NEW CITY – They call themselves the Freegles, friends of freed beagles.

A total of 120 beagles that were used in a testing laboratory in New Jersey were rescued a year ago and 30 of them, and their owners, gathered at Kennedy Bell Park in New City on Sunday to mark their first anniversary of freedom and home life.

Some of them were fearful and skittish when first adopted, but they have mellowed out, said Kate Aubrey, one of the Freegle moms who attended the reunion.

Of the pooches rescued last year, Pets Alive, in Orange County, sheltered 90 of them, all of which have been adopted.