A Wisconsin facility known for breeding and research involving beagles, which has recently been at the center of violent protests, is set to close its doors. The remaining dogs from the facility will find new homes through a rescue group based in Florida.
On Monday, Big Dog Ranch Rescue revealed that it has finalized an agreement to permanently shut down Ridglan Farms and begin relocating the 475 beagles still housed there, starting this week.
“Not a single dog will be left behind,” stated Lauree Simmons, the founder of the rescue organization, during a press briefing held at the Wisconsin farm. “No more breeding, no more testing—this ends now.”
Years of controversy surrounding the site escalated in April when a large crowd of animal rights activists attempted to free the beagles, leading to a confrontation where police employed tear gas and pepper spray, resulting in numerous arrests.
Back in March, several demonstrators faced arrest after breaking into the Blue Mounds facility, approximately 25 miles southwest of Madison, and liberating 30 dogs.
Big Dog Ranch Rescue said some of the beagles will go to rescue groups while others will be sent to its Florida and Alabama campuses where they will be spayed, neutered, and prepared for adoption.
The group bought roughly 1,500 of the facility’s more than 2,000 beagles in April for an undisclosed price.
About 200 dogs were being transferred Monday, according to Simmons. Another 125 will be moved Tuesday. The transfer of the remaining beagles will happen in August, as they are still puppies.
Simmons called on protesters to refrain from further demonstrations as it says Ridglan Farms has committed to permanently closing its dog breeding, sales, research and testing operations.
“Our focus now should be on supporting these dogs as they transition into their new lives,” Simmons said. “These dogs will get to experience safety and a normal life for the first time.”
Simmons said her group is also “working closely” with the Trump administration to stop funding studies that subject dogs to “invasive and painful experimentation.”
Trump’s Health and Human Services secretary, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., called Monday’s deal a “major win for animal welfare” in a post on X.
Ridglan Farms, in a statement, said all the dogs being transferred are “happy, healthy animals” with “extensive” state and federal inspection documentation.
“We hope these dogs will continue to flourish in their new homes,” the company said, adding that it hopes that the “years-long harassment campaign targeting the research facility’s owners, staff and neighbors comes to an end.”
Animal activists for years had sought to have dogs at the facility adopted, not sold to other research facilities.
Beagles are the most common breed of dog used for animal testing, primarily because of their smaller size and gentle temperament, according to Big Dog Ranch Rescue.
Ridglan Farms agreed in October to give up its state breeding license as of July 1 as part of a deal to avoid prosecution on felony animal mistreatment charges.
The firm has denied mistreating animals, but a special prosecutor determined that Ridglan Farms was performing eye procedures that violated state veterinary standards.
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