +0000at://did:plc:66xmlggk4gs324jryipuceci/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlqhgzskl22dhttps://bsky.app/profile/melaniedgkaplan.bsky.social/post/3mllf5z57ds27Saturday is the Gaithersburg Book Festival, and I'm a featured author--woohoo! Join me in the Gertrude Stein Pavilion at 11:15. Stay for the day to hear dozens of other authors and attend writing workshops for grown-ups, teens and kids. All free! #booksky www.gaithersburgbookfestival.org https://www.gaithersburgbookfestival.org/11 May 2026 13:32 +0000at://did:plc:66xmlggk4gs324jryipuceci/app.bsky.feed.post/3mllf5z57ds27https://bsky.app/profile/melaniedgkaplan.bsky.social/post/3ml6u45wku22dHey, law students! Lab Dog is the inaugural book in the @animallegaldefense.bsky.social Student Chapters book club! If you're interested, sign up at the link below in comments 👇 and please share with fellow law students.06 May 2026 13:55 +0000at://did:plc:66xmlggk4gs324jryipuceci/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml6u45wku22dhttps://bsky.app/profile/melaniedgkaplan.bsky.social/post/3ml2fv6qot22yIn the last several weeks at book events, I've signed a number of copies of Lab Dog that will be gifts to moms--which makes me happy, every time. @capitolhillbooks.bsky.social has signed copies and can mail them out in time for Mother's Day! Link in comments 👇 #booksky, #animalresearch, #beagles04 May 2026 19:30 +0000at://did:plc:66xmlggk4gs324jryipuceci/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml2fv6qot22yhttps://bsky.app/profile/melaniedgkaplan.bsky.social/post/3mkshffral22hLooking forward to my panel to tomorrow at @wirbo.bsky.social: From Journalist to Author! With Mike Tidwell and Vicki Valosik, moderated by the fab Cathy Alter. https://www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/page/the-2026-washington-writers-conference #booksky01 May 2026 15:36 +0000at://did:plc:66xmlggk4gs324jryipuceci/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkshffral22hhttps://bsky.app/profile/melaniedgkaplan.bsky.social/post/3mkn52pun222tOn my way, Arlington, VA! See you tomorrow at the Shirlington Library, in conversation with the awesome @annelcassidy.bsky.social. Beagle line-up includes Bert, Carmel and Piper! Books for sale from @onemorepagebooks.bsky.social--great gift for all moms. #booksky, #animalresearch, #beagles29 Apr 2026 12:47 +0000at://did:plc:66xmlggk4gs324jryipuceci/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkn52pun222thttps://bsky.app/profile/melaniedgkaplan.bsky.social/post/3mkkverx2zk2lJoin me--and some Terps who really care about animals--tonight for this Lab Dog conversation at the @univofmaryland.bsky.social! Address and parking deets in the comments. #animalresearch, #beagles28 Apr 2026 15:24 +0000at://did:plc:66xmlggk4gs324jryipuceci/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkkverx2zk2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/melaniedgkaplan.bsky.social/post/3mki7ybwnrs2gThanks for a dream Lab Dog event yesterday, @richmondspca.bsky.social! And for the great coverage, Mariah Jallad and @wric.com. As an author, it's hard to beat a full house of humans and beagles. #animalresearch, #beagles https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/richmond/author-tracks-dogs-history-to-envigo-breeding-facility-new-book/27 Apr 2026 13:56 +0000at://did:plc:66xmlggk4gs324jryipuceci/app.bsky.feed.post/3mki7ybwnrs2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/melaniedgkaplan.bsky.social/post/3mkaq6pocck2bSo I'm still celebrating Beagle Day--and might not stop! Tomorrow I'll be at the Potomac Yard @barnesandnoble.com with possibly as many as a half dozen former research beagles. Come get some BLC! https://stores.barnesandnoble.com/event/9780062207996-024 Apr 2026 14:25 +0000at://did:plc:66xmlggk4gs324jryipuceci/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkaq6pocck2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/melaniedgkaplan.bsky.social/post/3mk4besfhm22oHappy Beagle Day! Still tickets available for this event on Sunday at the @richmondspca.bsky.social, a conversation about Lab Dog with Kerri O'Brien. At least one Virginia state senator and a few former beagles bred for research will be joining us! #beagles, #animalresearch, #booksky22 Apr 2026 19:49 +0000at://did:plc:66xmlggk4gs324jryipuceci/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk4besfhm22ohttps://bsky.app/profile/melaniedgkaplan.bsky.social/post/3mjp76avyck2lTomorrow at Copperfoxbooks Fox Books. See y'all in Blue Ridge, GA with a couple beagles bred for research--Cookie + Joey! #beagles, #animalresearch https://www.facebook.com/events/97275785194976917 Apr 2026 15:05 +0000at://did:plc:66xmlggk4gs324jryipuceci/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjp76avyck2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/melaniedgkaplan.bsky.social/post/3mjceg6yawc26Tonight in Athens, y'all! See you at Athentic Brewing Co., where you can buy a book (Lab Dog, from Avid Bookshop), drink a beer, raise some bucks (for the Athens Area Humane Society) and best of all, pet some beagles (bred to be used in research)! #beagles, #animalresearch, #booksky12 Apr 2026 12:35 +0000at://did:plc:66xmlggk4gs324jryipuceci/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjceg6yawc26