Ep 21. Dogs

Lou Grant season 3, episode 21, titled "Dogs," centers around animal rights and the impact of animal testing. The episode starts off with a group of animal activists breaking into a research facility in Los Angeles to free dogs that were being used for testing. One of the dogs, named Buddy, was stolen by a member of the group and taken to one of the activists' homes.

Enter the Tribune newsroom where Lou Grant and his colleagues are discussing the incident. Art Donovan, the paper's animal columnist, is outraged at the break-in and believes that animal testing is necessary for medical research. On the other hand, Billie Newman, the paper's ace reporter, takes a more sympathetic view towards the activists and their cause.

Things heat up when the activists start mailing dead rats to the homes of the research facility's employees, causing panic and fear. Lou Grant assigns Billie to follow up on the story and get the inside scoop from the animal rights groups as well as the research facility.

As Billie digs deeper, she discovers that Buddy, the dog stolen from the facility, had experienced severe trauma and had been subjected to invasive testing. In the process, she finds out that the research facility has been avoiding certain regulations by outsourcing testing to a neighboring state.

Meanwhile, Art Donovan visits the research facility to understand their side of the story. He speaks to Doug, a scientist in charge of the dog testing, who insists that their research is necessary and essential for the medical field. He explains that their inhumane treatment of dogs is only a means to an end, as the test results are invaluable in finding cures for diseases.

As Billie continues her investigation, she discovers that there are alternative methods of testing, such as computer simulations and tissue culture. She presents this information to Lou Grant, who decides to run with the story.

In the end, the newspaper's exposé prompts the state to investigate the research facility's practices and regulations, leading to positive changes in the way animals are treated during testing.

Lou Grant season 3, episode 21 deals with a controversial topic that remains relevant even today - animal testing. The episode takes us on a compelling journey of finding the truth behind the research facility's procedures, highlighting the impact of animal testing on the animals themselves. The episode also touches upon the role of journalism in exposing the truth and bringing about positive change in society. Overall, "Dogs" is a thought-provoking and a well-crafted episode of Lou Grant.